Mary anointed the Feet of Jesus with precious spikenard. She had purchased the costly jar of perfumed ointment. Years of saving, making items and selling them for small coins at market, the saving of a price of loaf and fasting in its stead. All these things Mary possibly did, and saved for a rainy day. Then, in one magnificent gesture, Mary purchased the jar of spikenard.
Mary gave witness that Jesus Christ is Messiah. She anointed the Feet of Christ with spikenard. Mary wept with repentance and gratitude at forgiveness of her sins. She showed her love for Jesus by washing His Feet with her tears, drying them with her hair. Though Mary caused scandal amongst those around, and Judas was concerned at possible waste, Jesus commended her. Christ said that Mary had anointed Him ahead of time, for burial.
Such deeds of love are never a waste. Rather, they are spending our best and all we have on Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Fragrance jar of devotion
In quiet streets where merchants cried, Where coins were earned with humble pride; A woman laboured, day by day, And slowly stored her gains away.
A loaf forgone, a hunger borne, One simple dress, now patched and worn; Small coins she saved from all she made, Through heat of sun and market trade.
Through years of want, through nights of prayer, She kept a treasure hidden there - Not gold for ease, nor wealth for show, But love that only Christ would know.
At last she found that costly grace, Pure spikenard sealed in fragile vase; A fragrance rare, a treasure bright, The sum of years brought into light.
Then came the hour, the sacred place, She stood before her Saviour’s Face; And knowing Him, her heart laid bare, She wept in love beyond compare.
Her tears fell soft upon His Feet, Sorrow before Mercy complete; For He had seen her hidden pain, And washed her soul from every stain.
She broke the jar - no thought of cost, No counting what the world called lost; The fragrance poured, so rich, so free, Her treasured act of dignity.
With loosened hair, she gently dried, The Feet of Him soon crucified; Her love proclaimed in silent art, Outpouring of her grateful heart.
The room was stirred with whispered blame, With judging eyes and words of shame; “Such waste,” they thought, “So strange a deed; The poor could have claimed this costly need!”
But one among them weighed the price, With mazed thought and guarded eyes - Judas spoke of loss, of squandered gold, Yet knew not love so sure and bold.
Then Christ, the Lord, with gentle Voice, Declared her act the truest choice: “She has anointed Me this day, Preparing for My burial way.”
No gift of love is ever waste, When offered pure, though sacred haste; For what we give with all our heart, Becomes of heaven’s realm a part.
O may we learn from Mary’s grace, To seek our Lord, to know His Face; To spend our best, our all, our store, On Him whom we are longing for.
For He is Christ, the Holy One, God’s own beloved, eternal Son - And love like hers shall ever stand, Remembered in His saving Hand.
Jesus wept at the loss of Lazarus, His dear friend. The Master also wept as He witnessed the grief of the family and friends. God had made Adam and Eve from the earth, had breathed His own Life into the clay figures. We, descendants of the first parents, are joyful to be children of God, heirs of His Breath.
Yet, God had not experienced what His creations truly feel at sorrow of death. God sent His only Son, to experience our lives to the fullest. Thus, Jesus wept. Why, in so many traditions, do we expect men not to weep? Do we not all feel? Men as well as women, boys as well as girls? Do not unshed tears come out later in our bodies as anxiety, unresolved grief, panic attacks, post-traumatic stress syndrome, heart attacks, strokes?
Let us feel our grief, and shed our tears. As Jesus did.
Jesus Wept
Before the stone where sorrow lay, Where death had seemed to claim its day; Christ stood amidst grief's great depth, And wept before the face of death.
For Lazarus, His cherished friend, For love that seemed to meet its end; For sisters bowed in aching pain, And hearts that would not heal again.
The tears He shed were not in vain, They fell like soft, redeeming rain; For God who formed us from the sod. Now wept among us - man and God.
From dust He shaped both form and face, And breathed in us His living Grace; From Adam’s line our lives began, The breath of God in fragile man.
Yet though He made the heart to feel, Its wounds, its breaking, and its heal; He had not walked our shadowed way, Nor wept as mortals weep one day.
