Philadelphia Our Lady of Knock Shrine

Jim Kingsmill
Philadelphia, PA

Aug 13 2002

I am Vice President of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division
51-Fishtown.  We are in the middle of a project, building a shrine
to the Blessed Mother and the apparition at Knock Ireland.

In reading about the Mary Garden's, I was wondering whether there
are special planting available that will compliment the shrine and
the Blessed Mother. We will have a beautiful retaining wall and
flower box and are planning on having plantings. What can you
recommend we plant? please let me know if you can help with
suggestions.

Thanks,


Dec 24, 2002  Reply, John Stokes, Mary's Gardens


Apologies for the long delay in replying to your message of 13 Aug
inquiring whether there are special plantings available that will
compliment your Knock shrine and the Blessed Mother.

In general, I suggest that you look through the articles on Knock
on our website, in particular:

     The Knock Mary Garden Planting

which gives the complete list of plants in the Mary Garden at the
Blessed Sacrament Chapel of the Knock Shrine in County Mayo in
Ireland.

The original, 1983, Knock planting was based on the Mary Garden
planting in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, with whom the then Shrine
Director, Msgr. Horan, consulted.  It was then enlarged by our
Irish Associate, Bro. Sean MacNamara, who has done extensive
research on Flowers of Our Lady in Ireland.

     The Knock Mary Garden

gives the full Rosary symbolism of plants on the list.

In general, the plants symbolic of the Rosary Mysteries were
selected because (as described in these articles) Mary - with her
crown and the golden rose at her forehead - was seen to have
appeared at Knock as Queen of the Most Holy Rosary.

In his 1987 visit to the Knock Shrine, Pope John Paul II,
presented the shrine with a specially blessed pope's "Golden Rose"

                   


I suggest, therefore, that gold roses would be the most
appropriate flowers for planting at your Our Lady of Knock Shrine.

Another striking characteristic of Our Lady's appearance at Knock
was the position of her hands, held before her, facing each other
at shoulder height, which appear to be channeling the invisible
rose pneums of our prayers  - rising from our lips to heaven as we
pray the Paters and Aves of the Rosary - to the sacrificial Altar
of the Lamb, whence they are carried to the Heaven of the Trinity
- for their offering by the Son to the Father - by the circulating
angels, who then return with heavenly graces for distribution,
again through Our Lady's mediating hands, back down to earth.  A
marvellous "spiritual dynamo" of our Lady's intercession and
mediation, which serves to heighten the fervor of all who pray the
Rosary.

      


Of this, St. Louis de Montfort says in his "True Devotion..."
(224):

     "Our Blessed Lady, in her immense love for us, is eager to
     receive into her virginal hands the gift of our actions,
     imparting to them a marvelous beauty and splendor, and
     presenting them herself to Jesus most willingly.  More
     glory is given to our Lord in this way than when we make
     our offering with our own...hands."

(Personally, I envisage the heavenly mediation of the hands of Our
Lady of Knock, as I pray the Mysteries of the Rosary and, join
with the Son's offering of my daily sacrifices, as his own, to the
Father - for the graces and reparations for world peace, in
accordance with Our Lady's request at Fatima:

     "All for and with you, my Jesus, for the graces and
     reparations for peace on earth.")

Accordingly, flower symbols of Mary's intercession and mediation -
of her Immaculate Heart - would also be appropriate, such as
bleeding hearts ("Mary's Heart"), or, longer lasting through the
warm season, caladium, whose leave are likewise known as "Mary's
Heart", or tuberous begonias with their the red heart-shaped
little buds, also named "Mary's Heart".

Another appropriate symbolism for the Queen of the Most Holy
Rosary would be groupings of white, red and yellow/gold flowers -
symbols respectively of the joyful. sorrowful and glorious
mysteries of the Rosary.

A number of parishes are establishing larger Mary Gardens with
many symbolic Flowers of Our Lady, Rosary walks, etc., but I
understand from your message that you have in mind a smaller
planting for the shrine's flower box and retaining wall.

In case you are not familiar with it, there is a stained glass
window of Our Lady of Knock in the lower church of St. Patrick's
Church, 242 S. 20th street in downtown Philadelphia, off
Rittenhouse Square - in the center of the first, dormer window to
the left (between panels of Lourdes and Guadalupe).

Next spring, I'd appreciate your e-mailing us a photo of the
statue and flowers in bloom which we can share with others on the
website.

If I can be of further assistance, please let me know.