by Kirsty Muir
St Marcellin Champagnat Rose
Kirsty Muir — November 26, 2024
On a sunny Saturday morning in late November, a new rose was introduced by Amoré Roses.
During the open day of Amoré Roses, the new St Marcellin Champagnat Rose was presented and blessed.Saint Marcellin Champagnat founded the Marist Order. The Marist Brothers founded, were involved with, or continue to be involved with, many primary and secondary schools throughout New Zealand.
Amoré Roses® with the assistance of David Kenny –the Rose breeder from Dublin – released the Rose “Saint Marcellin Champagnat” with at least $30 per rose every rose sold (at $60) being donated to the Marist Trust. Donations were also made during the day.
While only limited stock was available on the day, any extras that were purchased will be delivered in Winter 2025. Many were also purchased and donated to St John's College. These are to be planted when their Administration Entrance upgrade is complete.
A comment from a guest on the day "Bishop Richard , the way you drew the connection between roses and Mary was very beautiful and quite uplifting. It was a wonderful day which Jan and Paul hosted so generously. A chance to reconnect with so many St John’s people including the Marist Brothers"
The Rosary, promoted by St Marcellin, might be reduced to sentimentality of presenting flowers, however roses have a darker side too. The thorns of their stems remind us of the crown of our Savior. Red petals evoke the blood He shed. The yellows and pinks - the water that flowed from his side. Their slender stalks recall the reed he held as He was cruelly mocked and the rods which beat him. Their leaves? The clothes stripped from His tortured body.
It is no accident that Christians would take the rose, which the Greeks associated with Aphrodite, the 'goddess' of love, and apply it to Mary. Mary leads us deeper into the mystery of the love of Christ, all the while reminding us that true love requires sacrifice. For Christians, the rose is a catechism of the charity of Christ.
Finally, roses are signs of the graces Divine Providence accords Mary to offer. Roses tumbled from the tilma of Juan Diego. A rose graced the Virgin's brown at Knock. At La Salette roses crowned her head, a wreath of roses adorned her cloak, and a third garland surrounded her slippers. At Lourdes, St. Bernadette saw upon each of her feet a blossoming rose.
The repeated appearance of the rose indicates its privileged place in connection with devotion to Our Lady. Mary herself has chosen them as one of her signs.
Bishop Richard then went on to bless the rose named after Marcellin Champagnat, whose devotion to the Mystic Rose, Mary our Queen and mother, is legend.