So Love came down, in flesh and bone, To claim our griefs as now His own; Born of a woman, meek and mild, The Holy One, yet Mary’s Child.
He knew our hunger, thirst, and loss, The weight of sorrow, and the Cross; Christ walked the road our feet must tread, And wept beside the silent dead.
Then why do we, in hardened guise, Forbid the tears within our eyes? Why teach the heart to lock its pain, As though true strength must still remain?
Do not those tears, if held inside, Return as storms we cannot hide - In trembling chest, in anxious breath, In silent wounds that echo death?
O let us learn from Christ our Lord, Whose tears no shame nor weakness stored; For in His weeping love was shown, As God who made our grief His own.
So let us feel, and not deny The tears that fall, the inward cry; For we are His - both frail and strong; And in our tears, we all belong.
Let us thank God for every physician, nurse, chemist, herbalist and health professional over the ages, who have made and administered remedies for pain and restoration to health. We are blessed to have dedicated called, who have spent their lives in the pursuit of excellence in medicine, nursing, healing and medicaments.
Hymn of Thanks for Healers
O Divine Source of wisdom bright, Who kindled minds with healing light; We lift our hearts in grateful praise, For healers’ works through all our days.
For every physician, wise and true, Whose caring hands our strength renew; For every chemist, keen of sight, Who laboured long by day and night.
For those who searched through nature’s store, In root and leaf, on distant shore; Who drew from earth its hidden grace, To soothe the pain of suffering’s face.
For nurses gentle, watchful, near, Whose quiet presence calms our fear; Whose tender care and patient art, Bring balm and hope to mind and heart.
For all who answered to the call, To serve the weak, to tend to all; Who gave their lives in steadfast quest, To bring to suffering relief and rest.
Bless every mind that sought to find, Relief for body, soul, and mind; For all whose skill, refined through years, Has wiped away each patient’s tears.
Through trial and effort, success and gain, They strove to lessen human pain; With courage firm and vision clear, They pressed on for many a year.
O Giver of each healing gift, Our hearts in thanks to You we lift; For through these souls Your Mercy flows, In their work Your Goodness shows.
May all their labours, great and small, Be crowned with blessing over all; May all their service ever be, Great sign of Your deep Charity.
Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle "Galen creates healing cream"
The rose flower possesses both herbal healing powers and spiritual significance. Many angels and saints are notably linked to the fragrance of roses. The scent of roses is considered a sign of their sanctity. This scent is called the "odour of sanctity."
Quiet power to heal
The rose has long been treasured not only for its beauty, but for its quiet power to heal the body, mind, and soul. Across cultures and centuries, this flower has been seen as both a medicine and a sign of Divine Love, carrying within its petals a language that speaks to human longing for wholeness and peace.
Rose scent, spiritual significance and heavenly consolation
Spiritually, the rose carries profound meaning. The fragrance of a rose represents the sacredness of people's souls, within which the Imago Dei (Image of God) dwells. If the scent of a rose permeates the air, yet no actual earthly roses are nearby, it is sign that God or one of His angels is sending a spiritual message supernaturally through claralience.
Claralience means smelling a fragrance that comes from a spiritual source (such as God and His angels) rather than from a physical one. Such messages are meant to encourage people, in their life-journey.
The fragrance of the rose holds a special place in mystical and spiritual tradition. The scent of the rose, in particular, has been associated with heavenly consolation. Throughout history, there are accounts of saints and holy persons surrounded by a mysterious fragrance, often described as the scent of roses.
This scent is experienced especially at moments of deep prayer, suffering, or even at the hour of the death of a holy person. This phenomenon, sometimes called the “odour of sanctity,” has been understood as a sign of God’s Presence and the soul’s closeness to Him.
The image of the rose in spirituality is far more than poetic ornament. The rose is a sign of love, sacrifice and purity of soul. The rose mystically points towards the Divine Presence. Within this sacred symbolism, many beloved angels and saints stand out in luminous way. They are associated with the rose, not only as flower, but as a living sign of God’s Grace manifesting in life.
