August 3

August 3 - Our Lady of Bows (London, 1071)

Sweet Mary

Mildness is the flower of charity, a participation in that infinite sweetness with whom God guides and governs all things. (Divine Intimacy)

"Whenever anyone exasperates you, even to the point of making you angry, the way to regain peace of soul is to pray for that person and ask God to reward her for giving you an opportunity to suffer. "-- St. Therese of the Child Jesus taught a novice

"For those who depise me or murmur against me, teach me to reply with humility, mildness, and a steadfast kindness of heart, never defending myself in any way. For love of You, I desire to let everyone say what he wishes, because words are not of value but love is, he who loves more will be more loved and glorified. Help me, then, my Jesus, to love You; help me to love creatures for love of You, especially those who despise me, without letting myself be disturbed by their contempt, but applying myself to the practice of humility and mildness, then You will be my reward. "Teach me to comport myself always with mildness and sweetness, and never to distrupt peace with anyone. All that I can do - obtain with love I will do, but what I cannot do or procure without a dispute, I will let it be. Help me to make use of the repugnances and aversions I encounter in my contacts with others to practice the virtue of mildness, and to show myself loving with all, even with those who are opposed to me, or who are a cause of aversion. --St. Francis de Sales

Flower of the Day

Lemon Balm (herb)

Melissa officinalis

Symbolizes Sweet Mary

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) a Marian herb in the mint family was known in medieval Mary gardens as "Sweet Mary." It is mild like Our Lady, has a lovely fragrance to help us remind us of her presence in our life.

Lemon balm has a strong history in Catholic religious settings.

In the ninth century, the first Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne thought Melissa (Lemon Balm) so beautiful and so valuable to the health of his subjects that he ordered it planted in all monastery gardens. Benedictine monks later shipped the herb to other regions…

It is the principal ingredient in Carmelite Water or “Eau de Melisse de Carmes” prepared by the Carmelite order as a restorative beginning in the 12th century used both medicinally, and externally as a perfume or Eau de Toilette. King Charles V of France (ruled 1364-1380) reportedly drank lemon balm tisane daily.

In Normandy, France during the 16th century Dom Bernardo Vincelli, a monk at the Benedictine Abbey of Fecamp used Lemon Balm as an ingredient in the liquor, Benedictine.

Ave Maria!

http://www.thechildrenofmary.com/