Aug. 26, 2008

We have a meaning for all of our kids' names. Richard Alexander is named after my dad and Todd (Richard Todd). Nathan John is named after John the Baptist. We decided to do Katherine Lily because here is the meaning behind "Lily":

Lily:
Purity & Royalty

The lily's scepter or trumpet shape makes it a symbol of royalty. Its white color indicates purity, innocence, hope, and virtue. The white lily, with its implications of purity, is linked to chastity. Sometimes the Child Jesus is portrayed handing a lily to one of these saints as if granting him or her the gift of chastity. To be "lily-like" is to be of a gentle demeanor and to love others with a pure love. To "gild a lily" is to waste time and energy trying to improve something which is already perfect.

The Lily of the Valley is one of the first flowers to bloom in the spring. Its fresh appearance after a long winter and its purity make it a symbol of both Christ and the Virgin Mary. Mary is thought to be Solomon's "lily among thorns," (Song 2:2). To both Jesus (who was the only male without sin) and Mary are attributed the words, "I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys" (Song 2:1). In the second century A.D., Origen? declared that the lily represents the pure life of Christ and the valley symbolizes the sinful world He overcame.

As an emblem of purity, rebirth, and eternal life, lilies were used to decorate the pillars of Solomon's temple (1 Ki 7:19, 22). This flower is associated with the Resurrection because its bulb is buried in the ground like a human corpse, and yet from this apparent death a beautiful flower arises.

There are many other legends about the lily. The earliest is that the first lilies were born from Eve's beautiful tears of repentance as she left the Garden of Eden weeping over her transgressions. Others say they sprang from Christ's sweat of blood as He agonized in the Garden of Gethsemane (Lk 22:44). They are sometimes called the "white-robed apostles of hope."

Christ made the lily a symbol of what would be done for those who trust in divine providence when He said, "Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?" (Luke 12:27-28; see also Mt 6:28-29).

When Jesus is pictured holding a lily in His mouth, He is taking His place as Judge of the World. The lily in His mouth symbolizes His divine mercy and his perfect judgments. The lily was used as a symbol of perfection and beauty when God said of Israel, "I will heal their backsliding...I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall grow like the lily..." (Hosea 14:4-5). Because He is merciful, the aim of the Lord's judgments is the perfection of His people and not their destruction.

He is said to feed his flocks "among the lilies," meaning that the children of God find nourishment in the Church and in pure company, thoughts, or activities (Song 2:16). Snakes, a symbol of the devil are rumored to flee from the pure aroma of the lily. The Beloved's lips are described as "lilies, dripping liquid myrrh" because of the sweet aroma of the words of Christ (Song 5:13).

The Fleur-de-lis is a stylized triple lily signifying royalty, perfection, the Trinity, and the virtues of faith, hope, and charity. It was believed to have been given to King Clovis by an angel when he was baptized around 496 A.D. as a token of the gifts received in Christ. It is an attribute of kingly saints and the Queen of Heaven.



Royalty- child of God

I also happen to really love flowers