Holy Spirit of God
The Holy Spirit of God may surround you with the scent of roses. The odour of sanctity comes from the presence of the Holy Spirit in situations where the person experiences it.
Rose of Sharon
The floral imagery of the rose appears in the Bible: “I am the Rose of Sharon, and the Lily of the Valley,” [Song of Songs 2:1]. Christian devotion embraced this verse as a symbol of Divine beauty and Love. Many expositors agree that these words refer to Jesus Christ.
Mother Mary, Mystical Rose
In Christian tradition, rose is often associated with the Blessed Virgin Mary, sometimes called the “Mystical Rose.” The Mystical Rose is a symbol of purity, humility, and holy love unfolding in the world. Mother Mary is particularly associated with the scent of roses, symbolizing her presence and blessings.
Our Lady of Guadalupe: The famous Virgin Mary miracle involved roses, during her visit to St Juan Diego, at Guadalupe in 1531. Mother Mary arranged roses (which grew out of season) inside the tilma (poncho) of a man named Juan Diego. When the roses were removed from the tilma, a supernaturally imprinted image of Mother Mary was found on the poncho.
Our Lady of the Rosary: The prayer tradition of the rosary dates back to 1214 AD, when St Dominicexplained that Mother Mary described it to him, during an apparition in Toulouse, France.
Saints
Saint Charbel Makhlouf,a Lebanese Maronite monk known for a life of deep prayer and solitude, is associated with numerous reported miracles after his death. Pilgrims who visit his monastery in Lebanon sometimes describe experiencing a fragrance similar to flowers such as roses, or incense.
Saint Padre Pio is often associated with the scents of roses and violets, which many believe signifies his presence and intercession.
Saint Thérèse of Lisieux; often called “The Little Flower,” lived a hidden life of simplicity, prayer, and profound love for God. She is known for her “little way”; a spiritual path of doing small things with great love. Shortly before her death, she made a striking promise:
“I will let fall a shower of roses upon the earth after my death.”
In the spiritual life of the Church, this has been understood not as metaphor alone, but as a lived reality of intercession. Many faithful across the world testify to receiving unexpected graces, answered prayers, and signs they interpret as “roses”; whether actual roses, sudden peace, or timely help in difficulty.
The rose here becomes a sign of hidden but active love: grace flowing from heaven into earthly life.
St Rose of Lima; the first canonised saint of the Americas, lived an austere and deeply prayerful life in Peru. From childhood, she was associated with roses; her very name “Rose” became prophetic of her spiritual identity. St Rose of Lima is the patron saint of embroidery, gardening and cultivation of blooming flowers.
Tradition tells us that her beauty was marked by humility. St Rose offered her suffering, fasting, and prayer for the love of Christ and the salvation of souls. In iconography, she is often shown wearing or holding roses. This image symbolizes purity of heart, mystical union with Christ, and the fragrance of a life given wholly to God.
In St Rose of Lima's life, the rose becomes not only beauty, but sacrifice transformed into spiritual fragrance.
Angelic presence
Some traditions associate certain scents with angelic presence or guidance. These scents are often noticed during prayer to the angel, during moments of decision, uncertainty, or emotional need. The scent of roses is a sign of protection and Divine Love.
Often, this scent will come from nowhere, and lingers for a few minutes before disappearing as quickly as it appeared.
Your guardian angel may be supportive of you by sending rose or floral scent during times of prayer, meditation, and when you ask your guardian angel for help.
Archangel Gabriel is an angelic being, often depicted as a messenger or announcer of significant events or messages from God. Gabriel's name means "God is my strength."
Archangel Gabriel was the messenger who announced the birth of Jesus Christ to Mary. He also appeared to Zechariah to announce the birth of John the Baptist. Archangel Gabriel sometimes makes his presence known by the sudden appearance of the scent of roses or lilies.
Archangel Michael is revered as the protector and warrior of light. He is known for his strength, courage and unwavering commitment to righteousness. Various scents have been associated with the presence of Archangel Michael during prayer, and when his special protection is invoked. The rose scent is a sign of Michael's protection, especially when we are in danger.
