Chat and 7 Add'l Photos
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Parish Mary Garden
Dedication Booklet
Julie Henry
North Huntingdon, PA May 19, 2002
(Dedication Day photos by Julie Henry added)
Index
Front Cover
Title Page
Mary's Garden Committee
Program
Mary Gardens
Legends
Mary's Plants
Meditations of Mary's Flowers
History of the St Elizabeth Ann Seton Garden
Take a Moment
Mary's Month of May
Acknowledgements
Mary's Court
Greeters
Mary's Gardens Introduction (for this posting)
The St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish Mary Garden Dedication Booklet
is reproduced here in celebration of the founding of this new
parish Mary Garden, and also as a model illustration of the
presentation, by the Committee founding the garden, of the Flowers
of Our Lady and Mary Gardens to the broader group of parishioners.
In addition to presenting the Parish Clergy and Pastoral Associate,
the Mary's Garden Committee, and the Dedication Program of prayers,
hymns, addressses and Garden blessing; the Booklet describes the
steps from the introduction and adoption of the idea of the Mary
Garden to its planning, site construction, digging and planting.
In this, two parish members learned of Mary Gardens at a lecture,
and told others about them; leading to the adoption by the
Christian Mothers and Ladies Guild of the planting of the Mary
Garden as a parish project, with approval of their Pastor.
The Guild members then formed a Mary's Garden Committee to
research flowers for inclusion in the garden; plan the garden
site, layout and planting plan; locate a source for a suitable
statue; and raise funds for the construction of the site walkways,
benches and focal statue pedestal, and for procurement of the
statue and plants.
The Committee next arranged for the site and pedestal construction
by parish member-contractors; recruited volunteers for the garden
bed digging and soil preparation; and procured and planted the
initial plants. Additionally, parish members provided an
automated bed watering piping and spray system, and night lighting
for the statue.
After the planting was made, plant markers were placed in the
garden giving the religious, common and botanical names for the
plants; and a pole-mounted little shelter was erected for
protected display of the plant list and planting plan.
Then, this Booklet was prepared, setting forth the Dedication
Program, and also introducing the medieval "Flowers of Our Lady"
symbolism of flowers commonly grown today and to be included in
the Garden - with illustrative groupings according to aspects of
Mary's life and mysteries symbolized, and with associated legends
and meditations through which the faith was taught, and devotion
and prayer quickened, in the pre-literate, popular oral religious
traditions of the countrysides of the Medieval Age of Faith.
Finally, the Booklet invites garden visitors to "take a moment" to
sit down on one of the benches and reflect on the beautiful
flowers.
(For this Mary's Gardens posting, click-links have been added at
the ends of "Mary's Plants" and "Meditations of Mary's Flowers" to
access illustrative miniature photos.)
THE BOOKLET
..
DEDICATION OF THE
MARY'S GARDEN
OF
ST ELIZABETH ANN SETON
CHURCH
NORTH HUNTINGDON, PA
MAY 19, 0002
Pastor Rev Richard J. Kosiskol
Regional Curate Rev. Thomas Trupkovich
Pastoral Associate Karen Boros
Clergy who have served St Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish:
Rev. Richard Mackiewicz
Rev William McGuire (deceased)
Rev. Michael Crookston
Rev James Bump
Rv James Vasil
MARY'S GARDEN COMMITTEE
Spiritual Director Rev Richard Kosisko
Chairman Mary Jane Henry
Committee Bernice Berger
Anna Marie Blon
Annie Booth
Cathy Gothie
Joanna Graham
Julie Henry
Lori Smith
Pat Stephanik
Janet Varacalli
Garden Design Regis Holecko
Landscape Consultant William Bush
Lighting Thomas Gothie
Irrigation Robert Booth
Contractor Markos Construction
Site Manager Mark Connolly
Landscape Manager David Talon
Research Julie Henry
PROGRAM
Prelude: "Mary, Ponder In Your Heart'
Hymn: #679, "Hail Mary, Gentle Woman"
Welcome: Christian Mothers President,
Mary Jane Henry
Rosary: Spiritual Committee, Beth Ciszek
Hymn: #100 "Hail, Holy Queen" during
Procession to the Mary's Garden
Blessing of the Garden: Fr Rick
Scripture Reading
"Magnificat' - St. Elizabeth Seton Choir
Intercessions - Julie Henry
Crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary -
Mary's Court
"Prayer of the Queen"
Hymn- #695 "Star Above the Ocean"
Concluding Rite
Hymn- #98 "Immaculate Mary"
Mary's Court
MARY GARDENS
The young Jesus, looking into his mother's eyes one day
in front of their home in Nazareth said. "Mother, your eyes
are so beautiful, everyone looks at them in wonder. What a
pity those who will be born in future generations will not
be able to behold them. Because in your eyes one can see
my paradise, and whoever looks into them cannot help but be
drawn toward it." Then he touched her eyelids and passed
his hands over the ground as though sowing seeds.
