Mary's Gardens Developmental Correspondence
Bonnie Roberson Letters 1983
This "book length" correspondence, and similarly extensive
correspondence (in long process of posting to Website) with Jane
McLaughlin of Woods Hole; Bro. Seán MacNamara of Ireland; and Nanette
Sears of Annapolis, represent Mary's "in house" developmental
activity from 1980 (following that of Bonnie, who had carried it
forward from 1968 until then) through 1965, when the Internet website
and general e-mail correspondence were initiated.)
Because of the book length and unediting of the letters, a listing of
letter contents has been prepared .
John Stokes
April, 2005
LETTER TOPICS
January 7, 1983
- Christ Incarnate in the Whole World - Births Through Mary
January 12, 1983
- Living in Heaven on Earth in the Mary Garden
January 21, 1983
- "Our Lady's Solar Greenhouse; Article" - Press File Listing
January 21, 1983
- Five Articles and Press File Listing
February 2, 1983
- Herb Quarterly "Rue" Article - Candlemas Bells
February 4, 1983
- Snowdrops Made It to Bloom
February 11, 1983
- "Our Lady's Solar Greenhouse" Article Accepted by Our Lady' Digest
February 12, 1983
- Our Lady's Digest - "Riper" Presentations of Our Work
February 15, 1983
- Local Catholic Chapel Being Closed - Mystical Growth
February 17, 1983
- Fr. James M. Keane S.M. - Sandra Hicks' "The Herbarist" Article
February 23, 1983
- U.K. Society of Mary "Ave" Article Acceptance - Rose and Lily
February 27, 1983
- Mystical Intrumentation of Spiritual Power
March 2, 1983
- Answers to Questions. Mexican Devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe
March 11, 1983
- Mystical Heavenly Ascent and Descent - Closing of Xavier Chapel
March 21, 1983
- God's Mystical Rest - More on Mass - Altar Candle Symbolism
March 30, 1983
- TV and Computers Mirror Mystical Illumination and Transfiguration
April 5, 1983
- Holy Saturday Easter Vigil Liturgy and High Mass
April 6, 1983
- Herbarist Article Reprints - Deft Construction w. "Just Enough" Lore
April 10, 1983
- Four Themes for the Furthering Mary Gardening - Flower Legends
April 11, 1983
- Spiritual Strength - Fullness of Transfiguring Mystical Participation
April 20, 1983
- Spring Blooms - Little Garden in Front of each House
April 29, 1983
- Knock Shrine Mary Garden Being Planted - Further Insights
May 13, 1983
- Knock Article - Our Spiritual Crucifixion, Resurrection, Assumption...
May 18, 1983
- Tranfiguration of the World - Earthly and Heavenly Paradises
May 21, 1983
- Mary's Leading of us by the Hand
May 23, 1983
- the Processing, Rose Petal Circulation of the Holy Spirit through Mary
June 3, 1983
- The Renewal of the Earth Requires a Vision of its Transfiguration
June 11, 1983
- Galega Colony Update - Oblates of the Virgin Mary now at Pru Chapel
June 15, 1983
- Glorious June Blooms of Garden of Our Lady, Woods Hole
June 25, 1983
- Computerise Mary's Gardens Mailing Lists? - Marian Encyclopedia
July 5, 1983
- (from Bonniw) Unable to Write or Tape - God Bless You - Pray For Me
July 6, 1983
- First Garden of Our Lady Madonna Lily Blooms - Jubilee 3 Reprints
July 7, 1983
- Environments for Mystical Contemplation - Knock Shrine Garden Planted
July 13, 1983
- Woods Hole Mary Garden Underappreciate - Knock Shrine Mary Garden Planted.
July 15, 1983
- The Spiritual Power of the Mary Garden - Union Therethrough with Christ
July 18, 1983
- (from Bonnie) Photos Lovely - Desperately Ill - Pray For Me - Love to Jane
July 24, 1983
- Woods Hole and Knock a Dual Focus - The Power of the Garden Enclosed
July 31, 1983
- Letter to Bro. Sean McNmara, Ireland, re. Bonnie's Death July 28
August 9, 1983
- Letter to Earnie Roberson re. Bonnie' Death
August 16, 1983
- Letter to Bo. Sean Reminiscing re. Bonnie, Our Now Heavenly Associate
THE LETTERS
+
Boston, MA
January 7, 1983
Dear Bonnie,
Under separate cover I am sending you a copy of the 'update' of my
Woods Hole article I have just sent to Fr. Charest.
I received a copy of the Herb Quarterly from Sallie Ballentine in
Vermont, and will try to write a short article for them. Their
articles are so short that maybe I'll center it around Rue as Herb O'
Grace, as seen through the insights at the Garden of Our Lady and
Mary's Gardens research.
I received two copies of The Marian Era, Vol XII, but they were now
out of print with Vol XI, so I'll have to make a Xerox copy somehow.
It was very saddening to read the article in TME, Vol XII giving all
the 'reasons' why people should start praying the Rosary again. As
intertwined with the Flowers of Our Lady and Mary's Gardens, the
Rosary is such a treasured part of my life but not for all those
'reasons'.
I'll try to share with you some of the further insights I have had
during the Christmas season.
The principle one was how Christ, as Divine Wisdom Incarnate is
present not only in the person and flesh of Jesus, but in all
persons, things, creations.
As St. Paul says - in the passage so dearly beloved by Teilhard to
Chardin - Christ is "to become all in all".
Through Mary, the Eternal Word was conceived by the Holy Spirit in
the entire universe...through Incarnation. In transubstantiation,
the bread and wine are Christ; and in Incarnation, Christ is
creation. Mary gave birth to Christ in all persons, and all
creations.
At the Second Cpmings, at the end of the world, this becomes apparent
as all creatures are transfigured and permeated by Christ.
Now, with Christ, the Divine Word Incarnate, present in all creatures
- was why St. Paul says "All creation groan, awaiting the revelation
of the children of light"?
As Seat of Wisdom, Mary mirrors all things as they are contained in
essence in the created wisdom - the Holy Spirit may engender Christ
in them through her universal divine maternity. Through her
ubiquitousness after the Assumption, Mary is assimilatively perfect
in all things that the Holy Spirit may engender Christ in them
through her.
In order that Mary may matrix this incarnation fully, we are to
envisage all things as offered to Mary for her disposition. Thus, we
are able to bless all things and offer them to Mary that through her
matrixing, the Holy Spirit may engender Christ, the Divine Word
Incarnate in them.
The dedication or consecration of a Garden to Mary is a prototype of
this for the whole world and all of creation - which, fallen, is
waiting for this - and of which the accomplishment is the
consecration of the whole world to Mary's Immaculate Heart.
As Christ is seen as the Divine Wisdom Incarnate in creatures,
creatures are illuminated eschatologically, as to their end and
fullness in Christ, the Alpha and Omega, as culmination of the
overall movement of The Divine Plan, in which each person and
creature has its place and purpose.
Thus, it is most fitting that in the Mary Garden, the forms of
things, are perceived and named as participating in and showing forth
the life of Mary and Jesus, and our world in this life.
Everything is united in its participation in the life of Christ in
form and in function.
While Jesus is the Omega ('Point') towards which everything
converges, he is also the "Alpha Point" incarnate in all thing to
effect this convergence.
As we bless flowers, plants, artifacts, etc., God the Father (as well
as Christ and the Holy Spirit) becomes present in them, also, as
aura, radiance and resplendence of their heavenly essences.
So long as we see things only materially and secularly, the Divine
Wisdom Incarnate is imprisoned in them - but once we see them all
incorporated in Christ through Incarnation in them, they are
liberated to participate in his redemption and resurrection - which
leads us to proclaim this in symbolism.
The blessing of plants, flowers and artifacts, makes them holy signs,
mirrors and channels of :
- The Father: beauty, radiance and resplendence
- The Son: incarnation, passion and resurrection
- The Holy Spirit: purification, sanctification and re-creation.
Knowing that Christ is in all circumstances and events, as well as
object, assists us in perceiving and offering adversity, pain and
suffering, redemptively and reparationally in Christ.
As the Angelus proclaims the incarnations of the Divine Wisdom in all
things, as Christ is made flesh, the Angelus Tower is a most fitting
object with a Mary Garden. Christ becomes incarnately present in all
things which Mary proclaims her fiat.
The Manger plants - Our Lady's Bedstraw, etc. - immediately next to
the Infant Christ and reflecting his glory testify to the Divine
Wisdom Incarnate in all creation - as do the legends of miraculous
plant responses to the touch of Jesus and Mary: blood drops, milk
drops, tears, fingers, footsteps, etc.
The miraculous luminous cacti of the Hill at Guadalupe likewise
reflects this - as your include in your plant tableau in Our Lady's
Solar Greenhouse.
This is also the message of the Epiphany, which, so to speak, spreads
the glory of the Nativity.
In the Liturgy of the Hours, for the Monday after Epiphany:
"You are God with us, wonderously transfiguring all
creation; let every heart, every voice, every deed
throughout the universe now be transformed"
And a final thought - If Mary is clothed with the sun; when we see
the sun we see Mary as in the Miracle of Faitma, where it was Mary
clothed with the sun who was blazing and gyrating to show us this,
showing us that we should see her in the sun at all times.
Mary "comes forth as the morning rising" each day, predicting light,
grace, word, power and governance to us from God as she passes
through the sky with the sunŠandin reflection, at night, in the Moon.
One beautiful little touch this Christmas season. Each year a little
Christmas Creche is placed at the feet of the figure of Our Lady of
the Universe, at the St. Francis Chapel here in Boston. This year I
noticed that someone placed a little flower - a pink and white
carnation - between the infant Christ in the Manger or Crib, and the
kneeling figure of adoring Mary, on the 'floor', with the straw. As
it withered, a white carnation appeared several days later; and as
this withered, I placed a third flower there.
While I go to Mass at the Jesuit Francis Xavier Chapel closer to
home, I pray each day at the St. Francis Chapel, before the
tabernacle and the two sculptured figures of the gloriously risen
crucified Christ, and Our Lady of the Universe.
If I'm ever there in the afternoon, there is Exposition of the Most
Blessed Sacrament from 1 p.m., to 4 p.m., each day.
These are extremely difficult times economically, Bonnie, although
the unemployment rate is much lower here in Boston and Massachusetts
- around 6% -, than nationally due to all the 'high tech',
electronics and computer industry here.
The vision that Ed had in his "Postulates of Economics" course at St.
Joseph's College, Institute of Industrial Relations, in Philadelphia
- where I first met him and where we did our planning, before class,
for the founding of Mary's Gardens - is very much on my mind. All
the issues that he envisaged are now gloriously apparent to everyone;
and I look ever more deeply into Mary's Gardens for the "light at the
other end of the tunnel, as he did.
Happy New Year Bonnie.
Love to Ernie
Love, in Our Lady,
+
Boston, M A
January 12, 1983
Dear Bonnie,
I recall - and may have written you a year or so ago about a tape of
one of the conferences Fr. Thomas Merton gave at Our Lady of
Gethsemane Abbey, in which he quotes or paraphrases St. Athanasius to
the effect that church festivals, with their celebration in the
broader community and world (as compared to the more cloistered
praying of the Mass, Hours and Rosary) are means whereby we are
enabled for a time to live "that life" - the life of God, Eternity,
Heaven and the Divine Plan amidst our accustomed surroundings.
Thus, the streets we proceed through or the public places in which we
participate in the rituals and activities of the festivals or
fiestas, for the moment become a part of spiritual reality rather
than of just our ordinary life.
It recently occurred to me that the same can be said about the
Flowers of Our Lady and Mary Gardens - that they have the effect of
making flowers and gardens and the world of nature, generally a
participation in the eternal life of heaven. "I will teach you of
life, and of life everlasting". Participation in the garden,
however, has the special quality of reality that flowers and gardens
mirror the heavenly flowers and gardens so that through them we can
mystically participate now in heavenly life in a very 'concrete' way.
I see sacramental blessings as of great importance here, because in
making flowers and plants the channels of grace, light, truth and
power on earth, we are prepared for the grace, light, truth and power
which will come to our risen heart, soul, mind and bodies in heaven -
mystically now, and more directly after resurrection - through the
flowers and gardens of Paradise.
Every (sacramentalized) object on earth has its subtle, mystically
mediating counterpart in the heavens of Paradise, Rosary, and Rose.
And while this is equally true of the earthly and heavenly cities, it
is in the garden that we are, I believe best able first to arrive at
this vision.
Further, as our spiritual souls receive light through the blessed
flowers of earth, our hearts' grace; our minds' truth and our bodies'
power, they are prepared to receive these more fully through mystical
rising to heaven: first through the heavens of Paradise, Rosary and
Rose, and then 'directly' through the heavenly reservoirs or
treasuries of Light, Grace, Wisdom and Power.
This again, helps us see why enclosed gardens were known in medieval
times as 'paradises' and why Ed started out speaking of "Paradises of
Our Lady", as I wrote to you last October around that time I was
presenting a slide lecture at Osterville.
And this gives us still further insights into the relics and
scapulars of Our Lady and into the Flowers of Our Lady that
corresponds to them, or extend that sacramentalized operation to
other garments, bodily parts and household articles of Our Lady,
symbolized by her flowers.
