An Unexpected End to Our Lady's Rose

On the way into the Church this morning there was an unexpected surprise.  A large crane had been brought in to help repair the stained glass windows of the Church.  Lying in its wake was the Rose garden where the Children's Rosary had planted a peace rose for Our Lady last year.  The rose had been planted on the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima with the prayer that with every petal that formed on the rose 1,000 families would begin family prayer.  The rose bloomed several times last summer.  This year the rose was very late in blooming and two blooms opened for the first time on July 2nd.  The timing of this years blossom seemed to perfectly coincide with another gift from Our Lady.  An inquiry from a young man from East Timor, a country in South East Asia, came on the same day Our Lady's Rose opened.  When I asked what Church he belonged to he replied: Our Lady of Fatima.  We were both touched by the timing of the Our Lady's Rose opening.

Today seeing the Rose garden destroyed it was even more special that Our Lady's Rose was able to bloom once this year before its demise. So often I have thought of our time here on earth like the passing of a flower.  One day in full bloom and the next all traces gone forever.  Seeing all the Roses gone this morning there is a renewed feeling of urgency that we make good use of the very short time we have here.  Our moments are fleeting like brilliance of a new blossom open in the sun. 

Here is a little look back at the planting of Our Lady's Rose and some wonderful moments.

All the steps of planting the Rose
were done by the children.

On the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima the children held a Children's Rosary at St. Thomas the Apostle Church and then together planted a Peace rose as a gift to Our Lady.

Other posts you may enjoy:
Planting of Our Lady's Rose on the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima
A Blossom of Love from Our Lady
Our Lady's Rose Blooms on Her Feast Day
Our Lady of Fatima's Rose Opens

First blossom on Our Lady's Rose

Even little Angie just 4 helps
 by watering the newly planted rose.