Madonna Lily is planted in the fall, but with a covering of only one to two inches of soil. Unlike tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and crocuses, Madonna Lily will put out a tuft of low-to-the-ground leaves and then in the spring begin to develop a stem, budding and flowering in the later summer. The flowers, facing outward, are waxy, brilliant white and highly fragrant.
Often in Medieval paintings of the Annunciation (the Angel Gabriel announcing to Mary her pregnancy and Mary's ascent) either the angel holds a Madonna Lily or there is a vase holding a stem or two nearby. This 15th century Annunciation by Martin Schongauer illustrates this. Lilium Candidum aptly symbolizes Mary's Beatitude Heart: Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8)
But to return to the first idea of fall planting ~ it is an invitation to deeper living. We can:
- Plant ourselves in a good book that helps us to grow
- Plant ourselves in a new company ~ less combative, negative or divisive
- Plant ourselves in a discipline of Gospel-study or prayer
- Plant ourselves in new thinking that makes us better spouses or parents
- Plant ourselves in a time of silence
- Plant ourselves in a community or group of support for the healing of addiction
- Plant ourselves in professional therapy and not run away when it gets difficult
- Plant ourselves in a new job or new home
- Plant ourselves in a parish through the ups and downs
- Plant ourselves in a new life after a significant loss