We have to enter the Mary Garden with the eyes of faith, and then we
see all these things, in the ever increasing and intensifying
mirroring that goes back and forth between us and the Garden of
Flowers.
With respect to "Thy kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven" - to
the establishment of the Peaceable Kingdom and renewal of the face of
the earth - our challenge as God's adopted children, instruments and
peacemakers is ever: how can we more effectively through our prayer
and immolation, beseech God and Mary to turn their eyes of Mercy on
those who do not believe, so that they will receive the gift of faith
and enter the Garden with the eyes of faith?
I was very conscious of this last night as I talked at length with
someone who had been brought up as a Catholic, yet now, with all her
schoolmates, no longer had her faith, yet was asking me to explain to
her how I continued to have faith.
After pointing out all the good, but also the inadequacies of other
beliefs and of secular humanism and pointing out how the Church was
the repository of true faith, despite all the failings of its
members, I still had to acknowledge that faith was nevertheless a
mystery and a gift - which God in His Mercy and through Mary had
given me, not once but twice.
To the eyes of living faith, the Mary Garden can be the source of
great graces, illuminations, wisdom and power, but without faith, it
appears only a quaint custom or a vestige of superstition.
This is always our challenge, Bonnie - how to deal with this. Yes, I
am convinced that the deeper we enter into the Mary Gardens and the
higher this enables us to soar mystically, the more effective
instruments we can be with our offerings to God, for his purposes of
Salvation, Kingdom and Renewal - that his goodness and glory may be
more fully shown forth and shared through all creation.
Love to Ernie.
Love, in Our Lady,
+
Boston, MA
January 21, 1983
Dear Bonnie,
Our first real snow storm of the year and accompanying cold weather
in the 0-20 range has kept us sort of 'house-bound' (as you are), and
provided the opportunity for some stepped-up article and list typing
and letter writing. I enclose the finalized draft of "Our Lady's
Solar Greenhouse", incorporating the corrections and additions you
noted on the copy I sent you a year ago, and hope it is satisfactory
to you.
It occurred to me that we would have a better possibility of getting
this published through the recommendation or referral of the two
priest-editors who have been so close to you through the years, Fr.
Latrevesse (Gilligen) and Father Stanley, so I have sent copies to
them per the enclosed letter copies. In any case, I hope it may help
them to appreciate you and your work even more, and to pray more
intensely for you.
I also sent them copies of the typed Mary's Gardens press file
listing, which is such a wonderful testimony to your work - per the
enclosed letters. I sent copies of both also to Jane and a copy of
the listing to the Marian Library, along with my offer to send them
my half of our correspondence, to complete the material you plan to
send.
Thanks for your letter of January 14th and your plan to re-copy the
"Charest Tape". The "Crisp" book has not arrived, but I will let you
know the moment it does. I will look forward to receiving the box
when you have an opportunity to send it. Great that you were able to
get two of the Weiser books.
Re: the out-of print Marian Era XI, and the delay in ordering it, I
have re-organized my working arrangement, so I think I will now be
able to work more promptly and efficiently. In any case, the Justice
III and Solar Greenhouse article typing, and the Press File listing
are a good beginning.
"Worlds Apart" sounds great, and I look forward to receiving it.
Marvelous that Bunny Foster carried the story of Mary's Gardens in
her new "Herb Grower". I will write her for a copy.
An article for the Herb Quarterly is beginning to take shape in my
mind, and I hope to write it soon. Sally returned my letter to her,
with a note written on 12, and all the 2 enclosures - Galesa and Pink
Herb List. She didn't seem to recall the materials you sent her,
although she mentioned them in her note to you, of which you sent me
a copy.
Wonderful that the 'Silver lining' of your confined state is that you
are able to contact more people for Mary's Gardens. God's ways are
not our ways.
The final typing of the Press File listing gave me a tremendous
'lift', Bonnie, as I hope it will you. As I said in my letter to
Jane, having it in typed form makes it somehow more 'real', as well
as clearly legible. As I said in my letter, it is a sort of
'litany'.
It is wonderful to see how the work of Mary's Gardens took on new
life in 1958, when you joined us, and how you carried it by yourself
from 1968 to 1980. Wonderful in itself, but also wonderful the way
it is reflected in the Press File. In all, I think I will be able to
resume more regular correspondence with Bro. Sean.
After writing this letter, I will write him sending him copies of the
list and greenhouse article.
Did you send a copy of Bro Sean's "The Jewels of Thomand" to the
Marian Library yet? If so, I will send them a copy of my preface, or
if not, I will send you another copy of the preface for enclosure
when you do send it.
Also, were you able to contact the Chaplain about the priory
Guadaloupe Garden? And send him a copy of "My Garden Prays". If
not, I could do this, if you send me his name and address.
Are there any other people you would like me to send copies of the
greenhouse article? Bunny Foster? Jay Logee Martin? Fathers
Herbert and Shinnik? Or if you would like to send copies to them and
others. Tell my how many you want. We don't have to wait until it
is published to 'spread it around'.
One of the nice things about publishing the greenhouse article was
the way your sayings about "waste not", etc. - tied in with giving of
surplus.
I hope you are getting 'settled' into your program for medication,
diet and peace for healing Bonnie. You are constantly in my prayers.
Love to Ernie
Love, in our Lady,
+
Boston, MA
February 2, 1983
Dear Bonnie,
Nice Candlemas greetings from you and Jane this morning - and a note
from Bro Sean yesterday saying he liked the Introduction I wrote for
his "Jewels" article.
I think the "Rue" article I submitted this morning to the Herb
Quarterly is one of the most important articles I have writtenŠas an
intensified attempt to break the seemingly impenetrable barrier of
the secular hoticulturalists and herbalists to really taking the old
religious names of plants seriously, today.
I can't thank you enough for asking me to write it. Copies were
mailed to you and Jane this morning.
Your "surprise" for me and Jane - what you are doing for Mary's
Gardens, which is the greatest thing you've ever done "for Her" - has
me "sitting on the edge of my chair". Don't keep me in suspense too
long.
You will note the other enclosures I sent to Sallie B., to show the
'solid' acceptance of Mary's Gardens by the Herb Society of America,
Massachusetts Horticultural Society, Pennsylvania Horticultural
Society (Phila-Flower Show), etc.
If you think well of my article, I suggest you consider writing to
her urging her to publish it. This will be a test of whether they
really mean what they say, that 'the purpose of The Herb Quarterly,
is to bring to gardeners everywhere a renewed interest in their
forgotten treasures (of medicinal, healing, fragrant and culinary
herbs).
The snowdrops across the street showed large, 1/2" white buds
yesterday and today. Not quite a bloom, but beautiful Candlemas
Bells, buds for Candlemas. They may still bloom by the end of the
day. Last year was very nearly the same, and they actually were in
bloom February 3rd. Beautiful start for the Mary-Calendar.
I've done it again, Bonnie, and I hate to bother you with this -
liked the erased tape of my discussions with Fr. Charest, but in my
rush to the Post Office, I failed to make a Xerox file copy of my
letter to you of about a week ago, in which I spoke of four articles.
I was working on the Press List and hopes for Woods Hole in the
coming year. Next time you have something Xeroxed, could you have a
copy made for me?
As you know, so many of my articles and thoughts have developed from
ideas first set in writing in letter to you.
It's after midnight now, Bonnie, and I'm dozing, as I write, so I'll
close, now, and get this in the mail the first thing in the morning.
Love to Ernie
Love, in Our Lady
+
Boston, MA
February 4, 1983
Dear Bonnie,
The snowdrops 'made it' to bloom yesterday, which went up into the
50's. Thus, there was a 4-day development from green shoots to some
white showing, to large buds, to pendant blooms. This is the moment
of garden resurrection, or mystically, of the luminous ascent.
This morning I woke up an hour early with a number of thoughts in my
mind as to how to complete the remaining two articles I have in
draft.
February 7, 1983
Pardon the 3-day interruption.
In the interim, I completed the two articles, per the enclosed
copies, and copy of a letter to Jane I just wrote (so she'll be
prepared if the Anchor contacts here).
Hurriedly,
Love to Ernie
Love, in Our Lady
+
Boston, MA
February 11, 1983
Dear Bonnie,
On this feast day of Our Lady, it was good to receive letters from
both you and Father Stanley (copy enclosed).
Wonderful that he will publish "Our Lady's Solar Greenhouse", even if
not until next Fall or Winter. I can't think of anyone else who
would - due to its length - and even for Our Lady's Digest, it's
long, so I actually just 'circulated' it to him. He seems to have
such a deep appreciation of both Mary's Gardens, and of you. Our
Lady of Lourdes is watching over you, Bonnie.
I would differ with him however in what he says about "She is truly
an apostle of Mary's Garden's, thanks to you". I see these things
very differently. I believe you had the gift or calling for this
work all along, and I came along at the right time. Ed and I came
along at the right time, to provide some information you needed,
under God's Providence. Just as Father Calvin came along and Father
Stanley came along to provide something I was looking for, and I came
along to provide something Ed was looking for. "Seek and you shall
find". It's the 'seeking, asking, knocking', that are the key...and
God sees that we 'find, receive, and have it opened' unto us, through
others.
Sorry to have alarmed you about the Bishop. Just a thought I had -
after what you had told me of the reconciliation at his fishing trip
two years ago and his visit to you at the hospital. I, of course,
wouldn't think of sending anything to him without first checking with
you, as I did and I won't.
Love to Ernie
Love, in Our Lady
+
Boston, MA
February 12, 1983
Bonnie,
As I was writing this letter last night, the snow was beginning to
fall, and the weather services were predicting four inches. Now this
morning (7am) I see about a foot out there, and they are predicting
two or three feet. There was snow like this in Washington,
Philadelphia and New York last night, but the prediction was that the
heavy part of the storm would pass out to sea south of Boston.
Evidently it came a little farther north.
I hadn't really noticed the Our Lady's Digest logo before, and note
the wreath or garland of leaves and also the leaf-or-flower-like form
of the M - in feeling, like our Mary's Gardens logo.
Come to think of it, 'Lillie Tower' was one of the earliest articles
O.L.D. published - in their first year, I recall; so the Flowers of
Our Lady and Mary Gardens have been one of the major themes
throughout the 37 year life of the magazine, under Father Stanley's
editorship - as it has been, also, of QUEEM, which as Fr. Charest
told me, was founded the same year as Mary's Gardens.
Apparently, Father Galvin is no longer with us here, so I will
intensify my prayers to him in heaven, along with Mrs. Lillie, Ed,
Father Keane, and the many others of the blessed multitude of
Heavenly Mary-Gardeners.
I have had a strong sense that you and Ernie's work, as described in
"Our Lady's Solar Greenhouse", represents the fullest realization of
Ed's vision at Mary's Gardens, as a way of life which is a needed
alternative to the world polticial/economic mode of war and poverty.
Also, that my article, "Paradise of Our Lady" represents the best
articulations of how Ed envisaged a Mary Garden.
I hope and pray that these 'riper' presentations of our work will
produce its much wider spread. Also, I believe that the "Herb of
Grace" article has the potential of penetrating the 'interesting
lore' outlook of the horticultural world which prevents it from fully
embracing the Flowers of Our Lady and Mary Gardens. Finally I
consider that the "Relics of the Virgin" (which is my private title
for 'Flowers of the Virgin') gives further power to the Flowers of
Our Lady.
God love you and Ernie,
+
Boston, MA
February 15, 1983
Dear Bonnie,
Thanks for letting me know that you have now been successful in
locating all the foods and supplements called for in your healing
diet. I can see this has been quite a search, and I know you feel
good about having been able to pull it all together. When we have
done a diligent job in doing our part, we can pray to God for
spiritual healing with much greater confidence. Gods wants us to be
his cooperators and do our part. Last Sunday in Chapel, the priest
spoke in his sermon that we are 'instruments, channels and
companions' of the Spirit. We are companions of the Spirit in
working for our own healing. A beautiful thought!
With Lent starting tomorrow, we have another ending and new
beginning. One very visible ending for me is that the Xavier Chapel
down the street in the next block is being closed after the last 4pm
Mass next Sunday, February 20th - due to selling the building, and
consolidating the Jesuit financial activities carried on there with
another location several miles away. Happily there is the Franciscan
Chapel at the Prudential Center 5 blocks from here, but it isn't the
same as being able to drop in for a prayer after getting the paper or
parking the car. I have been really blest by having this chapel so
near by, with the great erudition and spirituality of the priests
there. I am able, however, to visit the Franciscan Chapel after
picking up the mail each morning, and while I haven't had much
contact with the priests there, I am highly attracted to the Our Lady
of the Universe shrine there, and also to the figure of the
Gloriously Risen Crucified Christ in back of the main altar, the
Stations of the Cross, and the St. Anthony and St. Jude shrines and
devotions there.
Significantly, the mystical growth which has had its sacramental
support at the Xavier Chapel, has received a sort of culmination just
now as we approach Lent, and the Chapel closing. I have written you
extensively of the mystical rising of the soul to heaven;
corresponding to the Crucifixion ("into thy hands, I commend my
spirit"), of the spiritual heart (Resurrection); and the spiritual
mind (Ascension).
Recently I have come to understand more fully the rising of the vital
spiritual body to heaven, corresponding to the Assumption, and to the
prayers for mercy and peace at Mass, following the Our Father, just
as the other risings follow the descents of light, grace and wisdom.
