Flowers of the earth. I breathed their fragrance and gathered them to myself to make the heart of my mother - Bouasse Lebel

I am the true garden of delights that contains all species of flowers and the fragrance of all virtue.
Dopter

THE EARTH VIVIFIED
The winter is past, the rains have ceased, and, behold, the flowers appear...
~Canticles 2:11-12

The Church teaches that as a result of the fall, all of creation fell.
In this engraving through the action of the Holy Spirit in the Mystery of the Eucharist we see the heart of the Christian coming into flower  and through the sanctification of the human heart, the beginning of the return to paradise for all creation.

Jesus, full of kindness,
make flower in our hearts
the virtues most pleasing
to You.
Bouasse Lebel

The divine Master gathers the flowers of His garden reserved for Him alone.
All for you, Lord, the flowers and the fruit.
Letaille

I will separate her 
from the world
to make her
my faithful companion.
Bouasse Lebel 799

The soul sprinkled with the tears 
of the Heart of Jesus
will, by its sweet fragrance,
enrapture the Church on earth and in heaven. 

Jesus is the
Divine Gardener
of our hearts.
He cuts back
the dead branches
and in the others
produces the
fruits of salvation.
Bouasse Lebel, Paris
1254

The Divine Master makes penetrate the light in this stay of disorder.
O Lord Jesus, permit me to see my disorder...

Note: Disorder and aridity are symbolized by the dead
branches or the lack of fruit and flowers, but here Divine Gardener brings His healing Light and His love.

Your hearts are gardens precious to Jesus.
Sprinkle with the living waters of his Cross the lilies He has sown.

THE DIVINE GARDNER GRAFTS THE SEED
OF GOOD FRUIT INTO THE WILD SEEDLING.
The graft I work to enter into the trunk of the wildling
can only soften the bitterness of its fruits

Sheltered by the Cross
the lily grows in peace
towards heaven.

Note: the lily is the symbol
of one whose love,
purified from self-interest,
carries the fragrance
of Christ into the world.

Christ, the Divine Gardner, is depicted here within the heart of the believer 

gently and carefully working to uproot the weeds that mar its beauty.

The Divine Gardner gives the young shrub a guardian to support it.  

The frail sapling needs a stand and a support against the dangers to which it is exposed.

Bouasse Lebel

Give me, my child, your heart,
[and let your eyes delight in my ways.]
~Proverbs 23:26
Benziger

Flower Precious to the Lord
I found it ripe for heaven.
Bouasse Lebel 1120

Obeisance is the guardian
of innocence.
Bouasse Lebel 3014


Obeisance, to bow to that which is greater than oneself, this is the soul's response to the Divine Gardener and His saving work.

“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst."~ St. John 6:35
Serz

God watches over the lilies
and the birds.
He watches over you.

Heart of Jesus, Heart of Mary,
never cease to love us.
Felix, Paris

Garden of Prayer
The waters flow forth with joy from the fountain of salvation.
O, good Cross, so much love of my Savior do I receive when I hold you in my arms.
Pannier 961

Prayer of Quietude

Whether I run or I stop,
I am all to You, and you all have me. O divine Heart of  Jesus,  your memory is my delight; I'm hungry I'm thirsty for your love.

Draw me into the bonds of Thy love.

O, Jesus, that your love might be the peace and repose of my soul, the strength and happiness, the aspiration of my life...  the whole of my heart.