The rose as spiritual language
Together, Mother Mary, the angels and saints reveal a deeper theology of the rose. The rose of Mother Mary shows that she was tabernacle of Jesus, The Rose of Sharon.
The rose of St Charbel and St Padre Pio show their great holiness, and closeness to the Divine Presence.
St Thérèse's legacy becomes grace descending from heaven, love that continues to act after death.
The rose in St Rose of Lima's legacy, becomes offering ascending to heaven; a life turned into prayer and sacrifice.
The rose of our guardian angels shows the role of protector, guider and emotional support our guardian angels play in our lives.
Archangel Gabriel brings rose scent into our lives when he announces God's Plan for us, or change in direction which God plans for our lives.
Archangel Michael brings rose into our lives, as a sign of singular protection and care from God's Commander of the heavenly armies.
In all cases, the rose is not merely symbolic decoration. The flower becomes a language of communion between heaven and earth.
The message of the Rose
In the lives of Thérèse of Lisieux and Rose of Lima, the rose is not simply remembered; it is lived. One showers roses from heaven; the other becomes a rose offered on earth. Together they reveal a mystery at the heart of Christian devotion: that love, when united to God, never ceases to bloom.
In devotional thought, angels are believed to communicate Divine comfort through beauty and fragrance. The scent of roses, soft yet unmistakable, has come to symbolize a touch of heaven. Rose scent is a reminder that God’s grace can be experienced not only in grand miracles, but in quiet stirring of the senses.
In a practical sense, the rose can still “heal” us today. Rose tea can calm a troubled mind. Rose's fragrance can ease sorrow and lift the spirit. The flower's symbolism can draw the heart toward prayer and reflection. To pause with a rose - to see its form, to inhale its scent - is to be invited into stillness, into gratitude, into awareness of a love that is both tender and enduring.
Soul's journey toward God
The rose’s beauty, hidden within layers of petals, has been seen as an image of the soul’s journey toward God - opening slowly, revealing deeper depths of grace. Rose thorns remind us that love, in a fallen world, is not without suffering. Yet the bloom itself speaks of hope, redemption, and the promise of eternal life.
Ultimately, the healing power of the rose lies not only in its chemistry, but in what it points toward. It reminds us that true healing is holistic: body soothed, mind calmed, spirit lifted. Like the rose itself, we are called to open, to receive light, and to grow - even among thorns - toward fullness of life.
Rose of Eden restored
O Rose of Sharon, pure and bright, Soft blooming in eternal light; O Lily of the Valley fair, God’s tender Love made full known there.
When we, by choice, from grace did fall, Then shadows dimmed creation’s call No longer held in Theocracy’s embrace, We wandered far from Eden’s place.
Yet God, in mercy, did not leave Our wounded hearts alone to grieve; He promised One, a saving Bloom, Whose life would break the darkest gloom.
The Rose was sent in time and space, A sign of beauty, truth, and grace; His petals speak of heaven above, The fragrance whispers: “God is love.”
In quiet hours, when burdens press, When life feels but a wilderness; A sudden sweetness fills the air - The hint of angels lingers there.
For saints and hosts unseen draw near, To comfort hearts weighed down by fear; In that sweet scent, so soft, so mild, We are consoled; God’s weary child.
Blessed be God for healing art, For hands that soothe the aching heart; For those who tend with gentle care, And find His grace in roses fair.
O gift of petals, balm and sign, Sweet testament of love Divine; A glimpse of joy is gently shown, Where beauty flowers before His throne.
In that Kingdom, bright above, Where all is peace, and all is love; I pray my garden there may be With roses blooming endlessly -
Each blossom turning, full of grace, With full-felt joy toward His Face; Till all creation, bright and true, Blushes in Christ, forever new.
Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle "Jesus blessing the rose"
There was a hunter in the desert. He saw Abba Anthony joking with the brethren. Desert Father Anthony, wanting to assure him that it was necessary sometimes to show consideration for the needs of the brethren, said to the hunter, "Put an arrow in your bow and draw it." So he did.