The rising of our spiritual body follows the descent of the power of
the spirit at mystical Pentecost, to bestow the Apostolic Gifts. The
heavenly, mystical, reunion of our spiritual body with our spiritual
soul, heart and mind is signified at Mass by the mingling of the
sacramental species of Christ, Body and Blood, which more immediately
signifies the heavenly reunion of Christ: Soul and Resurrected
physical body, and also of Mary's soul with her Assumed body.
(The severances of our subtle, spiritual members from our physical
bodies that make possible these risings are symbolized by Mary's
Sword of Sorrow)
This rising of our vital spiritual body to heaven makes possible the
fullest growth of our interior Tree of Life, rooted in it, to
heavenly branching and blossoming of its branches of roses, and
finally of our crowning heavenly rose - in the first three heavens at
Paradise, Rosary and Rose. Blooming is The Heaven of the Rose, the
petals of our Heavenly Rose, open up to receive the power, wisdom,
grace and light at the Upper heavens of the Word until our mystically
rising and reunited soul, heart, body and mind experience the vision
of the uncreated, creating, Word, in whom is mirrored the Father, in
the Union of the Holy Spirit, in the Heaven of the Trinity. This
vision of the Divine Countenance also gives us the vision of the
glorified, transfigured, re-created world - itself a mirror of God.
Thus, we have:
Earth Purification, Sanctification, Rising
Paradise Salvation, Kingdom, Praise, Lamb of God
Rosary Reparation, Intercession, Mediation, Nativity,
Crucifixion, Resurrection
Rose (Heart) Love, Mercy, Peace, Outpouring
Power Power, Plasma
Wisdom Wisdom, Word of God, Pneuma
Grace Grace
Light Light
Word Alpha & Omega
Trinity Eternal Life, Vision of God, Rest
- from which we came forth, with and like Mary, the woman clothed
with the Sun - fair, bright, terrible - with the divine light, grace,
wisdom and power to glorify, transfigure and recreate the world as
instrument, channel and companion for the Spirit.
With best wishes for a Holy Lent,
Love to Ernie
Sincerely, with Love, In Our Lady,
+
Boston, MA
February 17, 1983
Seven Holy Founders
Of the Servite Order
Dear Bonnie,
On this feast day, I am always especially thoughtful of Father Keane,
of the Servites, who made such a tremendous contribution to the
growth of the Mary Garden Movement with his 1955 Q.M. articles,
including Cape Cod Shrine Mary Garden, which has been such a
perennial favorite, and reprinted in both the Falmouth Enterprise and
Fall River Anchor.
Fresh from all the joy of finally having met Mrs. Lillie in late
August of 1954, I spent two weeks in Chicago on business (making a
two - week survey of the major restaurant chains regarding getting
into the manufacture of portion - packaging machinery for packaging
condiments). When I contacted Fr. Keane, who had written shortly
before, he invited me to the shooting of his weekly T - program (he
was the "Bishop Sheen" of Chicago) and then to spend the evening with
him. He was so appreciative and enthusiastic that I ended up meeting
with him several times, and giving several slide lectures. When I
showed him the research and the draft of the Woods Hole article, he
immediately asked if he could publish them.
This recollection is rather timely, because I would say that from the
horticultural community, Sandy Hicks has a similar kind of immediate
in - depth appreciation of what the Flowers of Our Lady and Mary
Gardens are all about, and I fully share your assessment that this is
a most important new person who has come to us - thanks to your
mailing of the Woods Hole Press release to the Herb Society office
last summer. That providential factors are involved would seem to be
indicated by the fact that the press release lay on someone's desk
for six months and yet got to her. Then her letter to you of January
17th was 'shredded' at the post office, yet got to you from the
internal address, without envelope, So she's still getting the
article in, as she requested it over the phone.
Her article seemed to be drawn primarily from The Marian Era, the
Catholic Woman's Journal and QUEEN (May - June, 1982), but had her
own beautiful style. What seemed to 'grab' her particularly was the
quest for the medieval Mary Garden and it was extremely helpful to me
to have the specific information from the Crisp, with page numbers,
etc., with which you briefed me over the phone before I talked with
her (1 1/2 hours!).
She could readily see how an actual Mary Garden planting wouldn't be
very likely until the botanists and folklorists had come up with all
the names in the 18th and 19th centuries, and yet that particular
period, being after the Medieval Age of Faith, wasn't conducive to
such a Garden - so that Mrs. Lillie's Garden of Our Lady was indeed
a new creation!
She could also see that the Norwich Priory and Melrose Abbey
information - from "Green Enchantment" - would be misleading if
regarded as fact, and yet a perfectly acceptable imaginative
historical reconstruction. She had already noted that "Green
Enchantment" was published after the founding of the Woods Hole
Garden of Our Lady in 1932.
So, Bonnie, I very much share your assessment of the potential great
importance of her 'sense for these things', interest and article.
We talked for an hour and a half!
Here are the materials I sent her with annotations with my letter of
today, of which I mailed you a copy this morning:
- Herbarist Mary Garden article, 1953
- Woods Hole Planting Plan a Gift
- 1963 Photo
- 1981 Photo
- 1937 Photo
- 4 Medici Flowers of Our Lady holy card photos
- Pinchard 1953 Kalendar
- Mary's Gardens Catalog, 1955
- Pink Herbs List
- QUEEM Jul - Aug, 1982
- "My Garden Prays" with Patience
- Guadeloupe Parish Garden article
- Galega article
- Cloisters List
- 1962 Herb Society Garden Sheet (Washington)
- Idaho DailyŠarticle (Wash) 1965
- Our Mother of Consolation Plan & Photo
- Phila Flower Show Plan & Photo 1968
- "Flower of the Virgin" MS (S.O.M)
- Press List
Evidently, you had sent her most of my articles. I told her about the
Philippines Gardens, and the roof garden at the Ambos Mundos Hotel in
Havana, and mentioned several hospitals and shrines - but pointed
out that Mary Gardens were mostly private gardens, and we are
awaiting magnificent gardens the equivalent of the National Herb
Garden.
This is wonderful, Bonnie, that your contacts and friends are all
responding so beautifully.
Love to Ernie
Love, In Our Lady,
+
Boston, Ma
February 23, 1983
Dear Bonnie,
Yesterday the 'Ave' acceptance came in the mail, and today Sandy
Hicks 'Herbarist' article, about which I will phone you tonight.
Our cup continues to run over.
Like the Greenhouse article, the 'Ave' article probably won't
appear until the Fall, but the important thing is that they are
both 'in the works'.
For this spring, we will have the 'Immaculata' and 'Queen'
articles, and then we'll keep hoping for the "H.Q." and "Anchor"
articles.
Altogether, including the Herb Grower short article, this would be
eight articles for '83.
I think Sandy has done a beautiful job, in that while the material
is mainly ours - in many cases, entire paragraphs - but she has
some beautiful turns of phrase that tie things together in ways I
could never find just the right word for.
She wants us to sign the article as co-authors, which I think is
beautiful. On the other hand, I think she should have some
recognition for her contribution. I will discuss this with you
over the phone.
Several thoughts:
It occurred to me that the 'Holy Hay' plants might apply to the
'Grace' plants as well as the 'Manger' plants.
Another: Strabo's speaking of the Rose and Lily as symbols of
Christian war and peace is rather striking. It made me realize
that the true concept of spiritual warfare against the world, the
flesh and the devil has been lost in the secular concepts of 'Holy
War' and 'International War'.
In fact, the word 'war' has become so identified with physical
weapons and violence that the term is almost useless. In speaking
of spiritual combat for this reason, I view the term 'warfare' in
the Strabo quotation (which would be as valid a translation from
the Latin as 'war').
However, Strabo's view of the rose as a symbol of Christian 'war'
in the same breath, so to speak, as the lily of peace is important
to the overall Mary Garden concept.
I know that you have been mindful of this in your cultivation of
'artillery' plant.
What is involved here is some concept of active spiritual warfare -
against the world, flesh and devil - that is called to mind by the
red rose. The concept of the Christian Beatitudes and the Sermon
of the Mount, to the ultimate of Martyrdom, needs an active
immolative thrust.
This dimension of spiritual power is part of the Mary Garden
concept and dynamism, and Strabo's quotation challenges me to
articulate this. I would appreciate your thoughts and help in
this.
There is something different about Mary coming forth clothed with
the Sun at Fatimas, 'terrible as an army fit in battle array' with
her head on the serpent's heal, destroying heresies, and conquering
the world for her Son - as leader of the the Legion of Mary -
something more 'active' than the 'passive' immolation and
reparation of the redemptive use of suffering and the martyr's
death. She 'stands' at the foot of the Cross, with soul and heart
pierced with the Sword of Sorrow; but she also 'comes forth'
mediating the renewing and recreating action of the Holy Spirit.
When Edmund Campion was chosen for his underground mission to
England, his fellow seminarians in Switzerland gave him red roses!
Thus, you are ill, and I am constantly pulled away from Mary's
Garden by personal and family pressures and needs - yet through our
weakness, the power of grace and providence work to spread the Mary
Garden idea and movement - not directly and immediately through us,
because without grace and providence operating in others, we could
do nothing, and so many of our direct efforts and contacts seem to
be fruitless; yet we keep issuing our call and all of a sudden
there appear Brother Sean, Father LaTraverie, Janet Diehl, Jane
McLaughlin, Sandy Hicks (to mention the more recent period), who
seem to be the instruments of grace and providence.
I suppose that to be fully Christian means to be at war with the
world in the sense that if we promote the Gospel fully, we will
necessarily, like Jesus, encounter martyrdom - if not of the flesh,
certainly of the spirit - and this is the symbolism of the red
rose.
Love to Ernie
Sincerely, In Our Lady,
+
Boston, MA
February 27, 1983
Dear Bonnie,
In my constant ruminations on the source and nature of the
spiritual power which will operate to accomplish the salvation and
Kingdom we know will come, I finally think I have come to visualize
this, for our prayers.
The problem is that even though grace and light and the word of God
are liberally distributed, they are also too frequently rejected -
as in the Parable of the Sower, with some seed falling on rocky
ground, some being scattered by the cares of the world, etc.
This is of immediate concern to us in Mary's Gardens because of our
burning desire and zeal to see the Flowers of Our Lady and Mary
Gardens spread throughout the world as a sacramentalized means of
salvation, kingdom and the renewal of the face of the earth.
We certainly know that we ourselves cannot exercise power; that the
Lord must plant the garden (to paraphrase the Psalm); and that
power is made perfect in weakness.
But must we be completely passive in this? I think not. I think
that as adopted children of God, as children of the light, as
showers in God's goodness, there are ways in which we are called to
be in the channels and instruments of God's power.
What I envisage has to do with the mystical rising of our spiritual
members to heaven - our soul, heart, mind and vital body - and the
rising of our interior tree or vine of life to heaven with them.
Thus, as our soul rises to heaven at our mystical creation ("Into
thy hand, I commend my spirit") , our tree of life, vine-like, or
like 'Jack's beanstalk', extends up our spiritual tower or vortex,
to bloom our heavenly rose in the Heaven of Light. Following this,
as our heart rises, at our spiritual resurrection leaves unfold in
the Heaven of Grace; and as our mind rises at our spiritual
ascension, fruits and seeds, ripen in the Heaven of Wisdom.
Finally, as the descent of spiritual power at our spiritual
Pentacost moves us to the apostolic, missionary activities that
sever the earthly bond, of our vital spiritual body to our
physical body, our vital spiritual body rises at our spiritual
assumption, to the Heaven of Power, with the generation there of
new heavenly roots, for our Tree/Vine of Life.
What I have come to see is that as our Tree/Vine of Life
experiences new heavenly growth under the shining of the sun of the
eternal Word - the 'light shining in the darkness' - it showers
flowers of light, seeds of grace, fruits of wisdom and word, and
roots, offshoots, bulbs, and divisions of power. In other words in
the analogy between the life of the Spirit and the life of plants, it
is vegetative propagation which symbolizes the outflow of spiritual
power.
In spiritual writings these showerings of 'root power' are spoken
of as fiery darts or arrows of the Spirit end of Love.
Interestingly, there is a parallel in this to Mary, the Woman
Clothed with the Sun, "coming forth terrible as an army set in
battle array", mediating and distributing these darts and arrows,
directly and through angels, to hearts - and mirrored in Venus'
sending Cupid to cast his arrows of love into hearts, per our
Valentines.
The important thing is that the shooting of spiritual darts or
arrows of power into hearts is a means of distributing spiritual
power which does not violate free will. On the other hand, it is a
more puritive, active, means of spiritual distribution than the
showering of flowers or leaves, or scattering of seeds of light,
grace and pneuma. And it brings us back to St. Louis de
Montefort's appreciation to Mary of the passage: "strike the roots
of your virtues in my elect".
Through the full rising of our Tree of Life to Heaven - flowers,
leaves, fruit, and roots - and its growth in the light of the Sun
of the Word, so that it showers flowers of light, leaves of grace,
seeds of God, word and wisdom, and roots of power on earth - power
being 'made perfect in weakness' - the weakness of our attempted
power that permits the divine power to operate.
Love to Ernie.