Immediately forget-me-nots sprang up, hundreds of tiny blue
eyes with golden centers, as a reminder for future
generations of Our Lady's pure eyes.
A Mary Garden is a garden dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God. In
a Mary Garden, which can be as small as a clay pot or as large as
a city block, a statue of Mary is surrounded by herbs and flowers
which have special significance for her, through legends or
naming. Since medieval times, flowers have taken their names from
the virtues of Mary, or events in her life. There are literally
hundreds of flowers (both annuals & perennials), herbs, bushes,
shrubs & trees that reference Mary. The forget-me-nots story above
is just one of the many legends surrounding a Mary's flower.
We honor Mary in many ways, through the Rosary, special devotions
and prayers that help us contemplate Mary's qualities and virtues.
With this garden, we offer yet another way to honor Mary, through
reflecting on flowers names after her and immortalized in legends
that tell us about her attributes and significant moments in her
life and that of her child, Jesus, Through the meditations for
each flower we experience these events with Mary and find in them
meaning in our own lives.
Early Christians, and especially those of the Middle Ages, kept
the memories of Mary alive through legends. They saw her
attributes in flowers and herbs that grew around them and named
them after her. Likening Mary to the "garden enclosed" of the Song
of Solomon, they envisioned her in a garden and dedicated gardens
to her. These special gardens were filled with the flowers and
herbs that reminded them of her. The tradition of associating Mary
with flowers survived over the centuries, kept alive through the
Mary names and legends about the flowers, through literature and
art.
Just as in the Middle Ages, when missionaries and wandering
minstrels brought stories about Mary's flowers to other lands in
Europe, certain people in this country became the bearers of
information about Mary's flowers and Mary Gardens, Frances Crane
Lillie of Chicago established the earliest known Mary Garden in
the United States, on the grounds of St Joseph Church in Woods
Hole on Cape Cod in 1932. In Philadelphia in 1951, Ed McTague and
John Stokes, Jr established a Mary's Gardens, a nonprofit
organization to "revive the medieval practice of cultivating
gardens of herbs and flowers which have Marian names". The two men
had visited the garden at Woods Hole and thought that the use of
flower symbols might be a way of restoring the medieval religious
sense to life in our secular age. With the advent of the internet,
their extensive research was made available to the public on the
Mary's Garden home page (www.myardens.org).
Blessing by Father Kosisko
Legends
The angel Gabriel is said to have held a lily (Madonna lily) in
his hand when he came to tell Mary that she would give birth to
Jesus. The columbine (Our Lady's Shoes) sprang from the earth
where Mary's foot stepped when she was on her way to visit
Elizabeth. German legend says that the carnation bloomed on the
night of Jesus' birth.
In addition to flowers and herbs honoring Mary named after her,
early Christians believed that fragrant herbs and flowers
reflected Mary's spiritual sweetness, soothing and healing herbs
reflected her heavenly mercy, while butter and sour herbs mirrored
her bitter sorrows. The deep purple blue blossoms and the
sword-pointed leaves of blue flag iris gave the plant the name
Mary's Sword of Sorrow. Dandelion was known as Mary's bitter
sorrow.
