Open Reflections

για Ελληνικά πατήστε εδώ

During the Greek and Roman times the rose was considered a symbol of the springtime, of beauty, love and life after death.

The first Christian depictions of the rose symbolise the Paradise along with the lily, peacock and deer.

In the 5th century the poet Sedulius wrote an elaborate poem comparing Eve with the Virgin Mary. Like the beautiful innocent and noble rose grows from within a thorny bush, so the Mother of God came forth from within the descendants of guilty Eve, i.e. pure and immaculate in the midst of sinful humanity.

The rose, the king of the flowers, has been associated with the Most Holy Mary, the Queen of Heaven. This symbolism was further developed during the Middle Ages.

For the Italian poet Dante (1265-1321) the rose is more generally a symbol for the Universe; its manifold petals symbolise the beauty and order of Creation which extend in every direction.

In the Gothic Cathedrals, the big circular window above the main entrance is called “roseta”, i.e. little rose. Its shape and stained glass images symbolise the world of Salvation, which Christ offers to us. It always has Christ at its center, either as Judge or as a child in His Mother’s arms.

Let us, also, not forget the Holy Rosary, this powerful  prayer of popular piety, which consists in the contemplation, with the Virgin Mary, of the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries in the life of our Lord.

It took its name from the crown of roses (=rosarium) the faithful use to offer to the Mother of God, in this way expressing their love and devotion towards her person.

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