The passion-flower:Her fashioning did wait.Passion Flower Extract

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Passion Flower symbolism.

Passion Flower Extract PASSIFLORA QUADRANGULARIS FRUIT EXTRACT CAS 008057-62-3 Passiflora incarnata extract,Passiflora extract,Passionflower extract photo picture image The Passion Flower with its various parts is seen as a symbols of Jesus' scourging, crowning with thorns and crucifixion.

 This flower, a genus with numerous species, indigenous to the tropical Americas, is unique among the hundreds of old Christian flower symbols in that there is specific historical documentation of the time and place of its origin - the symbolism having been first perceived by the Mexican Augustinian friar, Emmanuel de Villegas, who reported it, with sketches, in Europe in 1610.

 It is said that the test of the authenticity of the biblical Prophets was the enduring acceptance of their prophecies by the community. The same can be said of religious flower symbols, whatever their origin: if they achieve enduring acceptance, this signifies, as in the case of the Passion Flower,that they contain a certain "prophetic" unction which enriches the faith and devotion of the believers.

 The endurance in religious oral tradition of the "galaxy" of flower symbols of Our Lady, and of her life and her mysteries from medieval times, as discovered and recorded for literate tradition by botanists and folklorists, bears testimony to their enriching prophetic unction, which we at Mary's Gardens propose for wider knowledge and appreciation.

 The Passion Flower symbolism, as originally perceived, and then augmented, includes:
 Passion Flower Extract PASSIFLORA QUADRANGULARIS FRUIT EXTRACT CAS 008057-62-3 Passiflora incarnata extract,Passiflora extract,Passionflower extract photo picture image
 The spiraled tendrils- the lash of Christ's scourging
 The central flower column - the pillar of the Scourging
 The 72 radial filaments- the Crown of Thorns
 The top 3 stigma - the 3 Nails
 The lower 5 anthers - the 5 wounds
 The Style- the Sponge used to moisten Christ's Lips with Vinegar
 The leaves (some species) - the head of the Centurion's Spear
 The red stains - Christ's Blood Drops
 The Round Fruit- The World Christ came to save
 The Fragrance- The Spices prepared by the Holy Women

 This multiple symbolism of the Passion Flower combines a number of symbols found in flowers individually in the prior traditions of the rural countrysides of the Old World, from which the missionaries to the New World came.

 Thus, in the popular oral religious traditions of Spain,Paliurus aculeatus was known as Espina de Cristo, "Christ's Thorn" (by which name it is generally known today) and Espina Santa, "Holy Thorn"; Pichomon acarna (?) as Azota-Christos, "Christ's Lash";Gentiana cruciata, Cross Gentian, and others, as Hierba en Cruz,"Herb of the Cross"; Ophioglossum vulgatum, Adder's-Tongue Fern, as Lanza de Cristo, "Christ's Lance"; and Fumaria officinalis, Fumitory, as Sangre de Cristo, "Christ's Blood". Familiarity with these or other plant symbols of the Passion and Cross of Christ no doubt pre-disposed missionaries and their converts to discover symbolism such as that of the Passion Flower, and to make transferrences such as that of the symbolism of "Mary's Gold" from the European Marigold, Calendula, to the golden Tagetes genus of the New World.

 Such symbols gave a specific focus of Christian faith to the religious sense of nature, and also provided a visual means of teaching the Gospel story in an era where there were no printed catechisms.

 And, once introduced into Europe, the Passion Flower soon acquired other religious names, such as in Germany, Jesus-Leiden,"Jesus' Passion"; Christos-Strauss, "Christ's Bouquet"; Herr-Gotts-Blume, "Our Lord's Flower"; Dorn-Krone, "Crown of Thorns";Christos-Krone, "Christ's Crown"; Marter, "Martyr"; and Muttergottes-Schurzchen, "Mother-of-God's Star".

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citations1.The passion-flower:Her fashioning did wait.Passion Flower Extract

last edit date:12th,May.2009.