Roses have long been associated with Mary. One of the earliest
legends, from the second century, tells that when Mary was assumed
into heaven, lilies and roses were found in her tomb. A legend
that a rose sprang up every place she and Joseph rested on the
flight into Egypt connects Mary with the Rose of Jericho, also
known as Mary's Rose.
Three colors of roses were deemed especially appropriate in a Mary
Garden; red roses to symbolize the sorrows of Our Lady, white to
symbolize her joys and yellow to symbolize and herald her glories.
The word "Rosary" originally meant a rose garden and later
referred to a garland of roses. The devotion known as the Rosary,
a garland of prayers in honor of Mary, began in the twelfth
century.
The Legend of the Ladybug: Ladybugs are a European symbol of good
luck. They received their name centuries ago in Europe when
farmers found aphids invading their grapevines. Prayers to the
Virgin Mary for help were answered when thousands of little, red
beetles appeared and ate the aphids. The farmers named the helpful
beetles in honor of Mary, also known as "Our Lady".
Crowning by Member of Mary's Court
.
MARY'S PLANTS: (Example of just a few)
Mary's Attributes
Blessed Mary (Lily of the Valley), Faith plant (crimson clover),
Fruitful virgin (strawberry), Little Mary (zinnia), Mary's Crown
(bachelor button), Mary's Gold (marigold), Our Lady's Praises
(petunia), The Virgin's Flower (periwinkle)
Mary's Life
Epiphany flower (chrysanthemum), Holy Night Rose (Christmas rose),
Incarnation (gladiolus), Mary's Glories (gold rose), Mary's Star
(daffodil), Mary's Tears (larkspur), Our Lady's Delight (pansy or
johnny-jumpup), Our Lady's Tears (lily of the valley), The
Virgin's Tears (onion), Virgin birth (almond), Visitation (red &
white roses).
Mary's Features
Eyes of Mary (forget-me-not), Lady Beautiful (geranium), Our
Lady's Fingers (common foxglove & honeysuckle), Virgin's milk
(star of Bethlehem)
Mary's Garments
Our Lady's Eardrops (fuchsia), Our lady's Frills (primrose), Our
Lady's Glove (foxglove), Our Lady's Lace (wild parsley), Our
Lady's Mantle (common morning glory). Our Lady's shoes
(columbine), Our Lady's veil (baby's breath).
In Mary's Household
Infant Jesus' shoes (snapdragon), Lady's Cushion (kidney vetch),
Lady's Thimble (foxglove), Madonna's Pins (geranium), Mary's Bell
(Canterbury bells), Mary's Gold (marigold), Our Lady's Candlestick
(primrose), Our Lady's Pincushion (scabious)
In Mary's Garden
Madonna's Herb (ground ivy), Mary's Flower (English daisy), Mary's
nettle (catnip), Mary's root (parsnip), Our Lady's Mint
(spearmint), Our Lady's Sprig (anise)
Mary's Roses
Carnation (divine flower), Madonna Rose (tea rose hybrid), Queen
Mary's Rose (sweetbrier), Saint Mary's Wild Rose (peony)
(MG Website Illustrative Miniature Flower Photos)
MEDITATIONS OF MARY'S FLOWERS
(Common garden flowers)
Mary's Love - Impatiens has been named Mother Love from the
constancy of its blooms during the entire period from spring to
frost - bringing to mind the constancy of Mary's love for her
Divine Son and Lord, and for us, her spiritual children. We turn
to Mary, our Mother, in prayer, knowing she is constantly present
in heaven as our Advocate and Intercessor, yet also at our side
meditating the graces she obtains for us.