Sincerely, with love, in Our Lady,
+
Boston, MA
February 28, 1983
Dear Bonnie,
The pulling together of our historical materials and our own
internal files for Woods Hole for the Press File, for the
Osterville slide lecture introduction for "Flowers of the Virgin
Mary" (for the Society of Mary), and now for Sandy's articles has
started me thinking about what else needs to be done. I'm sure you
have had similar thoughts as you have been going through your
files.
It seems to me that several of these things are:
Mariana 2, bringing all the plant name research together in one
file and document alphabetically both by religious name and by
botanical name, with a cross reference by common name.
Flower and Plant Legends of Our Lady and the Saints
Testimonials from where the first compiling left off, around 1955,
to the present
Correspondence Files for Our Spiritual Supporters (except for my
correspondence with you, Sister Margaret Rose, and Brother Sean):
all in one big file by date, correspondence file summary, listings
and index).
Complete Bibliography of our books.
Fortunately, micro-computers have been developed, and their cost
reduced, to the point, where, God willing, I will be able to do all
this on computer - which makes it possible to revise, insert and
re-arrange things on disk and then print them out, without having
to keep re-typing things over and over. All my articles of this
year, and the press and Garden of Our Lady lists have been written
on a small computer 'word processor', which has made it about 5
times easier to revise and polish each article - so I have written
five instead of one.
I believe you have sent on to me most of your research summaries of
plant names as you have prepared them, so that I am in pretty good
shape for pulling the overall plant name research into shape. I
have done very little collecting Plant Legends.
It occurred to me that perhaps - since I assume it is uncomfortable
for you to do a lot of writing - you could start a series of tapes
of legends in that you would list one book at a time (by Author,
Title, Date, Publisher, City) and for each legend, giving a title,
page, and then reading the 'text' on tape. That is something that
you could pick up and put down again.
The other area you could perhaps undertake would be to put on tape
an ongoing listing of books relating to the Flowers of Our Lady - a
bibliography, which I could then have typed up in combination with
mine.
Information you put on tape, can be typed (by me) on computer discs
- directly, or for later editing and arrangings without having to
type them over.
It's wonderful that computer technology has been developed for
personal use at this time, just as we are pulling all our notes,
files and other research together.
One start we made of this was the long taping we made of my visit
to Hagerman in 1968. I will listen to these tapes again, making
notes, and send you a summary, so you will know what I already
have. Unfortunately, two of these 4 tapes were pilfered from my
home in Philadelphia by others for re-use. You replaced them for
me, but I think there are some missing. I will let you know about
this. Meanwhile, if you locate these tapes, pack them somewhere
wherever you can get your hands on them.
Love to Ernie
Sincerely, with Love, In Our Lady
+
Boston, MA
March 2, 1983
Dear Bonnie,
Thanks for the most beautiful tape - a real treasure - and the box
which arrived on Feb 28 (Monday).
I drove to Woods Hole that day for a brief visit and taped you from
there (enclosed).
I took 6 pages of notes on your tape, and will answer you item by
item from those notes.
I love Our Lady, Star of the Sea. It's very much like a print I
have of Our Lady of the Scapular, but I like it much more. I will
keep it, like the Our Lady of Guadeloupe scarf you sent several
years ago, in my study.
I am forwarding Jen a copy of "The Herb Grower", per the enclosed
copy of my letter to her of today.
I have noted the change of editorship of "The Register", and will
preserve the full copies you sent me.
Your letter to Bro. Sean was so beautiful, as was his response.
It's so important to "tell it like it is".
I will pray that you get to visit the Pilgrim Virgin on Sunday
the 6th, as you ask.
Thanks for the copy of the diet. So glad you are on it, and are
able to get all the things called for.
Yes, the Shrines of Our Lady are so important, as distinct from
parishes. I hope Woods Hole can be both. The trust factor is a
very important element in this.
The "Legends of St. Joseph" sounds great! As I write, I think it's
important for us to arrange all these flower legends. I hope that
maybe you can tape them, since photocopying is inconvenient for you.
Thanks for the exhibits of the "lost" letter from Sandy. This is a
very important example of the workings of Providence. In the early
'50's, a friend of Ed's who was a postal worker found a letter to
Mary's Garden in the Post Office that didn't even have an address
and forwarded it to him. Reminds me of a Mary Flowers poem we found
left in a public copying machine.
Glad you liked the photo of my little handmade Mary Garden Virgin &
Child with halo of snow. The plants are Geranium, Crown of Thorns,
Rosary Plant, 2 Begonias and two Cyclamens.
Ed died in February, 1973 R.I.P.
I personally have conceived our partnership to go back to 1957, from
the moment you wrote us re. your Mary Garden; consolidated with the
move of the Mary Garden headquarters to Hagersman as 1968, following
my visit. We didn't discuss these things in these terms, but this
is the way I see they happened. I think 'partner' or 'working
partner' or 'corresponding' partner' are as appropriate. I prefer
the first. But, whatever you like.
I think of Bro. Sean as our 'Irish Associate' or 'Irish Mary's
Gardens Associate', and Jane as our 'Woods Hole Associate'.
Your taped letters are just fine, as received..
I will rewind the boxes of tapes, as you suggest.
I'll appreciate your copying me on your 70's films, as you have the
opportunity, or informing me as appropriate.
It means a lot to me that you are pleased with my work during this
new period since 1980. I think I have moved into a much deeper mode
of understanding and appreciation of all the things of the Flowers
of Our lady and Mary Gardens, thanks to your prayers.
I ask that you pray that we still will be able to pull all this
research and notes together in permanent published form for the view
of all interested and inspired progress from now until the end of
the world.
Thanks for the Santa Maria leaves. I do hope you find the ultimate
Martin de Poires reference.
I will definitely try to get going with the alfafa sprouts - with
the jar and screen you send me last year and the fresh 1982 seeds.
Thanks, too, for the dried prunes and apples. I like to chew them
just as they are.
Thanks especially for getting the books for me, on which I will
comment as I have a chance to read them.
Yes, I would like to see a copy of Fr. Stanley's letter.
I agree that having the exact Crisp information available for Sandy
at the right moment was of the utmost importance, I appreciate your
getting it for me.
I plan to send her and your copies of my correspondence with her
1950's predecessor as Editor of "The Herbarist", Martha Foster
Stearns. I think Sandy feels freer to go all out for Mary's
Gardens' than Mrs. Stearns did, as Catholic.
The "Birthday Groups" and Mary carrying the child on her back in the
Flight are things I definitely meant - and will be able to send you
a check later this month.
Yes, consider our 'account' settled on the books - more than
settled!
I will let you know anything further I may hear from Sandy.
Glad to hear the 'spring' season has started for Ernie, with the
tractor, etc.
This has all been written at 'lightening speed', Bonnie, but I've
found that if I don't 'do it now'; when there are a lot of details
to be addressed it just doesn't get done.
I think I've covered everything I noted from the tape. I just took
'time out' to eat some of the apples. They are just as delicious as
those you sent a year ago, from the same 'crop'.
I have just spent the better part of an hour reading through Lee's
"Our Lady of Guadeloupe" (1946) - especially the Introduction and
Conclusion. I was very moved by the author's discussion of of
Mexican devotion to Our Lady of Guadeloupe, in the conclusion, which
is along the lines of what you have said so many times. I
especially treasure the passage on p. 359:
"To make Our Lord and Lady inseparable from their daily lives they
have a heavenly patron for every trade and profession. In stores
and shops an appropriate statue or picture is prominently placed,
and lights are kept burning before it. Indeed, and one of the most
characteristic features of a Mexican town of night is the twinkling
of the 'Saints' lamps'. They shine on every side, empirically in
the poor one-room dwellings along the streets; and the sacred
representatives they illuminate make the home and whole town look
holy. It is often, but not always, figure of Our Lady of
Guadeloupe."
Love to Ernie.
Sincerely, in Our Lady
+
Boston, A
March 11, 1983
Dear Bonnie,
I would like to continue the thoughts sets forth in my letter to
you of February 27th regarding my perceptions or discernments of
the rising of our spiritual soul, heart, mind, body and rose
tree/vine of life to heaven, and the showering of light, grace,
wisdom and power back down to earth as flowers, leaves, fruits and
roots (fiery darts).
Already, it's Saturday morning, March 12. I was tired and became
drowsy last night as I was recollecting my thoughts that I want to
share with you. They were a lot clearer as I awoke. But I will
not be able to complete this letter until tomorrow morning.
Each weekday morning, after rising at 7, I read the Hours, dress,
eat and then go out at 8 for the mail, shopping for needed staples
and photocopying so I can start the family 'workday' at 9.
However, on Saturday, when our post office is closed, I write
between 8 and 9, and then make a quick trip for the paper.
Likewise on Sunday, when I go to Mass at 9.
Of course, there are periods of Mary's Gardens'work during the day,
but except when there are urgent matters to be taken care of, or
deadlines to be met, I make my first priority helping with home
work and needs, and fit my individual or personal work in between.
Then, also, I usually put in a couple of hours of work after
supper, but as last night, may find myself too drowsy. At night, I
try to do typing, as the moment by moment attention required keeps
me alert. In the early evening we watch the TV news, specials,
situation comedies and drama or movies.
In my February 27th letter, I wrote mostly of the growth and
flowering of our rose tree/vine of life as it rises up with our
spiritual soul, heart, mind and body. But, in addition to this,
there are the things that then occur with our soul, heart, mind and
body themselves as we are incorporated in the fullest channeling
and instrumentation of God's light, grace, word, power and
governance on earth for conversion, salvation, apostolate,
kingdom and mercy.
3/13/83
This is where I believe a fuller understanding of Reparation comes
in. Because, as we work, with the showerings of light, grace, word
and power to instrument conversion, salvation, apostolate, kingdom
and mercy on earth - in what I consider, mystically to be the
'Reign Descent' - we continue to experience adversity, opposition,
mortification and immolation. And as we experience these on earth,
Christ - of whom we are the members, 'other Christ' - experiences
them through, with and in us in heaven. It is especially all these
offenses which Christ receives, through us, after his Crucifixion,
Resurrection and Ascension that we make reparation, in accordance
with the Angel's Prayer at Fatima:
"Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore
you profoundly. I offer you the most precious body,
blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all
the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the
numerous insults, sacrileges and negligences whereby He
is offended."
"By the infinite merits of your most Sacred Heart, and
through the Immculate Heart of Mary, I beg of you the
convesion of sinners." (To which I add "and of
unbelievers.")
Note that this prayer of reparation for offenses to the risen
Christ is made not just to him, but to the three persons of the
Trinity. This is because, mystically speaking, it is the ultimate
immolation of this reparation, purifying our soul, raised to
heaven, that the offer of our soul, our spirit, may be raised from
the created heavens to the very uncreated heaven of the Trinity.
Then, as our spirit comes forth from the heaven of the Trinity to
the created heavens, resplendent, like Moses, with the shining of
God's countenance, it, with Mary's nurturing and matrixing,
rejoins, transfiguringly, our raised soul, heart, mind and
spiritual body, in the heavens of light, grace, wisdom and power -
like Mary, clothed with the SunŠ'bright, fair and terrible."
This, then, prepares us for what I discern mystically to be the
'pleuromic' or fullness descent' in which - in addition to working
for conversion, salvation, apostolate, kingdom and mercy - we work
instrumentally for transfiguration, transformation, and the lifting
up of all things in the fullness or pleuroma of Christ in the New
Earth and New Heaven, of the "Pleuromic Ascent' and Promise of the
end of this world.
At Mass, just now, I felt I had finally made the spiritual
transition from the Xavier Chapel - which, as I wrote, closed
permanently 3 weeks ago - to the Franciscan Chapel in the
Prudential Center. I will append to this letter a copy of a little
poem of my youngest daughter - to the Assumption Nuns, when her
school closed down at the end of her senior year - which I gave,
with note to the Jesuit Fathers at the 'lass Mass', 9 p.m. Sunday,
February 20th.
At that last Mass, I recall the poignant glance of sadness I
received from 'Judy', who kept such beautiful bouquets of flowers
on the altar there, as they prepared to strip the altar for the
last time. Today, someone came in during Mass to kneel in the pew
where I was kneeling, and as we went to receive Communion I noticed
that it was Judy, with a wrapped bouquet of flowers - tulips,
daffodils, white chrysanthemums - in her arms which she took with
her to communion - this time with a glance to me of joy and new
beginnings. (I've never really had a conversation with Judy, and
don't know her last name. One of the priest introduced me to her
briefly one Sunday when I asked him who 'did' the flowers for the
Chapel, and he said " Oh, she's right here' John meet Judy."
Once I met her on the street, told her about the Garden of Our Lady
and the coming Jubilee ("Oh, we'll have to pray for that") and gave
her copies of the Pinchard Kalendar, the Medici, Flower of Our Lady
holy cards and several articles I had in my briefcase.) After
Mass, she arranged the flowers in the vase at the feet of the Our
Lady of the Universe statue. Also, as Mass there I have seen the
woman from the closed chapel who has the one tiny Mary Garden I
know of in our neighborhood. I of course so miss having a chapel
in our block, which I can drop in on after parking the car etc..
Now, as I walk past the building, I am conscious that the
tabernacle, altar and statuary are gone - although, as with 'Mendel
House', I am also conscious of the hallowing of the very building
itself by the many masses and blessings there through the years.
