This is Viola Labradorica, blooming now. Sometimes it's called Alpine Violet. Like most spring flowers, it grows close to the ground, a protection against still possible cold blasts. Violets are often seen as symbolic of the virtues of humility and modesty. Hence they are often found in Medieval/Renaissance paintings of the Virgin Mary.
But we've often times misunderstood humility. Humility comes from the Latin humus, meaning good earth. Humility is being down to earth about myself. Realistic about myself. Docility would be humility's sibling. Docility comes from the Latin docere, to teach. A docile person is teachable — I allow myself to be taught by more than a Wikipedia article.
Bishop Dermot Farrell is the new Archbishop of Dublin, Ireland. Upon his being chosen by Pope Francis to lead he offered this simple teaching.
"Our world is changing before our eyes, our country is changing deeply, and our church changes beneath our feet. Together, we are called to find a way into the future that opens before us. The only genuine way into the future is a shared way, a way together."
I could well imagine Bishop Farrell had these Gospel words of Jesus in mind — a teaching for polarized nation and church:
"If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand." Mark 3: 24,25