Infant Jesus' Shoes - As the shapes of snapdragon blooms bring to
mind little shoes, we envisage in our imagination the little feet
and shoes of Jesus, and Mary's loving motherly sharing and bonding
with him as she cared for him in their Nazareth home. In imitation
of Mary, may we ever nurture and protect the innocence and purity
of our own children as we instruct them in the truths and virtues
of the Faith.
Mary's Pincushion - As we look at the tiny white pins in the
flower heads of sweet scabious, we think of Our Lady's wonder and
joy as she sewed garments for the Divine Redeemer she was to bear.
In emulation of Mary, we offer all our work and thoughts to God,
and in particular our sewing for home and for our church altar.
Flower of the Cross - The tiny cross-shaped flowers of sweet
alyssum bring to mind Christ's Cross, quickening us to recollection
that all our pains and sorrows were borne there by him, and that by
our own bearing of them in union with him we extend the mystery and
efficacy of his Redemption - "making up what is wanting in the
sufferings of Christ'.
Mary's Tears - When the tear-like buds appear on the larkspur, we
unite our thoughts with those of Mary as she wept at the foot of
the Cross, sharing the bitter Passion of her crucified Divine Son
and Lord. May we become ever more closely united with the
sacrifice of Christ through loving emulation of Mary's motherly
sorrows - as we are quickened to meditation and prayer by these
flowers said by legend to have sprung up where her tears -fell to
the ground by the Cross.
Madonna Lily- The white lily, and particularly the Madonna Lil ,
with its striking clarity of form and immaculate, translucent
whiteness, has long been regarded as the special symbol of the
spotless purity of Our Lady. In the 8th century St. Bede saw the
translucent white petals to be a likeness of her pure body as she
was assumed into heaven, and its golden anthers, of the glorious
resplendence of her soul. In Renaissance art it was adopted in
paintings of the Annunciation, and accordingly came to be known as
Annunciation Lily and Mary's Lily.
Holy Spirit Plant -From its petals resembling doves, the
columbine has been adopted as an emblem of the Holy Spirit. The red
columbine has been used especially for this purpose since its red
spurs resemble also the tongues of flame with which the Holy Spirit
descended upon the apostles at Pentecost. In paintings of the
Madonna and in Mary Gardens the columbine recalls that Mary
conceived of the Holy Spirit, of whom she is also the dwelling
place or temple, according to the words of the angel: "And the Holy
Spirit shall come upon thee."
Star of the Epiphany - The chrysanthemum is associated with the
Epiphany, the manifestation of the Savior to the Gentiles, by a
legend which tells us it was in bloom before the manger in -
Bethlehem. From the resemblance of the golden yellow star- like
flowers of this plant to the star in the sky above, the Wise Men
knew they had reached their journey's goal. Picking the flowers,
they entered in and placed them in the outstretched hand of the
Infant King enthroned on His mother's knees.
Blue Flag Iris - also called Sword Lily, from its sword-like
foliage, was regarded as a symbol of Our Lady's Sorrows according to
Simeon's words to Mary during the Presentation of Jesus in the
temple: "And a sword shall pierce thy soul, that the thoughts of
many hearts may be revealed". Iris, the Royal Lily, was also used
as an emblem of Our Lady's queenship.
Our Lady's Resting Place - There are a number of legends
associated with the rests taken by the Holy Family during the
Flight into Egypt. The blue mats of veronica ground cover were
known as Our Lady's Resting Place. Several flowers such as Sweet
Williams were named Our Lady's Tuft, Cushion or Resting Place
because they formed a place for Our Lady to sit. Flowering
Clematis or Wisteria vines were named Virgin's Bower because they
spread over her head to shield her from the hot sun. Rosemary
acquired its fragrance when Mary placed Jesus' garment on it to
dry after a rain storm. And the Cherry Tree was said to have
lowered its branches to assist St. Joseph in picking fruit for
Mary's and Jesus refreshment.
