Mary's Pentecostal and Heavenly Mediation

(Excerpt from HSMGP.html - Home School Mary Garden Projects)

At Pentecost, in her continuing union with Jesus, now ascended into
Heaven, Mary, on earth, joined with him, mediatingly, in his promised
sending of the Holy Spirit to the disciples, with restoration of
grace to the world.  The Pentecostal descent of the Holy Spirit as
tongues of flame was symbolized by vine branches of pendant flowers,
such as the Holy Spirit philodendron, symbolizing the descending
flames of the Holy Spirit; and the red peony (Paeonia officinalis),
in bloom in temperate climates at the time of the liturgical feast of
Pentecost, and symbolizing the soul inflamed with the Holy Spirit.

The Pentecostal Holy Spirit is also symbolized by "Mary's Pink"
(Dianthus plumarius) with its serrated petals, recalling the pointed
tongues of flame in which it descended - adopted also because of its
bloom in Holland at the late May or early June season of Pentecost
(known there as "Pinkster"); because of its pink color; and because
of its uniquely serrated symbolic petals, from which garment "pinking
shears" receive their name.

In all, some twenty flowers have been found in our research to
have had, from their time of bloom, the religious folk name of
"Pentecost Flower".

As a poetic affirmation of Mary's heavenly mediating distribution
of the Holy Spirit, a couplet from the German, applied to the
flower "Mary's Candle" (giant mullein, Verbascum thapsis), also
known as "Heavenly Radiance", reads (translated):

     "The Virgin Mary flies all over the land,
      With heaven's fire in her hand."

Also, Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis, Mary's Heart) is known
as "Holy Spirit" in France from the "tear" of Spirit precessing to
earth through her universally mediating Immacuate Heart.

Affirmed generally in the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary, the
heavenly prerogatives of Blessed Mary are, for our reflection and
prayerul recourse, given specificity in their flower symbols. Thus,

"Mary's Crown" (Centauria
cyannis) reminds students to pray to Mary for her mediation of
the graces prompting them in their contributions to the building of
God's Kingdom, of which she is Queen.

The gold rose, the Marygold, and other golden flowers, symbolize
Mary, the "Queen in gilded clothing", who, from the interior of the
Heaven of the Trinity, "comes forth as the morning rising, fair as
the moon, bright as the sun and terrible as an army set in battle
array", with her Divine Child, to minister in love, as our Heavenly
Mother, to us, her spiritual children on earth.

Forget-me-nots, "Eyes of Mary", quicken students turning of their
thoughts to Heavenly Mary, petitioning,

     "Turn, then, Most Gracious Advocate, your eyes of mercy
     towards us,"

as do daffodils (Narcissus psuedonarcissus) - seen from their
characteristic downwards inclined flower heads as "Mary Looking
Down From Heaven".

"Our Lady's Keys" (Primula veris) remind them of her access, for
distribution, to the heavenly storehouses of the grace from
meritorious actions of the Church on earth.

Likewise,"Mary's Bells" (numerous),

     "The bell when struck,
     sends forth melodious sound,
     The heart of Mary, when shaken through earnest prayer,
     Scatters grace and love everywhere."

"Our Lady' Mantle" (Alchimella vulgaris) quickens confidence in
Mary's heavenly spiritual protection.

"Mary's Hands" (Potenilla nepalenis) prompt students to turn to
Mary's distribution of heavenly graces through her fingers, as in
the Miraculous Medal revelation at Paris.