The Story Behind Mary's Roses
Something wonderful happened on the morning of Brian's death, before we knew that he was even missing. A beautiful bouquet of white roses touched with a hint of pink arrived for Brian's mother, bearing a note from her son in his own handwriting: "Just wanted to say hello even though I'm away. Love, Bri".
****************************************
Mary, Our Blessed Mother, the Rose of Sharon, carrying the unborn Savior of the world, made her first trip into the hill country on the day we now call the Visitation. She went to help her cousin Elizabeth. Just a few days before, the Angel Gabriel asked her to be the Mother of the Savior. We call that day the Annunciation. Ever since, followers of Jesus have been saying "yes" to God, just like Mary did, in a special consecration. Brian made that consecration on March 25, 1999, the Feast of the Annunciation.
Mary, "Comforter of the Afflicted", still hastens into the hill country on errands of love. She went to Lourdes, where the mountains were filled with roses. She went to what is now Guadalupe, Mexico and Castilian Roses appeared for the first time, growing on the hills in the middle of winter. She showered the hills of Fatima with rose petals (Brian visited there), she appeared on the hills among the roses in Medjugorje (he visited there, too) and in the mountains, with rose garlands, in LaSalette.
May 31, 1999 was the Feast of the Visitation. The Supreme Mother and Son hastened to the hill country again, this time to a hill in Pennsylvania where Brian and Aaron were made to climb their own Calvary that early morning on the last day of May, Mary's month. The hills along Rt. 22 in Pennsylvania are plain and green, except for the hill where Brian and Aaron were found. Their heads were resting upon a crown of thorns, underneath a beautiful canopy of white roses. These roses are called "antique roses" because of the original five-petal rose blossom, their sweet scent - and the little hint of pink in their blooms.
Family and friends climbed that hill the day after Brian and Aaron were found. One young man cut some branches off the rose bush and gave them to Brian's mother. Only one took root and now grows outside the kitchen window of the Muhas' home. Beautiful roses, pictured here. Mary's gift to Brian, Aaron and all of us.