Abba Anthony then said, "Draw it again," and the hunter did so. Then Abba Anthony said, "Draw yet again," and the man replied "If I draw my bow so much, it will break."
Then Abba Anthony said to the hunter, "It is the same with the work of God. If we submit the brethren to stress beyond measure they will soon break. Sometimes it is necessary show consideration for their needs." The hunter was deeply struck by these words. As for the brethren, they returned strengthened to their own dwelling.
Desert fathers
The desert fathers in the early church waited on the Word of God, and taught many lessons of holiness to others. Their words continue to inspire today.
Excessive strain
When we place excessive demands on others - expecting more time, energy, and output than is humanly possible - we risk not only diminishing their dignity, but also harming their health and spirit.
Constant pressure and unrealistic workloads can lead to exhaustion, anxiety, and even physical illness such as headaches, ulcers, and more serious conditions brought on by prolonged stress.
Demand without mercy burdens the soul
A true work ethic is not measured by how much we can extract from others, but by how justly and compassionately we treat them. The wisdom of Anthony the Great reminds us that holiness is rooted in balance, humility, and love. To demand without mercy is to burden the soul; to lead with kindness is to give life.
Every person has limits
Let us therefore be rational and gentle in our expectations, remembering that every person has limits. In honouring those limits, we reflect the compassion of God and help others to flourish rather than fade under strain.
Voices of the Abbas
In desert vast where silence lay,
The holy fathers knelt to pray,
With hearts attuned to heaven’s call,
They sought the Word that speaks to all.
No gold had they, no earthly claim,
Yet burned within a living flame;
A hunger deep for truth Divine,
A thirst no world could e’er define.
They waited on the sacred Word,
In stillness where God’s Voice was heard;
Through wind and sun, through night so long,
Their lives became a silent song.
In caves and sands, in lonely place,
They learned the depth of boundless grace.
Through fasting, tears, and watchful eyes,
They fixed their hope beyond the skies.
They taught that holiness is found,
Not in the noise, but sacred ground;
Within the soul that bends in prayer,
Where God is near, forever there.
O desert saints, so strong, so wise,
You turned from earth to gain the prize;
Your witness still lights up our way,
And calls our hearts to watch and pray.
If you wish to know more about the Desert Fathers and Desert Mothers, please click in the link below;
God looked down from ages past at His beloved creations, He chose a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey, to carry His Son. The Almighty looked from eternity into the gentle eyes of the animal who would faithfully carry His Son, as King, into Jerusalem.
God bent down, and drew ash-coloured cross upon the donkey's back. This sign is almost a symbol of the crucifixion-week of the Christ, which lay ahead.
Every being is precious in God's Sight, and this chosen donkey was destined to carry the King of kings into Holy City. This foal would do, without rearing or fright, whilst palm fronds waved, hosannas rang, and cloaks were thrown upon the path of Jesus.
This is what the donkey had been born for. For greatness. For what greater is there than to carry the weight of the King of kings upon your shoulders, with devotion and joy? Just so do we carry the weight of Jesus' expectations upon our shoulders. Obey the commandments. Be faithful. Be kind. Do not lie. Do not steal. Jesus expects us to be like Him - loving and gentle and life-respectful.
Long after the crosses had been taken down, and resurrection-tomb stone had creaked out of the doorway, the donkey passed on. Surely there is a heaven where this faithful one looked once more upon the gentle King Who so lovingly patted foal's head, during the ride into Jerusalem.
Let us, too, be faithful, to whatever the Lord calls for us. For God did not call us by accident. No, He looked down the ages and saw you - and me - and adjusted our missioned calls appropriately.
Humble bearer of Holy Son
From ages vast, before all time,
In wisdom deep, in love sublime,
God looked upon His works so dear,
Each soul, each life, both far and near.
In that gaze so vast, so wide,
He saw a colt, both meek and mild,
A donkey small, of humble birth,
Yet marked for purpose on this earth.
God looked into those gentle eyes,
So free of pride, so free of guise,
And chose this creature, soft and grey,
To bear His Son one sacred day.