Returning to the rising of our soul, heart, mind and spiritual body
to the created heavens; and then of our spirit, the apex of our
soul, to the uncreated heaven of the Trinity - I have found the
movements of the Mass to provide the ultimate clarification and
support for this:
Consecration of Chalice Crucifixion; rising of the soul to
heaven
Commemorative Prayer Resurrection; rising of the spiritual
heart to heaven in mercy
Doxology ("Through him...") Ascension; rising of the spiritual
mind to heaven's praises.
Our Father Pentecost; descent of the power of
the Holy Spirit.
Mingling of the Species Assumption - rising of the vital
spiritual body to heaven.
"Behold the Lamb of God" Opening of our rose tree/vine of life
to welcoming Sun of Christ
Priest's reception of Body Reign descent; showering of light,
grace, word, power for renewal,
re-creation
Priest's reception of Blood Reign Ascent; further purification of
soul, through Reparation.
Priest's entering Tabernacle 'Coronation'; Spirit's entry into
Trinity; shining of God's countenance
People's Communion Spirit's carrying forth to transfigure
soul, heart, Mind and body.
Final blessing; going forth Return to earth & physical body for
transfiguration,
(Pleuromic Descent) Transformation and lifting up of all
things in Christ.
This sounds rather complex written out, but when the movements of
the Mass are considered as a drama, as has been pointed out by many
writers, then we recapitulate our inner mystical growth and
movements with the movements of the priest celebrating the Mass.
Ultimately, in Mary's Gardens, we are endeavoring, as God's
instruments, to contribute to the transfiguration, transformation
and lifting up of flowers, gardens, and all things, as they move
towards the New heaven and New Earth - as I set forth in "Mary
Garden Jubilee", II & III, and in "Paradise of Our Lady"; also in
"Our Lady's Solar Greenhouse".
While we can't 'make' anybody do anything, - in the mystical Reign
Descent we can participate in the showering of light, grace,
pleuroma and fiery darts of power on others; and in the Pleuromic
Descent we can contribute to the lifting up of others by the
sacramental lifting up of the things of their lives. We contribute
to the lifting up of all things in Christ as 'other Christs' -
lifting them by with, & for Christ.
The purpose of this mystical quest and journey into heaven is to
attune ourselves as utterly as possible to the Divine action, in
accordance with God's will, pleasure and plan, and Mary's
intercession and mediation - so that at this point, our task is to
keep mortified, immolated and praying to the Trinity, Mary, Angels
and Saints for utter increase in the action of God's love through
us.
Love to Ernie.
Sincerely, in love, in Our Lady
P.S.
A couple of further thoughts I had, I would like to share with you.
First, this lent I have been praying the Stations of the Cross in a
very simple way - while looking at each station, I think about what
is taking place, name it, and say 'love'. Thus: "Jesus, stripped
of his garments - Love!"; "Jesus nailed to the Cross - Love!" etc..
Second, In respect to grace, light, word and power pouring forth
from sacramentally blessed flowers - it struck me that the speaking
of God to Moses through the burning bush is the exempter for this.
Then, after God our Father's countenance has shone on our spirit in
the heaven of the Trinity, the Father - who is one with his
countenance and its shining - dwells in us through this radiance,
as he did in Moses. Then, when we make reparation for the
offerings committed against Jesus, the Father is able to
participate in this through his indwelling radiantly within us.
Thus, through us, the Father is able to participate in reparation
to the Son - just as we are able to participate with the Son in his
reparation of the Passion and Cross to the Father. Similarly, the
Son dwells in us through the shining of his countenance, as Word,
as our heavenly rose. Thus, the Father and Son mirror back and
forth to each other between our spirit/soul and our heavenly rose.
Also, I have been thinking of the single, five-petalled red rose
symbolism of the blood of the five wounds of Christ in terms of not
just redness and the number five - but also of the rose as sign of
the body, the two arms and the two legs of Christ, so that the red
rose is seen as an image of Christ Crucified..
Mary's ultimate mediation is of the light of the Word, and of the
light of the Father's countenance - as well as the light of the
Holy Spirit.
"My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoined in God
my savior" - finally, at the end of time:
- The Rose of Heaven opens up in the Heaven of the Trinity,
from which it descends as the New Heavenly Jerusalem.
- The resurrected Church of the Saints and Earth rise up to meet
it as the New Earth.
- The Heavens of Light, Grace, Word and Power are completeley
emptied into the New Heaven and Earth.
- The Heavens of paradise and the Rosary rise to the Heaven of
the Trinity to form the New Paradise and Rosary.
- The New Heavenly City, Paradise and Rosary become one with the
Heaven of the Trinity and...
- Christ, having become all in all, mirrors all back to the
Father; who in turn mirrors all back to the Son - for ever
and ever in the spiration of the Holy Spirit.
Amen..
3/14/83
The rise of our spirit from the created heaven to the heaven of the
Trinity is symbolized by the setting of the sun, and our coming
forth again, resplendent, with Mary, by the 'morning rising'
. . .and thus, in Mary Gardens, by the closing of flowers in the
evening, and their opening again in the morning especially
Calendulas - "winking Mary buds...".
Sincerely,
-----------------------
Copy of Note and Poem to priests of closing Xavier Chapel:
2/20/83
Dear Fathers Pierre, Mulverhill and Facey,
This is to express profound appreciation for your ministry here in
Back Bay the six years I have been attending the Xavier Chapel,
which has been a beloved spiritual home for me.
At this moment of the closing of the Chapel, I hope the
accompanying poem - composed by my daughter Stephanie with a drawing
of a ship, when the convent school she attended, run by the Sisters of
the Assumption in Philadelphia, was closed her senior year, 1977 -
will offer some solace and hope.
"The wind was fair and steady
and with that, the ship set on its voyage.
One of many such vessels,
It, too, had its course to follow.
It's direction was set, its tasks plotted:
It's destiny lay in the hands of its crew
And the breath of the winds.
"...One night, though, as the stars rose above the seas
the winds failed, the full sails fell slack
and the shop slowed to a halt.
The hands of the crew could not revive the steady winds:
"The ship held still, becalmed.
Then, gently in the quiet of the night
A new wind came across the waters.
As it filled the freshened sails
The ship turned toward another direction.
Looking to the stars above
The crew plotted another course..
"...and the ship set out anew."
Stephanie Stokes
+
Boston, MA
March 21, 1983
Dear Bonnie,
Your letter of March 14th was waiting for me at the post office
this morning, Monday, after my return over the weekend from a trip
last week to Pennsylvania.
On arriving there, I was greeted by the ever-enlarging clump of
snowdrops by the front door of our house.
And, on returning to Boston, I found all the crocuses in bloom -
also the large clump of Christmas Roses nearby, and St. Joseph's
Bells.
For some reason or other this trip really exhausted me - even
though the driving was very easy, and there were no exceptional
stresses on the trip.
It sort of broke my stride. Perhaps the lack of daily visits to
chapel have something to do with it - even though I am able to keep
up with the Hours each day.
On the other hand, I recall writing a week ago that I was drowsy in
the evening, so there may be something else operating.
I think that mystically, I have reached God's Rest - which means I
no longer am thinking of the 'next step' of rising spiritually to
heaven. Now, it's a matter of being firmly anchored in heaven,
coming forth each morning, and returning each night - which may
explain the physiological fatigue, in periods of previous natural
energy.
3/22/83
I have come to see, further, that there is another 'movement' to
the end of the mass, that I didn't properly appreciate when I wrote
you on March 11th-13th.
Thus, I now see that we go forth in the Pleuromic Descent, after
receiving the Host in sacramental Communion to work for the
transfiguration, transformation and lifting up of all things in
Christ - and then experience further immolation in this (symbolized
by our sacramental reception of the Blood of Christ - whether we
receive communion in one or both species). Following this further
immolation, we are now purified to enter God's Rest - symbolized by
the priest's return of the ciborium of hosts to the Tabernacle, and
the closing of the door. It is from this Rest, that we go forth in
peace at the dismissal blessing of the Mass.
The final stages of the Mass would thus be summarized of:
People's Communion: Body - Pleuromic Descent - Transfiguring,
Transforming
Blood - Immolative Pleuromic Ascent -
Uplifting
Return of Ciborium to Heavenly Rest - in the Trinity
Tabernacle
Dismissal Blessing Going forth in Peace
The 'Last Gospel' of the Old, pre-Vatican II, Mass ('in the
beginning was the Word, and the Word was made flesh and dwelt
amongst us'), symbolized the going forth from Rest more fully in
re-creation.
The difficulty with entering mystically into God's Rest is that we
are so accustomed morally and mystically, to struggling against
some particular earthly distraction or evil, or promoting some
particular earthly good, that when we enter the fullness of Rest,
we are sort of 'swimming', or at loose ends.
In working my way through this, I have come to see that we have to
rest in the abyss of the fullness of God's goodness, and then come
forth with all the variedness and mobility of the Holy Spirit as
it moves about from evil to evil to overcome them and from good to
good to promote them - always returning to the fullness of Rest in
the interior of the Trinity - rather than rest on external goods.
Sort of an in and out 'breathing' from the world to the Trinity and
back - and back and forth.
Then, too as our vital spiritual body rises to heaven (as we
'worship the Lord, our God with our whole heart, mind, soul and
strength'), our natural vitality is, as it were, directed to God in
heaven, sapping us of our earthly, physical strength. This leaves
us feeling tired and fatigued - but only until we are filled with
the Divine strength and power. Thus, God gives us the strength and
power to do whatever He wants us to do, or suffer whatever He wants
us to suffer - just as he gives us consolations and movements of
grace; illuminations from the light of his countenance; and
locutions or words of his wisdom.
I'm amazed at how full of energy I felt when working on the Woods
Hole research in 1981 and in writing articles in January and
February of this year - and how weak and tired in between.
While in Pennsylvania, I checked through very carefully my Catholic
Encylopedia (1913, XVI volumes) in the sections on blessings, holy
water and sacramentals, with respect to what I have been writing
about garden blessings, etc. - and everything seems to be ok. I
was impressed by the emphasis that ritually blessed objects are
always to be regarded not as somehow holy in themselves (which
would be superstitious), but as incorporated as means or channels
through which the actual (not sanctifying) grace and merits of
Christ and the Church flow to the various areas of life. I was
impressed similarly with the emphasis that not only is this so, but
more than this, it is necessary if these graces and merits are to
be widely distributed. I have brought the Encyclopedia to Boston.
One passage on candles astonished me with some symbolism I must
have encountered before, but just didn't grasp the full importance
of candles for application to the Flower of Our Lady symbolism:
Vol. I, p.347 ALTAR CANDLES
"For mystical reasons the Church prescribes that the candles used
at Mass and or other liturgical functions be made of bees-wax
(luminaria cerea).
"The pure wax extracted by bees from flowers symbolizes the pure
flesh of Christ received from his Virgin Mother; the wick signifies
the soul of Christ; the flame represents his divinity. Although
the two latter properties are found in all kinds of candles, the
first is proper of bees-wax candles only. It is, however, not
necessary that they be made of bees-wax without any admixture.
Candles made wholly of any other material, such as tallow,
stearine, paraffin, etc. are forbidden."
(Notice from Wheldon & Wesley enclosed)
Love to Ernie
Love, in Our Lady,
+
Boston, M A
March 30, 1983
Wednesday of Holy Week
Dear Bonnie,
To repeat what I said over the phone March 28th, I thank you for
locating and ordering the copy of Crisp for me.
It takes me right back to the moment when Ed McTague discovered the
first few medieval 'Mary Garden' paintings, drawings or wood-cuts at
the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society library in February of 1951,
along with the old prayers we reprinted that year; and when we
decided to use the name 'Mary's Gardens' for our work. I haven't
really re-captured that moment before but the book brought it about.
The wonderful thing is to see so many and varied Mary Garden
paintings or drawings in one book - along with the beautiful text.
Also, it quickens the mystery of how there surely must have actual
outdoor medieval Mary Gardens of plants, yet there have not yet been
found by us any authenticated contemporary records of these.
The way Sandy Hicks put this in 'our' article for the Herbarist says
it very beautifully.
In thinking about it further, I think it is justice to say it is 'our
article but with her editing'. Some insights for a new article have
been forming in my mind - going beyond 'Mary Garden Jubilee' and
'Paradise of Our lady' in regard to how the Mary Garden view of the
transfiguration of the face of the earth can be extended to
everything.
I appreciate what you said over the phone about my recent articles
having a new, special, quality about them. Jane, too, has mentioned
that they seem to have a certain grace - especially those of this
year. I feel that your offering of your sufferings for our mutual
work have much to do with this. Another most important ingredient of
these articles is that they have all been developed and nurtured from
letters I have written to you about the ideas in correspondence form
- which are quite different from the notes I make in my little
journal I always carry with me; which are 'to myself', rather than to
others. So these articles are in an important way yours, too, Bonnie
- and I'm so glad that one, in The Herbarist, will have both our
names on it, and was developed out of communications we both had, in
perfect harmony, with Sandy.
I have a feeling her artist is going to come up with a beautiful
drawing...from the Garden of Our Lady photos, and also from going
through Crisp.
I have been thinking of the new article - which won't be presented
specifically as a Mary's Gardens or Flowers of Our Lady article - but
under the title of "Mystical Computing"; because it proposes to
demonstrate that the luminous images photographs, graphics, words,
numbers and symbols on TV and computer 'screens' (CRT's - Cathode
Ray Tubes) provide a very close envisioning of, and link with, the
luminous insights and visions of mystical life, as do the
luminescence of flowers and the reflections of leaves.
