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A Mystical Rose Tree

For Devout Souls

GOOD AND DEVOUT SOULS, who walk in the light of the Holy Spirit: I do not think that you will mind
my giving you this little mystical rose tree which comes straight from heaven and which is to
be planted in the garden of your soul. It cannot possibly harm the sweet smelling flowers
of your contemplations; for it is a heavenly tree and its scent is beautiful. It will not
in the least interfere with your carefully planned flower beds; for, being itself all pure and
well-ordered, it inclines all to order and purity. If it is carefully watered and properly attended
to every day it will grow to such a marvelous height and its branches will have such a wide
span that, far from hindering your other devotions, it will maintain and perfect them.
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Of course you understand what I mean, since you are spiritually-minded; this mystical rose tree is
Jesus and Mary in life, death and eternity; its green leaves are the Joyous Mysteries, the thorns
the Sorrowful ones and the flowers, the Glorious Mysteries of Jesus and Mary. The buds are the
childhood of Jesus and Mary, and the open blooms show us both of them in their sufferings, and the
full-blown roses symbolize Jesus and Mary in their triumph and glory.
A rose delights us because of its beauty-so here we have Jesus and Mary in the Joyous Mysteries.
 its thorns are sharp, and prick, which makes us think of them in the Sorrowful Mysteries, and last
of all its perfume is so sweet that everyone
loves it, and this fragrance symbolizes their Glorious Mysteries.
So please do not scorn this beautiful and heavenly tree,
but plant it with your own hands in the garden of your soul, making the resolution to say your
Rosary every day. By saying it daily and by doing good works you will be tending your tree, watering
it, hoeing the earth around it. Eventually you
will see that this little seed which I have given you, and which seems so very small now, will grow
into a tree so great that the birds of heaven, i.e., predestinate and contemplative souls,