All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1 in the Western Christian tradition) and All Souls’ Day (Nov. 2) are observances meant to commemorate the dead, be they holy martyrs and saints or departed family members and friends. A national holiday in many countries, All Saints’ Day (along with its sister holiday All Souls’ Day) is observed by many people through visits to cemeteries, where they light candles and make tributes. Flowers are one of the most common offerings, with the chrysanthemum – the “flower of the dead” – being especially popular, particularly in France. As Catholics around the world commemorate All Saints’ Day, we take a look at a few Catholic saints and their floral symbols.
In this painting of the Virgin Mary and St. Elizabeth of Hungary, on the left grows an iris, a symbol of Mary’s sorrow. Blue – the color of the iris and the color most often associated with Mary – symbolizes truth and clarity, as well as heaven, according to symboldictionary.net.
Sometimes called a “sword lily,” the iris is commonly used to represent Mary’s sorrow at Christ’s Passion.
An important symbol of French royalty, the fleur-de-lis is associated with King Louis IX of France, canonized as Saint Louis, and also is used to symbolize the Blessed Virgin Mary. Though fleur-de-lis is French for “lily flower,” many believe that the fleur-de-lis is actually a stylized iris.
Signifying virginity, the lily is one of the primary symbols of Mary the Blessed Virgin, especially in the Annunciation scene, according to catholicculture.org.
An ancient legend holds that St. Joseph was so chosen from among other men when his staff blossomed like a lily, according to the Marian Library at the University of Dayton.
St. Dominic, the patron saint of astronomers, is often portrayed with a lily. Here, the flower symbolizes chastity.
Like other virgin saints, St. Catherine of Siena has a lily for her emblem.
With St. Anthony of Padua, the lily signifies something beyond virginity, according to catholictradition.org. Stories abound of cut lilies, when placed near a St. Anthony statue or shrine, remaining fragrant and continuing to blossom for months or even years.
Here, St. Casimir of Poland holds a lily, symbolic of virginity, innocence and purity.
The first Native American to be canonized, St. Kateri Tekakwitha, has a special connection to the lily: she is known as Lily of the Mohawks.
Christian tradition holds that palms were waved at the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Later the palm branch was adopted into Christian iconography to represent the victory of martyrs, or the victory of the spirit over the flesh – as with St. Agnes, who according to legend was condemned to be dragged naked through the streets to a brothel as punishment for her devotion to religious purity.
The early Christian saint Thecla, lauded in literature as an exemplary virgin and martyr, commonly is depicted holding a palm frond.
St. Sebastian, an early Christian saint and martyr killed during the Roman emperor Diocletian’s persecution of Christians, is often depicted with a palm branch, a symbol of his martyrdom.
Since ancient times, roses have symbolized God at work, the intricate and elegant rose offering “a glimpse of a masterful Creator’s active presence in creation,” according to About.com. Long associated with roses, Mary is known as the “mystic rose” or the “rose without thorns” among some Christians.
The patron saint of musicians, St. Cecilia is often depicted with musical instruments as well as with roses. The red rose, a symbol of love and beauty, is also used to symbolize Christian martyrdom.
On the way to her own execution, Christian martyr Dorothea of Caesarea met a young lawyer, Theophilus, who mockingly asked her to send him fruits from “the garden” she had joyously announced she would soon be in. As she knelt for her execution, she prayed and an angel appeared with a basket of three roses and three apples. St. Dorothy sent the basket to Theophilus, telling him she would meet him in the garden. (catholic.org)
St. Elizabeth of Hungary is one of a few saints associated with a “miracle of the roses.” According to legend, one day the pious Elizabeth, daughter of the king of Hungary and wife of the ruler of Thuringia in Germany, walked to the village carrying meat, eggs, and bread under her mantle. She had taken these items from the family dining table to distribute to the poor in the village, against the wishes of her husband. Halfway down, she unexpectedly met her husband who, upon seeing her bulk, asked what she was carrying. He opened her mantle, and to his surprise found not food but a bouquet of roses.
Not surprisingly, St. Rose of Lima is closely associated with the rose. Her skull, crowned with roses, is on public display at the Basilica in Lima, Peru.
As she was dying, Thérèse of Lisieux, patron saint of France, spoke: “After my death, I will let fall a shower of roses. I will spend my heaven doing good upon earth. I will raise up a mighty host of little saints. My mission is to make God loved…”