My "Jubilee" and "Paradise" articles develop the way in which we can
come to see the Mary Gardens as flowing with grace, and transfigured
with spiritual light - as a key to seeing the whole of our
surroundings and work, and ultimately the whole world in that way -
but they don't give the concrete way in which this can really come
about actually to renew the face of the earth and to usher in the
Peaceable Kingdom; to transfigure it and lift it up to meet the
descending Heavenly Jerusalem.
The "Greenhouse" article attempts to show concretely how this can
come about in terms of your herb-gardening, Mary-Gardening, and God's
acre of vegetables, berries and fruits, and the sharing of surplus
with family, friends, neighbors and visitors.
But it still doesn't show concretely how this sacramentalization and
transfiguration can be extended to the whole world - of science,
technology, industry, manufacturing, trade, money, politics, news
and current events.
To do this, I propose to go back to Auguste Nicolas' insight, quoted
in "Jubilee" that:
"..the order of the natural sciences, including the processes of
these sciences, profoundly reflects Jesus Christ and his mysteries.
Indeed it soars even higher than nature, pushes farther ahead in its
secrets, and arrives, as though by the formulas of a transcendental
alphabet, at marvelous illuminations, which associate it with the
vision of angels, and anticipate some of the answers that are
reserved for us by eternity."
Then, I propose to show that just as the Luminous beauty of flowers
provides us with a vision of transfiguration which we can extend to
our composition and tending of an entire garden - so, too, there is a
luminosity of all things, as seen on the TV tubes and computer
displays, that provides us with a vision and aura of transfiguration
which we can extend to all the areas of modern life - including the
scientific, technological, industrial, economic, political.
In other words, we need a dynamic vision of all things transfigured,
which also provides a way and a matrix for actually making this
transfiguration a reality, a step towards renewing the face of the
earth - just as the luminosity of flowers gives us a vision. way and
matrix for actually making a transfigured garden, as I proposed in
the 1953 article, "Honoring Mary with God's Artistry".
The first step of transfiguration for us (pre-figured by the
Transfiguration of Christ) is the mystical transfiguration of our own
souls, and through this, of our vision of the garden and the world.
The mystical rising of our souls to the Heaven of the Trinity is its
ultimate transfiguration, but prior to this there are other partial
transfigurations of it and its vision - first its illuminations by
spiritual enlightenment and visions, and then the culmination of
these, prior to heavenly rising, in the opening of the 'eye of the
soul', or our 'third eye'.
The important thing that is happening towards this end is that the
providential development of science and technology are developing
luminous mirrorings of illumination from all the objects of life, and
not just from the luminous of nature such as flowers, and sunlight.
This comes about first of all through television and photography -
which show objects luminously on tube or screen. In its simplest
form this is very similar to color slide projection, and to movies.
But it has the difference that through the instant switching on, and
off, and the changing of channels, especially with a remote control
wand, the user or viewer himself or herself enters into the process
somewhat, rather than just sitting there and watching only the one
thing someone else wants to project.
However, there is an important further development that enables
persons to enter more fully into the luminous processes. These are
so-called 'computer games', which were introduced about 10 years ago.
In these, the user is able actually to project or move luminous
entities on the display.
What I consider to be the tremendous importance of these is that they
introduce into our sensate, physical lives, the concept and habit of
visualizing in our minds a luminous movement, or series of movements,
which can then be translated into such actual movements on the
display tube or screen.
This represents a breakthrough in the correspondences and
convergences between the physical and mystical that isn't as directly
and immediately present in the luminosities of nature, such as
flowers, stars, reflections of light, etc. - because you can't enter
into the processes of the natural luminosities in the same way.
The importance of this is that is introduces the concept by
transfering or translating mental envisaging of spiritual
relationships into actual subtle existence in our spiritual soul,
heart, mind and body - sand conversely, of detecting from visual,
imaginary and dream images their mirroring of luminous events that
are taking place in our subtle members.
The next step corresponding to mystical, spiritual life and growth is
to move from video games to simple or complex computing. This
involves generating numerical, verbal or graphics mirrors of reality
- either simple photographic imagery, or verbal one-for-one
descriptions; more specialized mathematical or computer languages; or
postulated inferential theories of the finer or larger processes
operating that are not directly detectable by our sense, or even our
scientific instruments.
Here, again, as with the much simpler instance of video games, we can
enter into these luminous representations by changing them in
themselves, through the operation of the computer, and then act upon
these to change physical reality.
Thus, if a gas utility company develops computer maps of all their
underground gas pipes, they can enter data as to when each section of
pipe was laid out; and from these develop calculations as to when
each section of pipe might be expected to fail due to rust, corrosion
or electrolytic action, etc. - so that action can be taken to replace
it before it fails; thus minimizing gas leaks or explosions.
Or a large manufacturing machine shop and assembly department can
develop detailed schedules of the work being processed through the
shop for shipments or inventory - as idea 'maps' of what is desired
to happen; and then enter into the computer, at intervals, or
continuously, what is actually happening (or not happening) so that
appropriate action can be taken to speed up slow operations, replace
scrapped items, or expedite the procurement of shortages of raw
materials.
In both examples, movement is made from the luminously displayed
ideal - one picture and one description to control reality.
Similarly, from the viewpoint of mystical self-examination, we can
compare the actual 'level' of our spiritual functioning, to the ideal
progression of the mystical life - as set forth in the scriptures,
biographical writings of the saints and mystics, and summaries of
theologians and writers - and then, through more realistic and fuller
imaginative envisaging, open up luminous subtle avenues of spiritual
growth, or remove undesired obstacles, constrictions, rigidities, or
other limitations; so that spiritual, mystical, life and growth in
light, grace, wisdom, power and governance may continue, as we move
towards the perfection God wills for us, so that we may become more
perfect instruments for his use in his providential plan of
redemption, salvation, sanctification and kingdom - that he may most
fully show forth and share his goodness, beauty and truth, now and
for all eternity.
As our soul "burns" more and more with the desire to see the world
luminously transfigured, it searches further and further for the
luminous means whereby this may be accomplished. Thus it seeks to
generate a 'map' of not just a city, gas mains, or a factory's
production flow (for example), but of the entire world divinely
transfigured - so that action can be taken to form the material
reality of the world according to the luminous envisioning.
And here, electronic TV and computer images again come into play.
While TV drama can show forth the steps by which souls struggle for
salvation and sanctification, TV 'documentaries' and 'specials' on
various events and issues of topical importance set forth luminous
visualizations directly, or implicitly - of how, ideally, the world
should be. And these visualizations have a simplicity, directness
and immediacy which almost compel us to do something about it -
compelling us in a way that reading about them, midst all the other
news, might not.
Surely, books have made massive contributions to action, to renew,
transform or transfigure the world (for example Harriet Beecher
Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin", or Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring"), but
the power of TV news, specials and documentaries is so much more
direct and continuous.
Thus, TV broadcasts of Vietnam villagers being burned to death by
napalm were perhaps the greatest impetus of popular revulsion that
ultimately lead to the movement to stop the Vietnamese war; or as TV
broadcasts of Japanese given radiation burns by the atomic bombs at
Hiroshima and Nagasaki have given great impetus to the anti-nuclear
war movement.
If there had been previous TV reporting of the dead and injured in
the US Civil War, World War I or even World War II - this would have
contributed massively to the anti-war movement.
At the present time, TV reporting of soup kitchens of the unemployed;
of thousands of people applying for a handful of jobs; of families
having to give up their homes due to layoffs, etcŠ, have had much to
do with jobs programs and the extension of unemployment and medical
benefits - and also home industries and vegetable gardening.
But on the side of positive vision, the presentations of the
background of arms control negotiations; of the elements of the US
Federal Budget; and of the relation between employment, interest
rates, leading economics indicators, etc, all lead to a vision of all
the forces, movements, and circulations on the face of the earth.
Likewise, for perceptions of the relationships between foreign
imports and domestic employment.
In other words the TV-viewing segment of public opinion is
increasingly acquiring a luminous vision of the networks and
equilibrium of forces and circulations of the face of the earth, or
of the 'noosephere' as Teilhard to Chardin and others have called it.
All of these things which were previously dealt with 'behind closed
doors', away from the view of public opinion, are now 'out front' for
everybody to see. "All that is hidden will come to light" - to the
"light of truth".
The basis idea behind the "Apostolate of Public Opinion" is that
there is a broad-based moral sense in the general public, which seeks
to ferret out dishonesty and injustice. This is borne out by the
great lengths to which persons in power go to deceive, conceal and
misrepresent moves of private interest which are against the public
interest and common good.
But, more than this, the luminous imaging of the major forces
underlying social, political and economic life afford the opportunity
to discern changes needed and provides the means to make these
changes, for freedom truth, justice, peace and prosperity, namely for
the Peaceable Kingdom.
Or, take the view of the earth as photographed from outer space,
showing the oceans and continents, etc.
In sum, I believe all of these are generating an overall luminous
view, in the minds of more and more people, of the earth, which will
lead to its transformation and transfiguration, mystically.
It is one thing to show statistics that there are enough food and
other resources to sustain the growing population of the earth; but
it is another thing to show luminously in images of the surface of
the earth a simulation of how these food resources can actually be
circulated from where they are grown and stored to where people are.
I believe that as increasing numbers of people come to see such
images, and have them impressed on their minds, public opinion will
insist through political channels, that the just circulation of such
resources be implemented.
Similarly with the origination, circulation, neutralization and/or
safe disposition of the residues of toxic nuclear an industrial
wastes; and with the conservation and rebuilding of topsoil, etc.,
etc.
4/1/83- Good Friday
What is more fundamentally at work here, Bonnie is that the
increasing video and computer mirroring of a luminous angelic, view
of the world - as prophetically discerned by Auguste Nicolas, in the
passage I quoted in my Jubilee article - serves to support world
movement toward the Peaceable Kingdom of God by:
- liberating the spiritual mind from grosser sensory images,
for perception of the Created Wisdom
- liberating the soul from earthly light for perception of
the heavenly light
- liberating the spiritual heart form grosser earthly
attachments, for filling with rapturous yearning for the
heavenly light, and ecstasy of heavenly grace.
This is a 'technologically induced mystical experience of the
Spiritual Resurrection and Ascension, which can lead to the release
of a new Pentecostal descent of spiritual power, sufficient to raise
up the vita spiritual body in spiritual Assumption - leading the way,
then, to mystical Reign, Coronation, Kingdom and Rest, about which I
have written in my previous two letters.
It is only because I have experienced this mystical development
through the Flowers of Our Lady and Mary Gardens - sacramentally
blest, and in augmentation of Mass, Liturgical Hours and Rosary, as
received through Scripture and the writings of the Saints and Mystics
- that I have come to be able to see its development for the world at
large, through Science and Technology, as manifested in the Cathode
Ray Tube, Television and Computers.
A sort of culmination of Mrs. Lillie's vision of the spiritual
contribution of the Garden of our Lady to science and scripture.
For years people have been writing how 'science has been developing
faster than morality and ethics', and how 'morality must catch up to
science'.
While this is true, they have, I believe, failed to see that there is
mystical theology as well as moral theology, and that science and
technology can only be permeated by morality if they are perceived in
all their mystical labyrinths. "Where there is no vision, the people
perish."
And as a means to such mystical vision of science and technology, it
is essential that it be both perceived and blest sacramentally - for
all the reason I have set forth in the "Jubilee", "Paradise" and
"Greenhouse" articles.
These articles perceived the need to extend the sacramental view of
blest Flowers of Our Lady and Mary Gardens to the whole of life and
the world; but for an article developed from the exploratory thoughts
worked out in preliminary form, as in this letter, it is necessary to
visualize just how this is to come about under God's Providence, and
in the unfolding of Sacred History as the world moves from Garden to
City, in God's Plan.
In fact, the mysticism of Science and Technology cannot be fully
developed without the mysticism of the Garden, because of the need to
develop the mystical Tree/Vine of life within us, with all its
leaves, flowers, fruit and roots - which development requires contact
with nature, mindful of God's wisdom in putting us in a garden in the
first place, from which to build the City.
It is not so much that we are to become moral 'goody-goodies' in
dealing with science and technology, but that we are to perceive
science and technology in all their mystical luminosity and thus to
approach them with an awe and reverence which will make us moral, in
dealing with them.
Computer science and technology requires a tremendous disciplne of
obedience - to their laws and functioning - which is comparable to
spiritual obedience. This is the spiritual end of Taylor's law of
technology that if a person and technological apparatus are placed
together they will each perfect he otherŠto which I would add: with
sacramentality.
Please pray, Bonnie, that I can clarify and distill all this down to
simple article form - now that it has had initial expression on this
day in the Liturgical year commemoration Christ's commending of his
spirit into his Father's hands.
Love to Ernie
Love, In Our Lady,
P.S. 4/2/83 Holy Saturday
Concretely, in terms of building the Peacable Kingdom and renewing the
face of the earth; through the purification - bodily and subtle - of
mystical rising and coming forth, we become increasingly attuned and
receptive, electionally, to the angelic hierarchies, in their
providential governing ministry of the world - as was St. John in
Revelations; as distinct from St. Paul, who was told in the third
heaven, "My grace is sufficient for you."
