Mary is like a lily amidst thorns: she loves and suffers at the same
time. When the thorns are blown about by the wind, they tear the lily
on all sides; but it revenges itself by causing to exhale, through the
apertures of its wounds, a sweet fragrance, which perfumes the thorns
that have so cruelly wounded it. In imitation of Mary, figured by the
lily amidst thorns, let your only revenge for your afflictions be to
increase your love for those who are the cause of your pains.--_Pere
Avrillion._
Mary is compared to the white lily, on account of her innocence and
exemption from all sin; and as the lily is beautiful amongst the
thorns where it has sprung up, so was Mary distinguished amidst the
women of Judea. The lily loses nothing of its whiteness, although
amongst thorns, and the august Virgin, tortured in the Person of her
Son, by the Jewish Deicides, preserved the innocency of her soul and
the purity of her heart, rendering good for evil.--_St. Francis of
Sales._
Mary is that most beautiful and lofty cedar, from which God detached
the finest branch, to transplant it on Calvary.--_The same._
Lose not sight of eternity, and the adversities of this life will not
trouble you.--_The same._