Mary is called "Mystical Rose". The word mystical implies an awareness of God based on love and intuition rather than reason. Her life unfolded like the petals of a rose under the loving touch of the sun who is God. Conceived without Sin, her nature was free from egocentric awareness in her daily life.

What is ageism? Egoism is the deep seated tendency within our nature to view everything in relation to ourselves. This unconscious tendency is present within ourselves long before the awakening of conscience and lies at the heart of our activities although we might be quite unaware of it. We encounter the world with a self-centered attitude which instinctively relates everything to oneself. (Thomas Philippe, O.P., Mystical Rose, Our Sunday visitor, Inc., 1995, p. 39)

Her young life can be compared to a rose bud. She lived a life of silence and humility in union with God who was leading her to choose virginity as a way of life. With the Annunciation, her life began to blossom like that of a rose. The Angel Gabriel told her that she had been chosen by God to become the dwelling place of Her Son. Her response was, "May it be done to according to your word." (Lk1:38) Mary sensed the great event encompassing her life and cried out to Elizabeth,

"My Soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.

For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness;

behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed."

(Lk 1:46-48)

 

Her joy in time would be turned into sorrow . In the songs of Songs we read

"As a lily among thorns,

so is my beloved among women."
(Sg 2:2)

Mary as the New Eve was sinless but surrounded by fallen mankind capable of inflicting pain and suffering. A premonition of future suffering came shortly after Christ's birth at his Presentation in the Temple. There she met Simeon, an old man, who prophesied that the child would be a sign that would be contradicted and turning to Mary said--"You yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." (Lk 2:35)

This prophecy was realized as Mary suffered in seeing her son, flesh of her flesh, die on the Cross as we sing the Stabat Mater,

Click to hear

'Through her heart, His sorrow sharing

All His bitter anguish bearing

Now at length the sword has passed.

Her suffering is mystical because she suffered in union with Christ, God's only Son who died for love of us. This suffering is mystical because it is in the order of divine love. It is because of this close union with the love of Christ for us that she can help us in all our infirmities by bringing our sufferings to Christ her Son as acts of redemptive love.

 

The "Rose of Sharon" and "Lily among thorns" untouched by sin now dies but "Why speak of death? ...This beautiful creature, on hearing her Son's invitation to follow him, wrapped in the flames of love, and in the midst of her loving sighs, gives a last sigh of still more ardent love, and breathing forth her soul, expired." (St. Alfonsus de Liguori) But God did not allow her pure and immaculate body to undergo corruption. She was soon reunited with her son in body and soul. The Rose now blooms within the light of God's glory and shines with a splendor surpassing all of the angels and saints combined.

The scent of this beautiful Rose goes far beyond heaven because it encompassed the earth. Countless hearts and souls are daily turning to her to intercede for them with her Son, and her purity inspired countless men and women to be pure in thought and deed, and some dedicated their lives to her Son.

Miracle of Winter Flowers