This serves to increase our faith and hope in God's providential
sustenance of the world, despite the threats of extinction from
nuclear, biological, chemical and depletion dangers that his
goodness may be shown forth and shared "on earth as it is in heaven."
Also, it enables us to participate in the work of providential
sustenance, renewal and sanctification on the gross, mundane,
material level, as we electionally mirror and extend the ministry of
sustaining angelic hierarchies, networks, circulations and
employments of the subtle levels, as did St. Teresa of Avila.
("Henceforth your conversation shall be with angels").
Computer lucencies also contain the potential for overcoming the
limitations of bureaucratic planning without computers, because they
make possible democratic participation in this process - following
the model of work station computer terminals in manufacturing plants,
which make possible input and feed-back at all levels of
organization.
Thus, not only are there 'on-line' continuations of computer displays
of an area of activity, small or large, (a factory, and industry, a
country, the whole world), but these displays can be made available
not only to managers, administration, executives or governors, but to
'everybody' - such that there is responsibility to and participation
by all involved.
In augmentation of TV news, this sort of picture is beginning to
become available in rudimentary form - regarding budget and monetary
control interest rates, unemployment, domestic manufacturing, exports
and imports, etc., as I mentioned previously.
Also, with the development and availability of relatively inexpensive
personal computers - selling in the $100 range - that can be hooked
up to TV set screens, as well as rather sophisticated personal
computers that do word-processing, filing, and can be extensively
programmed, many people are becoming personally familiar with and
using computer technology, with accompanying personal experience of
'mystical computing', as I have described.
(later)
I have just come back from a wonderful 3-hour Easter Vigil Liturgy
and Mass, which I will write you about, Bonnie.
It's late now, so I'll write you further about 'Mystical Computing'.
J.
+
Boston, MA
April 5, 1983
Dear Bonnie,
As I mentioned in my letter of Holy Thursday - Holy Saturday, I
attended a most meaningful for me, Holy Saturday Easter Vigil
Liturgy and Mass at St. Paul's Church in Harvard Square.
The Liturgies of the Light, Word and Water of Holy Saturday have
always been a sort of high point of the Liturgical Year for me, and
I recall in the pre-Vatican II days, how it used to be performed
almost privately by pastors and their assistant priests; and even
though it was in the parish church, it was difficult to find out
even what time it was going to take place - like 10:30 Saturday
Morning, or 2:30 in the afternoon, if I recall correctly.
In religious communities it was celebrated with greater dignity and
solemnity, and fortunately it was very prominent in the service at
Ravenhill Academy of the Assumption in Philadelphia, where my three
daughters went through school, and where Father Feeny, our
Spiritual Advisor, was Chaplain and Spiritual Advisor, for many
years.
It used to be celebrated very beautifully as part of a triduum at
the Xavier Chapel here in our neighborhood, with our small
"congregation", but now the chapel is closed.
So I went over to St. Paul's at Harvard this year, but not
realizing that it would by a high liturgical ceremony, with perhaps
3,000 people present, in a 2-1/2 hour ceremony, with full men's
choir, and with baptismal and confirmation rites for 9 new
converts, and with 10 or so priests participating.
There were 4 especially meaningful parts in the ceremony for me.
First the lighting of the Easter candle in the liturgy of Fire -
because of my recent fuller appreciation of the symbolism of the
beeswax candle of the pure body of Christ coming forth from the
flower of Mary; and also, the symbolism of the five red pieces of
incense symbolizing,in addition to the Alpha and Omega, the five
wounds of Christ which pieces are now pre-inserted by the candle
manufacturer with the red lines of a cross connecting them, which
stands out like a red rose against the white background of the
candle. All this was enhanced by the size of the candle, about 6
feet; and by the intoning of "Lumen Christi" three times in the
entrance processionŠinstead of "Light of Christ" as at services I
have attended in recent years.
April 6, 1983
Secondly, as I mentioned to you over the phone last night (after
writing the foregoing) the sprinkling of the entire congregation
with Holy water, using a 12" branch of some sort and a large
bucket-like brass bowl of Holy water carried by an altar boy was
very impressive and a sort of manifestation of my "Herb of Grace"
article. The branch with its fine leaves became drenched and
'heavy' with water after dipping, and then 'whipped' out a really
heavily sprinkling on everyone - like a switch or the casting of a
fishing rod.
Third, the baptism and confirmation of the new convert, gave a very
tangible sense of the working of grace, light, word and power in
actual soul - quickening the faith of everyone present.
And, fourth, the receiving of Holy Communion under the species of
both bread and wine was for me a culmination of all the insights I
have been writing you recently about the unfolding of the different
stages of the Mass.
All in all, highly providential, and a great joy, which I will
remember always.
I had the feeling, in talking with you by phone last night, that
the Herbarist Article as it actually appeared in print was a little
bit of a disappointment, or a let-down - because of its stiffness
or coldness, and lack of heart.
While I agree with this assessment, I also feel that "we are to be
all things to all people", as St. Paul says, and that this article
- which Sandy 'warned' us would be 'in the style of the Herbarist' -
will be acceptable to a lot of people in the English cultural
tradition, who set the attitudes for the major horticultural
societies among the influential, who go for 'lore', but not
'inspiration'.
I enclose a 'mock-up' of a reprint, incorporating the Garden of our
Lady plant list and planting plan, which I think will round out the
'literature table' at the Angelus Tower, when available with Fr.
Graham's article, the Q.M. article, the 3 Jubilee articles from
Queen (stapled together as one), and (hopefully) the Paradise
article (still awaiting a response from the Editor of "St. Anthony
Messenger"). Also Herb of Grace, if Sallie publishes this in H.Q.
(still haven't heard from her).
I hope you feel better about this article in these terms.
Love to Ernie,
Love in Our Lady,
+
Boston, MA
April 6, 1983
Dear Bonnie & Jane,
Here is a quick paste-up of a proposed reprint of the "Mary Gardens"
article from the Herbarist, which could be reproduced for
distribution at the Angelus Tower this summer.
You will note that reduced copies of the plant list and planting plan
have been added, so that visitors would have these to take with them
- and also to carry in their hands as they walk through the Gardens
looking for the different plants.
Also, I deleted the 'magic' from the last line of the article - added
by the Editor subsequent to our final approval of her editorial
assemblage of the article from several of our other articles.
It is interesting to note how deftly the article has been constructed
to include many inspirational phrases, and yet kept just on the side
of 'lore' to make it acceptable for its readership - to which Mrs.
Hicks alerted us at the outset (although it is now clearer what she
meant).
Sincerely, in Our Lady,
+
Boston, MA
April 10, 1983
Dear Bonnie,
Your tape of March 25/April 5, for which I thank you, arrived here
April 8th, so the mails seem to be operating better coming this
way.
Yes, I do want the two primitive figures for around $10 to $15
each.
And the shrines, books, if you can get them.
American and Canadian & Around the World $8.75, also the Mexican
book.
When you get together how much money you need from me to cover
everything, let me know, and I'll send you a check.
These shrine books are important to us both as sources of legends,
history and other information; and also as potential places where
Mary Gardens may be started and thus should be sent kits of our
literature when this 'round' of articles is published and in
re-print form.
I hope that all these articles which have been printed because of
the Jubilee and because of the interest in herb lore will reach
persons who have 'the sense for the things of the Flowers of Our
Lady and Mary Gardens' which will quicken them to actually plant
and grow Mary Gardens.
My own biggest hope for the generation of a truly living, dynamic,
Mary Garden Movement and tradition lies with the Society of Mary,
and the publication of "Flowers of the Virgin Mary" in AVE.
If devotion to Mary is quickened among Anglicans and Episcopalians
through the Flowers of Our Lady and Mary Gardens, then the whole
dynamism and love of the English tradition in gardening will be
quickened, as well, to provide an old, yet new, form of expression
of that devotion to Mary - as I wrote in my letters to
representatives of the Society of Mary.
Secondly, I hope that on a more personal and private devotion basis,
others will come forward to join with Jane McLaughlin in making the
Woods Hole Garden of Our Lady a major living part of the Parish. I
hope that my "Jubilee #3" and "Paradise" articles will contribute to
this end. (Still no word of acceptance of "Paradise" from St. Anthony
Messenger)
Third, Brother Sean's work in Ireland is perhaps the most
challenging of all at this time, because Irish, Celtic, Catholic
Christianity has its roots in a very deep mortification and
asceticism, which is based on a mortification of nature, rather
than its love.
It seems to me that a development of an intense heightening of the
mystical sense of nature - of the correspondences between interior
mystical flowers, and the outward flowers of nature - is the key
here, as I have attempted to set forth in my "Jubilee #1 & 2"
articles.
My thought is to keep working on the development of this with
Brother Sean, and perhaps to write an article developing the theme
of the rose embedded in the forehead of Our Lady of Knock.
A fourth theme, which I began to explore in my letter of 3/30-4/1,
and which comes out of the Garden of Our Lady is that of the
transfiguration of nature in the Mary Garden as a key to the
transfiguration of the things of science and technology -
particularly of electric illumination of light; lasers, television
and computers - in that the translucence and lucidity of flowers,
with light shining on them is the key to electronic translucence
and lucidity, and it is up to us as "children of the light" to
liberate both nature and scientific/technological creatures.
In this respect, I recently have come to see how, after coming to
view things as transfigured, we are to participate in their lifting
up in Christ.
We are to do this by moving from our view of the world transfigured
to a sense of God's Day, the Eternal Day of Heaven.
Our waking up each morning into a temporal day symbolizes our
eventual waking up into God's Eternal Day. Certainly the morning
rising of the temporal day is not to be assumed to keep rising, and
rising, forever. We don't know that this will happen. We can't
project from the past into the future forever. One day we will
wake up in the Eternal Day.
In the Mary Garden the connection between flowers and plants
transfigured as heavenly is set forth in Juan Diego's first
reaction to the transfigured plants - cacti, etc at Tepagec - that
he must have been lifted up to the earthly or heavenly paradise.
...and in Mary's appearing in the paradise of straw flowers made by
the shepherd children at LaSalette.
In other words, we first see flowers as transfigured on earth - but
then we lose our sense of whether we are in the earthly or heavenly
paradise, and thus, as it were, are 'lifted up'.
In your taping of the legends, give the Title, Author, Publisher,
Date, as you said, and City published (before date; and yes, read
any pertinent passages from the Introduction, as you said, and
Conclusions (if important), as well as the Legend itself, together
with the page numbers (of Introduction, Legends, and conclusion).
Yes, by all means put as many legends on each tape as possible, but
make a little Index for each side of each tape.
It's marvelous what you are able to do with your correspondence,
with your limited strength and mobility, and I hope the taping of
the legends, is something you will be able to do, too, without
sapping your strength.
Thanks for making the copy of Fr. Charest's taped conversations
with me. I will look forward to receiving it.
Your loving acceptance of Ernie's intense dislike of doing things
in the kitchen and house is very beautiful. I groan spiritually at
the thought of the millions and millions of married couples who are
each tying to get the other to do the things they think ought to be
done that they don't want to do (however necessary or common sense
they may be), and then both being mad or fighting about it -
instead of mutually accepting their differences with love and
immolation.
I hope your younger sister's husband has a fast recovery from his
hospitalization for angina. Your mention that he is a contractor
and does concrete work reminds me that just as I was having certain
insights into and writing you about our mystical instrumentation -
conduiting our channeling of heavenly power down to earth through
our rising vital spiritual body -I saw for the first time in my
experience, a 'concrete crane' a device which receives mixed
concrete from a concrete truck, and them 'pumps' it into an upward
sloping pipe about 25 ft. long by means of a spiral auger or screw
from which it flows into two other long pipe sections which carry
or conduit the concrete further up and then down to the decided
place at the building site, 75 ft. or so from the truck and street.
This was for me a striking construction symbol of the conduit of
heavenly power to points of distribution or actions on earth.
I knew you would share my joy over the symbolism of the beeswax
candles, and the fact that they are or were, required by Church
canons.
The address of Dr. Contreras, M.D. is:
Dr. Ernesto Contreras, M.D.
Centro Medico Del Mar Paseo De Tijuana,
IA Plages de Tijuana
Mexico
(706) 687-1850
i can't get a copy of the National Geographic without being a
member, so will appreciate your getting a copy for me if you can.
The advance copies of The Herbalist article came, and I have
written you some of my thoughts about it, since you made your tape,
wondering if it would really be published.
I will send you copies of my correspondence with Mrs. Foster
Stearns of some 5 years earlier, which was very helpful. Also, I
always remember with affection that it was she who sent us the
little Medici Print English Holy Cards of Our Lady's Thimble, Our
Lady's Earrings, Our Lady's Eardrops and Rose of Mary, of which I
sent you color copies - in your copy of one of my folders to Jane
in 1981. In addition she sent clippings on Our Lady's Flowers from
the Anglican London Church Times, however there was a big hassle,
which didn't involve us directly, when Daniel J. Foley made
reprints of his article from The Herbalist in which he copied the
Herb Society of Amercian seal and received a strong reprimand from
herb Society officers. This seemed to really be a criticism of her
for publishing the article or at least letting him us the seal, and
may have been what scared her on Mary's Gardens by the time you
were in touch with her.