Our Lady's Tears - Our Lady's sorrows at the foot of the Cross
were called to mind by a number of flowers known as Our Lady's
Tears. Virginia Spiderwort was called Our Lady's Tears because of
the tear-like fluid emitted from the spent blooms hanging down
beneath its blossom "eyes". Our Lady's Tears recall the teaching
of the Church that Our Lady was our Co-Redemptrix whose tears were
joined with the Blood of Christ, our Redeemer, in the
accomplishment of the work of our Redemption.
Our Lady's Delight - The pans , through its three colors in its
wild form: yellow, blue and white, was adopted as a symbol of the
Holy Trinity and was named Trinity Flower, It was also named our
Lady's Delights suggesting Our Lady's beholding of it. (In the
developed strains, where one color is dominant, the other two
colors are always found at the center.) The double symbolism
reminds us that the mystery of the Holy Trinity was first revealed
to Mary, at the Annunciation, and that now she beholds and shares
in the life of the three divine persons in the beautific vision of
heaven.
Fruitful Virgin - Various fruits, such as the al2pl and the pear,
have been used in art to denote the divine fruitfulness of Mary's
womb. In Mary Gardens and in portrayals of Mary Gardens the
strawberru has been widely used for this purpose since its low
form is suitably proportioned to other low-growing symbolical
plants such as the violet and the lily-of-the- Valley. In flower
and in fruit at the same time, the strawberry also represents
Mary's perpetual virginity.
Assumption Lily - While the Easter Lily has been adopted to
proclaim the joys of Jesus' Resurrection, the White Day Lily has
been called Assumption Lily from its bloom during the season of
the Feast of Our Lady's Assumption, August 15.
(MG Website 12 Flower Meditations with Photos)
History of the St Elizabeth Ann Seton Garden
The Christian Mothers and Ladies Guild began the planning for the
Mary's Garden at St Elizabeth At Seton in the fall of 1999. Two of
our members, Joanna Graham and Lori Smith, came upon the idea of a
Garden after attending a horticultural class. The new officers,
looking for a project for the church and also in a way to honor
Mary, decided to pursue the idea of a Mary's Garden. After several
very successful fund raisers, including the omelet breakfast and
the Parish Birthday/Anniversary calendar, the ground breaking was
done in 2001.
Many volunteer workers (ranging in age from 2 years to mature)
have helped in the planning, digging, planting and mulching of our
Mary's Garden in time for our dedication on May 19, 2002. Our
layout plans were drawn up by Regie Holecko. With careful planning
we were able to incorporate a memorial flowering dogwood (Tree of
the Cross) which was located on the corner of the lot into our
garden's present location and also added donated plants from
parishioners' home gardens, along with some-new purchases. A
soaker hose watering system was installed by Bob & Annie Booth.
Our statue, "Our Lady of Grace" was special ordered from Italy in
fall 2000. She is 5 ft tall, bronze, and arrived here in North
Huntingdon in spring 2001. A special pedestal for our statue is
located in the center of our garden which was designed & built by
Marcos Construction. Lighting within the pedestal was installed by
parishioner Tom Gothie.
Inscribed bricks form the center court of the garden. Name plaques
are located throughout the garden in memory of loved ones, Seven
marble benches are also positioned throughout the garden on the
cement walkways to sit upon and meditate or just enjoy the view
and a nice peaceful setting,
Many thanks go out to ALL the volunteer workers, including Mark
Connolly, our site manager, and to Herb Henry who kept the new
garden watered throughout the drought-like conditions in the
summer of 2001. In the fall of 2001, the Christian Mothers and
Ladies Guild voted to retain parishioner Dave Talon as the
landscape manager. Dave has a degree in turf management and is
presently employed at Wildwood Golf Club as their assistant
superintendent.
Our future plans include the continuation of the bricks, name
plaques, and benches to further enhance the garden. The May Queen
crowning will be an annual event. Plans are also being made to
include our Mary's Garden along with in-progress photos into the
church website www.st-elizabeth-seton.org. Also, now that the
benches are in place, what a beautiful setting for the rosary to
be recited or for silent mediation.
