Mary is a most beautiful rose, which dared not open its petals even to
the gentle breeze of an Angel!--_St. Ambrose._
How precious and how delicate a flower is purity! A sigh, a look, a
word is enough to wither it! On this account chaste souls continually
distrust themselves, and flee from the slightest occasions of
danger.--_Nouet._
The rose is the symbol of love and charity; its petals are red, and
formed like a heart. Such should be the actions of the spouses of
Jesus Christ. They should have as many hearts as they have petals--
that is to say, hearts full of love, and like petals in the little
esteem they should have of their actions.--_St. Francis of Sales._