You will note I was careful to write Sandy Hicks very specifically
about the right to reprint. Of course, The Herbalist article
technically belongs to us since it has our names on it - as well as
being lifted directly from a number of our articles - and this is
implicitly acknowledged in Sandy's asking us to sign the release.
Briefly:
Thanks for sending Hortulus
I keep looking for Hortus 2, which to me is much more
professional and scholarly than Hortus 3, which also omits some
genera & species.
I will order a copy of Wetterer's book. It's amazing how
demanding these people can be, but the least she could have done
would have been to acknowledge what you were able to send.
Thanks for reading me Bro. Sean's letter. He wrote me that
(to save postage) someone was bring the articles to this country
when they flew over from Ireland for Easter, and would mail them to
me from here. I have not received them so far.
Yes, I will definitely plan to visit the Exhibit at the HSA Boston
meeting in June and will take some photos.
Bro. Sean's "Jewls of Thomand" is difficult to get published
because of its length. I was unsuccessful in getting it published
two years ago. The people I worked with at the University of
Pennsylvania Zoo/Botany Dept just dropped it.
I think that covers all the questions asked in your tape.
Love to Ernie
Love, In Our Lady
*check for $33.75 enclosed
[Fr. Charest tape and Xerox copies received as I mail this 4/11/83]
+
Boston, MA
April 11, 1983
Dear Bonnie,
Thanks very much for the copy of the Father Charest tape, and the
Xerox copies of the Hawthorn Bush legend, Wetterer correspondence,
weeping Madonna news report, and your letters and permission to
publish re the Herbarist article.
April 13th
I appreciate your concern about my strength, Bonnie. Actually, I
consider that the strength which keeps me going is spiritual strength,
and the points at which I feel is absence or diminishment are there at
which I have arrived at some mystical juncture which seems to fulfill
what I was moving towards, and I don't yet see clearly the next stage
of growth. Characteristically the new vision comes in 2-4 days, and
then I feel the strength well up in me to carry me forward, upward,
again.
A related vision, although it doesn't have much to do with strength,
has to do with the clarification of some area that I have already
traversed, but suddenly realize I hadn't fully appreciated all the
'details' along the way.
Thus, while I have been pondering over how we are to most fully
participate in the transfiguration of the earth, and its lifting up,
in Christ and the Holy Spirit, I found myself wondering about what
happens to our interior tree of life at the time of our spiritual
crucifixion, resurrection, ascension and assumption.
Then I saw that at our mystical crucifixion our interior tree of life
is stripped of its leaves, flowers and fruit - that Jesus' teaching
that "unless the grain of wheat fall to the ground and die, it cannot
rise again to bear much fruit" applies to our inner life in a very
real way - is descriptive of what actually happens to us. Also, this
shedding of our leaves, flowers and fruit mirrors Mary's immolation at
the foot of the cross, and also Christ's ascension into heaven.
At our mystical resurrection, new strength saps up through the
branches; and our leaves, flowers and fruit burgeon. These leaves,
flower and fruits then, by degrees, move up to heaven, buoying and
carrying up respectively, our spiritual heart, soul and mind - "stay
me with flowers, encompass me with fruit, for I languish with love"
(Canticles: 2-5).
Finally, after the descent of spiritual power at our mystical
Pentecost, the very trunk and branches of our interior tree of life
begin to extend upwards, vine-like or like Jack's bean stalk, carrying
or extending our very spiritual body to heaven with it - our spiritual
feet, so to speak, staying on earth: like statues of Mary standing on
the globe of the earth - so long as our life is rooted in our physical
bodies on this earth.
Once our tree/vine of life extends up to heaven, then the light,
grace, wisdom and power of the upper heavens nurture it into marvelous
heavenly growth, and rooting, (as I have written before), and now the
heavenly burgeoning flowers, leaves and fruits are showered down to
earth - like the flowers and fruits of St. Dorothy, and the roses of
St. Theresa, Aaron's Rod, Rod of Jesse, St. Joseph's Staff, 'Fair
Olive Tree', 'Rule of Jericho', etc, all symbolize our interior
flowers, tree of life.
April 14
As I said, Bonnie, I am constantly thinking about how we are to
participate most fully in the transfiguration and lifting up of the
world - and, then, the clarification of some previous mystical
development, like that I have just described, becomes compelling.
In pondering transfiguration, I have been impressed by the many
pertinent passages in the Liturgy of the Hours following Easter.
"May our life, hidden with Christ in you our Father, shine before the
world, - foreshadowing a new heaven and a new earth."
(Intercession, Morning Prayer, 2nd Sunday of Easter).
"Let our celebration today raise us up and renew our lives by the
spirit that is within us" (Prayer, same day).
"May purity of conscience remove the veil from the face of your soul
so that by contemplating the glory of the lord, as in a mirror, you
may be transformed from glory to glory in Christ Jesus the Lord."
(Reading 2, Office of Readings, Saturday after Easter).
"Because it revolves in cycles and never comes to an end, the year is
a symbol of eternity. "(Reading 2, Monday, Second week of Easter.
-----------
It seems to me that when we awake in the morning, we should give
thanks for the light of God's face, which is reflected in everything
we see, prefiguring the Eternal Day of God.
May I so pray, act and live this day as to do my part in bringing it
closer to the Eternal Day it symbolizes.
"Rise and Shine" - "You are the light of the world." "Children of the
light".
In seeing the world transfigured, we see the processing, spirating,
light of the Holy Spirit flowing through all its movements,
circulations, and cycles - such that we are to make each act, encounter
and interaction with people and things implementation of the renewing,
transfiguring, transforming action of that circulating Holy Spirit,
dissolving the veil between heaven and earth.
Love to Ernie.
Love in Our Lady,
+
Boston, MA
April 20, 1983
Dear Bonnie,
As I was looking at all the Spring flowers in the neighborhood gardens
here today in the course of my daily errands, it suddenly struck me
that here in the city I actually see a greater variety of flowers than
in the suburbs or countryside...because here everyone's garden is 'out
front', whereas in suburbs and countryside the gardens are more
farther apart and frequently concealed behind walls, or hedges and
away from the road.
Today, for example, the first Bleeding Hearts bloomed. Also, I
noticed this spring, for the first time, that Periwinkle blooms a week
or so before Violets; and that of the hundreds of Crocuses in so many
yards, they are so much more attractive in those few places where the
bulbs are planted together in clumps rather than spread out to fill
beds.
This year, also, I appreciated all the little 'Church Steeples' of
Grape Hyacinth much more. And the neighborhood Christmas Roses and
Pulmonaria were both glorious.
This year we had an excellent potted Easter Lily, and of course this
is the first Easter since you sent me the Legend of the Easter Lily;
which has enriched my appreciation of this liturgical season. This
particular plant had six buds on it, the first of which was in bloom
for Easter, and the last two of which are still in bloom, and
fragrant, beside me as I write.
Mindful of the whole Lily as an Assumption symbol, also, I noticed for
the first time how the tip of the stamen or pistil is heart-shaped.
Thus, we can enlarge St. Venerable Bede's symbolism:
Petals Mary's pure body
Pistil Mary's Heart
Anthrax Mary's Soul
Fragrance Mary's sweet thoughts
I also saw the Rose as a symbol in a new way of the Trinity:
Bud Father
Flower Son
Petals Circulation of the Holy Spirit
- also applicable to Rose Windows (the center being the Father).
There is a wide-spread practice here of having a small tree in front
yard gardens, growing in a 5 or 6 ft circular bed planted with
flowers. This strikes me as a Resurrection symbol, especially when
the trees are in bloom, as are the Magnolias just now, in that the
flowers at the base of the tree have, as it were, resurrected from the
'seeds which fell to the ground and died' on Good Friday, while the
tree itself now reaches up to Heaven with its new flower, and leaves,
and eventually, fruits - as with the numerous Crab Apples now in leaf,
and about to bloom.
I now see that internally, at our mystical Resurrection and
Assumption, our soul is buoyed up to heaven by flowers rising from
these 'flowering vines" spiraling up at Easter at the foot of our
Tree/Vine of Life; our heart by the leaves; our mind by the seeds or
fruits...while the tree itself reaching up to Heaven carries up with
it our spiritual body, at the Assumption.
An important consequence of the viewing of the world transfigured,
with dissolution of the veil between heaven and earth, is that as we
build the earth, following the mirrored illumination of God's face and
ways, we also build the Heavenly Jerusalem which will descend as earth
is lifted up.
Around Easter we saw a TV special on Pope John Paul II's life or daily
routines in the Vatican, and I noticed in a brief shot of his desk,
where he works, that there was just one picture frame on it, about 10"
high with a color photo of the miraculous image of Our Lady of
Guadeloupe.
I have been working this week, Bonnie, with some 'software' for one of
our computers, called 'Superfile', which enables you to build a
'database' of typed entries of any length, with assigned 'keyword'
such that at any time you can 'recall' and print out from computer
'memory' anything you have given these code keys. Thus, I could type
100 pages of legends, and at any later time call up all those which
fall in any combination of key words, such as:
Mary & Nativity
Mary & Lily
Joseph & Flight into Egypt
Christ & Blood Drops
Etc.
...and the same thing with Flowers and symbolic names and
correspondence, etc..
This is what I will do with any legends you are able to tape me.
Love to Ernie
Love, in Our Lady
+
Boston, MA
April 29, 1983
Dear Bonnie,
It was good to talk with you by phone last evening, and share with
you the good news and joy of the Knock Mary Garden.
I was sorry to hear about the continuation of your aggravated
edema, and hope that moving about a little more, together with the
new herbal diuretic, will reverse this trend and get you back on
your feet.
While it's possible that your immobility is in the paradoxes of
divine providence, the way in which you are enabled to do all this
increased work for Mary's Gardens, just now, and I treasure this.
I would like to see you back on your feet.
I'm glad to have your agreement that we should encourage Fr.
Charest, Jane and the St. Joseph's parishioners to become the
center of the future for the spread of Mary Garden information and
inspiration.
Also, I appreciate your mention that you feel closely attuned to
the on-going development of thought in my letters...which otherwise
I wouldn't be developing.
In the course of trying to pull together all my notes and letters
into a whole body of thought, I am reminded of what a tremendous
task this is. This makes me realize that the important thing is
always to continue 'casting our bread upon the waters' in the
present moment of the Eternal Now - knowing that they are being
accumulated in the heavenly Book of Life, for eternal 'examination'
and praise; and that any earthly compilations and summaries are a
matter of God's pleasure and providence.
So, here are couple of more insights since my last letter.
The first is that heaven has truly descended to earth for us when
we come to see all the blood drops of our sufferings as giving rise
to red roses of eternal life - per the blood drops legends of the
Crucifixion, and the rose crowns of the martyrs. It's their rising
up as red roses of eternal life that demonstrate that the blood of
the martyrs is indeed the 'seed of the Church'. This is the way
all sufferings look from heaven, and thus from the viewpoint of
heaven on earth.
The second is that it is because we know that through Christ and
his Sacred Wounds, all things are lifted up, that we can, in love,
with full confidence, offer up Christ's body and Blood, at Mass or
at the Tabernacle, or in the world, in effective reparation to the
Trinity for all effects of sin from the beginning to the end of the
world.
It is as a consequence of our faith and hope in the infinite
effectiveness of Christ's Redemptive Sacrifice, that we know the
Peaceable Kingdom must come on earth..only because we as 'members
of Christ', as 'other Christs', pray and work for the coming of
this kingdom, in that faith and hope.
I regard the Armageddon of the Revelations of the Apocalypse not as
a prediction of what is going to happen, but as a prophecy of what
would inevitably happen if we did not work to build the Peaceable
Kingdom in consideration of the fruits of Christ's redemptive
victory over evil...which we will.
With respect to 'the descent of the Heavenly Jerusalem as a bride
adorned..', we must realize that Mary's appearances on earth are
already the beginning of that descent. It is the matrixing of that
Heavenly Jerusalem, and more specifically of Mary in her
appearances that the earth will be transformed in accordance with
it, so that in the pleuroma the earth will become the spouse of
Christ for all eternity.
To this end, we are to mirror and extend Mary's appearances..of
Guadeloupe, LaSalette, Fatima and Knock, especially (for us and
Mary's Gardens)
As the earth is increasingly transfigured to our view, that part of
it which we see transfigured, through Mary's descent to it, is
indeed the Terrestrial Paradise of Eden, as Juan Diego correctly
surmised from the resplendent cacti of Tepagek before he even saw
Mary.
The Terrestrial Paradise is invisibly everywhere, just waiting for
our transfiguring vision to free it and summon it into view. "All
creation groans, awaiting liberation by the revelation of the
children of the light".
Upon second thought - after our phone discussion last evening - it
might be better to send Bro. Sean's MS to Father Charest first...as
Father Stanley is already in the middle of doing so much for us
through 'Our Lady's Solar Greenhouse'. Please do send me copies of
the photos of you and Ernie picking fruits and vegetables last
summerŠand any other new photos you send him.
I received the April Immaculata but still no photos.
Sigm is no longer published, so I will send 'Paradise of Our Lady'
to the Boston Pilot. If they don't use it, we'll print it into a
little leaflet ourselves.
Love to Ernie
Love, in Our Lady
+
Boston, MA
May 13, 1983
Dear Bonnie,
With the blessing of Solomon's Seals, I recall affectionately your
visit to Philadelphia and Washington in 1