A Mystical Rose

Good and devout souls, who walk in the light of
the Holy Spirit; I do not think that you will mind my
giving you this little mystical rose tree which comes straight
from Heaven and which is to be planted in the garden of
your soul.  It cannot possibly harm the sweet smelling flowers
of your contemplations; for it is a heavenly tree and its
scent is beautiful.  It will not in the least interfere with your
carefully planned flower beds; for, being itself all pure and
well ordered, it inclines all to order and purity.  If it is carefully
watered and properly attended to every day it will grow
to such a marvelous height and its branches will have such a
wide span that, far from hindering your other devotions it
will maintain and perfect them.

Of course you understand what I mean, since you are spiritually
minded; this mystical rose tree is Jesus and Mary in
life, death and eternity; its green leaves are the Joyous Mysteries
the thorns the Sorrowful ones and the flowers, the
Glorious Mysteries of Jesus and Mary.  The buds are the
childhood of Jesus and Mary, and the open blooms show us
both of them in their sufferings, and the full-blown roses
symbolize Jesus and Mary in their triumph and glory.

A rose delights in the Joyous Mysteries.  Its thorns are sharp,
and prick, which makes us think of them in the Sorrowful
Mysteries, and last of all its perfume  is so sweet that everyone
loves it, and this fragrance symbolizes their Glorious
Mysteries.

So please do not scorn this beautiful and heavenly tree,
but plant it with your own hands in the garden of your soul,
making the resolution to say your Rosary every day.  By
saying it daily and by doing good works you will be tending
your tree, watering it, hoeing the earth around it.  Eventually
you will see that this little seed which I have given
you, and which  seems so very small now, will grow into a
tree so great that the birds of heaven, i.e., predestinate and
contemplative souls, will dwell in it and make their nests
there.  Its shade will shelter them from the scorching heat
of the sun and its great height will keep them safe from the
wild beasts on the ground.  And best of all, they will feed
upon the tree's fruit, which is none other than our
adorable Jesus, to whom be honor and glory forever and
ever. Amen. So be it.
by St. Louis De Montfort, The Secret of the Rosary