Bouquet flowers honour Mary

Welcome Mary to your wedding

- Design Pics photo The white lily symbolizes Mary's immaculate purity.

By LASHA MORNINGSTAR
WCR News Editor

The radiant bride turns just before the final blessing of the Mass and walks towards the statue of Mary.

Kneeling down, she lays a lush floral bouquet at Mary's feet. And then returns to her waiting groom.

Not often done you say.

You are right.

But what an appropriate time to remember and honour Jesus' mother. While members of Britain's royal family lay their wedding bouquets at the tomb of the unknown warrior, Catholic brides can show their love for Mary by graphically including her in their marriage sacrament.

A priest who has celebrated many a wedding, Father Roger Keeler, underlined the sanctity of the union saying, "A Christian marriage is something different: It speaks about being prayerful, alive and joyful."

To do this, the couple must deftly plan their ceremony.

Reflect your faith

Writing in the January-February 2006 issue of the magazine Celebrate!, Keeler advised couples planning to wed to ask themselves, "What is it that you want to say to this assembly about yourselves as individuals?

"As disciples of the Lord? As two called to be one? About your hopes, dreams and future?

"What do you want to say about your faith? About the sacrament of Christian marriage?"

Specifically honouring Mary through their flowers might indeed joyfully reflect the spirituality of a couple.

"If someone has a sense of horticulture, then why not," says Keeler.

Another way to honour Mary is to include flowers associated with her in the bouquets, corsages and floral arrangements.

Mary's flowers

Drawn from the XVI Century Book of Hours, the following are some of the flowers associated with Mary:

• White lily symbolizes Mary's immaculate purity.
• Violets are a sign of Mary's humility.
• Roses symbolize the Blessed Virgin of prophecy.
• Daisies are Mary's flower of God.
• Pansies, of course, are the trinity flower.
• Lady slippers denote Mary's visit to Elizabeth.
• Forget-me-nots are the eyes of Mary.
• Wild thyme symbolizes the dear Mother's love.

It is all too easy to be caught up in the whirlwind of wedding preparations. So by choosing flowers that reflect aspects of Mary and/or honouring her with her own selected bouquet, the couple turns their Christian marriage's focus back to the rapturous spirituality of the ceremony.

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