He stooped in love, as legends tell, To mark a cross where shadows fell,
An ash-toned sign upon his back,
A quiet grace he did not lack.
For every life, both great and small,
Is known to God Who fashioned all, This small foal, so often passed,
Was held in love from first to last.
Then came the day, long prophesied,
When Christ the King in peace would ride;
Through Jerusalem with palms that swayed,
Amid cloaks along the roadway laid.
No fear the foal showed, no wild alarm, He bore the King with steady calm;
While voices cried, “Hosanna, sing!”
As they hailed the saving King.
This was the work for which he was born,
Not crowned with gold, nor robed, nor worn;
But raised to greatness, pure and true -
To carry Christ as it passed through.
What is greater, tell us now,
Than to bear such weight with willing brow?
To lift the King with heart so free,
In humble, joyful dignity.
So too are we called forth to bear
The weight of love, the call to care;
To keep God's Word in all we do,
In thought, in deed, in purpose true.
Obey His law: be just and kind,
Keep truth and mercy close in mind.
Do not deceive, nor take, nor break
The bonds that love and trust must make.
Harm not a life, but guard it well,
Let peace within your spirit dwell,
“Be like to Me,” the Saviour said,
With gentle Heart and Love outspread.
Long after crosses fell and tomb was bare,
And risen light had filled both earth and air;
That little donkey passed away, His task complete, on his final day.
Yet surely in God’s realm above, Foal knew again that touch of love -
The King Who once, with tender hand,
Had guided him through Holy Land.
We as well are chosen still,
Not by our own, but by His will;
For God has seen through time's long haul,
Both you and I - our life's great call.
No life is cast by chance alone,
Each path to Him is surely known.
So let us answer, firm and true,
Whatever work God bids us do.
For in His sight, both great and small
Are held in love - He calls us all.
Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle "Palm Sunday procession with celebration"
Mother Mary is the chosen vessel and gracious Queen, who carried the Christ-Child in womb unseen. Today, Jesus' Light shines upon all, and keeps us in God's Thrall.
During Christ's youth, Mother Mary loved her family, and showed affection to all. She accepted God's Invitation to become Mother of His Son. Mary visited St Elizabeth with joy and affection. Mother Mary was faithful spouse to St Joseph. She fled to Egypt with her husband and son, and thus is Queen of Refugees.
Today Mother Mary is Queen of Heaven and Queen of hearts. We pray that Mother Mary keep us safe today and that she will overcome the power of the evil one.
We pray that Mother Mary will help to bring us safely in the harbour of heaven, where - crowned as Queen of Heaven - she abides.
Hidden Grace, Mystery Deep
O Mother Mary, chosen one, Who bore in womb God’s only Son, A hidden grace, a mystery deep, While heaven watched and earth did keep.
Gracious Queen in silence bright, You carried Love, the world’s true Light, Unseen the Child, yet fully known, The Word made flesh, to us now shown.
With Saint Joseph by your side so true, In humble home your love first grew, A faithful heart, a family small, Yet held within the Lord of all.
You rose in haste o’er hill and field, To Elizabeth, who Baptist didst yield. Your greeting filled the air with grace, As God’s own Presence lit that place.
O Queen of refugees, we see Your flight to Egypt urgently; With Child and spouse through desert night, Preserved by God’s protecting Might.
Now crowned in heaven, radiant Queen, Above all things both heard and seen, You shine your light on hearts below, And guide us where God’s Mercies flow.
Keep us, dear Mother, in God’s Thrall, With loving trust that binds us all. Protect our souls through night and day, And lead us on the narrow way.
O'ercome the serpent’s ancient power, Where fear and shadow oft do tower. Let evil flee before your grace, And peace upon the world take place.
When life’s storm has spent its breath, And we draw near the gate of death, Bring us, O Queen, by gentle hand, Safe to heaven’s harbour, fair and grand.
There crowned in light, with saints above, You reign in everlasting love, O Mother Mary, hear our plea - Lead us to Christ eternally.
Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle "Mother Mary in Heaven'