TAKE A MOMENT
We hope you enjoy your visit here to our Mary's Garden. Take a
moment and sit down on one of the benches, look around at all the
beautiful flowers, take a few deep breaths and just relax.
Close your eyes and picture Mary in her home in Nazareth. Picture
her eyes (forget-me-nots), her hair (maidenhair fem), her five
fingers (potentilla). Think about her apparel: her smock (morning
glory), her veil (baby's breath), her nightcap (Canterbury bells),
her gloves (foxglove), and her shoes (columbine). Remember her
attributes: Mary's humility (violet), the fruitful virgin
(strawberry), Mary's queenship (virgin lily), Mary's Flower of God
(English daisy), Mary's glory (Saint-John's wort), and Our Lady's
Faith (veronica).
Think about her life: The Bethlehem Star (bellflower), the
Christmas Flower (poinsettia), Lady's Bedstraw (dianthus) - Mary
used bedstraw to prepare a bed for Jesus), the Epiphany flower
(chrysanthemum), the Flight into Egypt (fig tree - legend says
that the Holy Family ate the fruit of this tree during their
flight into Egypt), Our Lady's Tears (Lily of the Valley - tiny
white nodding bell-shaped flowers can be likened to a train of
tears), Our Lady's Tresses (Asparagus fern - legend holds that at
the foot of the cross, Mary, in. deep agony, tore out a tress of
her hair which Saint John preserved), Mary's Bitter Sorrow
(dandelion), and the Assumption (hosta - plantation lily blooms at
the time of the Feast of the Assumption).
"Look on the flower,think of Mary."
Mary's Month of May - The celebration of the beauty of Mary's
holiness, and of her motherly and queenly mercy, through the
giving to her and the crowning of her statues with flowers -
Mother's Day is now coming to serve as a new focus for May Marian
devotion. In the commercial promotion of Mother's Day, a special
flower has been adopted - the carnation, of the original Mother's
Day celebration. The employment of carnations as symbolic
expressions of love of mother, has been adopted by Catholics as
symbols of love of Mary as spiritual Mother.
Our Mother's Day offerings to Mary take on the character of a
feast day of Mary as our Spiritual Mother. The giving of flowers
to Mary before her altar or statue is an expression of our love
and veneration for her as our Spiritual Mother, as the giving of
flowers to our natural mothers is an expression of our love for
and appreciation of them on Mother's Day.
In the fullness of religious flower giving, the 18th century
introduction of May devotions, and now the 20th century
introduction of Mother's Day and its application to Mary, both
draw on the general rich traditional prayerful giving of flowers
to Mary at her altars; on the offering of spiritual bouquets to
her in praying the Rosary; and on the popular tradition of
reflection and meditation on her through her flower symbols.
It is our hope that the peaceful beauty of our garden will bring
our visitors, young and old, spiritually closer to our Mother,
Mary.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Christian Mothers & Ladies Guild Officers
1999-2001 President - Mary Jane Henry
Vice - President - Joanna
Graham/Janet Varacalli
Treasurer - Anna Marie Blon
Secretary - Pat Stephanik
2001 -2003 President - Mary Jane Henry
Vice-President - Pat Stephanik
Treasurer - Lori Smith
Secretary - Janet Varacalli
Thanks to all parishioners who helped us in any way to
create Mary's Garden, whether physically, monetary, or
with your prayers.
Special thanks to Lorraine Glenn, Marion Siebert and the
Adult choir, Fr Rick, our children and teenagers involved
with the ceremony, and all who helped to prepare for the
reception.
Research info: www.mqardens.org Special thanks to
Mr. John Stokes Jr of the Mary's Garden Website,
"Mary's Flowers, Gardens, Legends & Meditations" by
Vincenzina Krymow
MARY'S COURT
Danielle Bertok
Kate Komondor
Erica Blackburn
Jess Hensler
Blake Ebbitt
Emily Magaro
Sarah Decaio
Autumn Greba
Jake Ebbitt
GREETERS
Becky Campbell
Jessie Henry