Sunflower – Faith and St. Catherine of Siena
There is a flower which possesses this peculiarity that it turns constantly to the sun, following it in its course; on this account it is called the sunflower. Our faith may be compared to this flower, since its gaze is ever fixed above, and turned toward the glorious sun of divine truth.
Rev. Frances Lasance, The Catholic Girl’s Guide
Ivy – Hope and St. Monica
Hope must encircle and cling to your heart like the climbing ivy. You must keep a firm hold of Christian hope, you must cling closely to it, and never let it go, for such is the will of God.
Rev. Frances Lasance, The Catholic Girl’s Guide
Peony – Love of God and St. Agnes
Every flower has a root, a stem and a blossom; this last is the fairest of the three. And it is just the same with the glorious flower which the three theological virtues combine to form. From the root, which is faith, springs the stem, which is hope, and the lovely flower of charity crowns them both.
Rev. Frances Lasance, The Catholic Girl’s Guide
Rose – Love of our Neighbor and St. Jane Frances
You ought therefore to be kindhearted, and this signifies nothing else than the fair rose of a real love of your neighbor should find a place in wreath of flowers that adorns your youthful brow.
Rev. Frances Lasance, The Catholic Girl’s Guide
Carnation – Obedience and St. Joan of Arc
“And [Jesus] went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them; and his Mother kept all these things in her heart.” (Luke 2:51) Thus did Jesus make Himself our example in the virtue of obedience, that virtue which, like a brilliant carnation, should find a place in the garland which adorns your youthful brow, and diffuse sweet fragrance all around.
Rev. Frances Lasance, The Catholic Girl’s Guide
Forget-Me-Not – Piety and St. Cecilia
However, a wide difference will be found to exist between various kinds of piety. Just as among flowers there are real and natural blossoms and others which are unreal, being fashioned by art, so can the forget-me-not of piety be true or false.
Rev. Frances Lasance, The Catholic Girl’s Guide
Violet – Humility and St. Catherine Laboure
The more firmly this tendency to pride is implanted by nature in the heart of a woman, the more edifying and meritorious it is when she, with the aid of divine grace, fights against the tendency and gradually eradicates it, planting in its stead the fragrant violet of humility causing it to take root, to flourish and blossom.
Rev. Frances Lasance, The Catholic Girl’s Guide
Daffodil – Industry and St. Frances Xavier Cabrini
Scarcely has the winter’s snow disappeared from the sunny fields at the approach of spring when a charming, gold-colored flower makes its appearance – I mean the daffodil. I have chosen it from among its brethren and sisters, the fair children of spring and I have called it industry’s flower because it hastens to bloom as soon as possible.
Rev. Frances Lasance, The Catholic Girl’s Guide
Narcissus – Truthfulness and St. Brigit of Sweden
The narcissus flower traditionally represents respect and modesty in the flower language. Truthfulness is one of the best ways we can show respect for our neighbors and it creates a balance of modesty, leaving no room for boasting or self-hatred.