Mary is the root of Jesse, upon whom the Holy Spirit rested. The Son
of the Virgin is the flower thereof; a red and white flower, chosen
amongst thousands--the flower upon which the Angels gaze with
continuous desire; a flower whose fragrance renews life; a flower of
everlasting bloom, whose beauty is incorruptible, and whose glory will
never fade.--_St. Bernard._
Mary is the root of that beautiful flower upon which the Holy Spirit
rests with the fulness of His gifts. Whoever then desires to obtain
the seven gifts of the Holy Ghost, must seek the flower upon the stem;
because we reach the flower through the stem, and through the flower
we find the Holy Spirit, Who thereon reposes. Let us go to Jesus,
through Mary; and by means of Jesus, we find the grace of the Holy
Spirit.--_St. Bonaventure._
Give your soul to God a thousand times in the day; fix your interior
eyes upon His sweetness, in imitation of Mary; place Him upon your
breast as a delicious nosegay, and make every possible effort to
excite within you an impassioned love for this Divine Spouse.--_St.
Francis of Sales._
There is no doubt that he who perfumes the world by the odour of his
good example, thus teaching others the way of justice, will one day
shine in eternity as a most splendid star in the firmament.--_The
same._