This is Convallaria Majalis Rosea (Lily-of-the-Valley) a light pink, fragrant version which blooms in late spring. Lily-of-the-Valley grows from pips - (a thin, fleshy root that's planted horizontally an inch or so below the soil surface). A box of ten arrived yesterday, prematurely I'd say. Of course, printed on the box, and again on the invoice, and again on the plastic package, instructions: PLANT IMMEDIATELY.
Today was a raw day, less than ten degrees above freezing. There was spring sun for about three minutes, but the weather lady says it's going to warm through the weekend. So I went out to turn over the soil along the woods where I hope the pips will settle in. I told a friend that the the little roots won't bloom this year, but that's okay; I like the gradual steps on the way to their blooming. A wooden marker will remind me of where to look for them next spring. God willing.
Lily of the Valley grow close to the ground, no more than 6 to 8 inches. In the Mary Garden they are called, Tears of Our Lady. The legend goes that as Mary wept at the foot of the cross on Calvary, her tears fell to the ground and Lily-of-the-Valley wondrously sprouted up and bloomed.* It's too beautiful to suggest it didn't really happen. This is a religion that honors human tears and the love that prompts them.
But I don't want simply to admire Mary in her sorrowing from a distance. I don't want simply to feel for Mary in her loss. But tears are part of human life. Some people grew up being told not to cry: "Big boys don't cry." "What are you getting so emotional about?" Tiresome really
"Mourning and weeping in this valley of tears," the Salve Regina prayer says. Sitting in a waiting room recently I saw an episode of Dr. Phil where a step-father appalled the audience with the way he degraded and insulted his step-daughter and the girl's mother not standing up for her. Who wouldn't feel the need for tears?
Some tears are shed for reasons not too serious: crying over a fender-bender, a wedding day snag, a dish broke. But then we see the television pictures of Syria's children suffocating and burning from another chemical gas attack; their cities turned to dust.
Remember the first lesson from the Ash Wednesday Mass: "Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep..." Joel 2:17 Tears have a place in church: before the altar, on the Communion line, before the icon or the tabernacle. And the words "priest" and "minister" don't only refer to the ones who wear vestments - we're all a priestly people. Lily-of-the-Valley: Our Lady's Tears; your tears and mine.
*Another legend says that Eve wept when the couple were expelled from the Garden of Eden, that her tears fell to the ground and Lily-of-the-Valley bloomed. Hey, what about Adam's tears? I hope he cried too. Crying isn't just for women.
*Another legend says that Eve wept when the couple were expelled from the Garden of Eden, that her tears fell to the ground and Lily-of-the-Valley bloomed. Hey, what about Adam's tears? I hope he cried too. Crying isn't just for women.
