Canticle of the Flower

In the name of the living God, in the tongue of all that is not spoken, and in your name, Mary, mother of Christ the honored. I have begun a hymn of the flower for your miracle in psalmody. Virgin Mary, queen of heaven and earth. How sweet is your praise, honey and sugar. Stanza 1 The flower appeared, having been formed from its wood, for those who believe in you, a flower for Gabriel with his greeting. And because of this, Mary, when its fragrance and taste delighted me, I composed a hymn of the flower for your miracle, which is called by its name. Stanza 2 Your miracle, Mary, caused the tree of the sign to blossom and brought forth a flower in the mouth of death. You taught the love of you to one woman, while she recites this prayer without ceasing, for it is known to me from all praise. Stanza 3 Stanza 4

Your miracle, Mary, is proclaimed in the Law. When you were betrothed to Joseph, with divinity, Moses, chief of the prophets, saw you. Shade me with your tresses, the green foliage of the tree. Let the fire of your flower consume my sins. Whoever says, “I love you,” but does not love your miracle, is a Christian. He is an enemy of your Son, the life-giver, and has woven a secret net. I say, in the song of Solomon, son of the singer, I love your smallness, daughter of Judah and Levi, as a bridegroom loves the flower of the bride.

Stanza 50 Which one performed a cure? Without being born, O Virgin, from the house of priesthood and kingship, the Savior of the world became the blood of your flower, Christ. I bow to your miracle by the blessing of body and soul, as John bowed to you in the womb. Stanza 55 Mary, the mystery that found you seized me. When you entered the Temple, while you were kindling the milk of Hannah. And it rejoices me again, the sign of your childhood in holiness, with his wings, as a father, while he fed you manna. Phanuel, flower of dew, which drives away the cloud.

The Lord looked upon the whole world, and found no mother like you, O Mary. For your flower was sealed from your womb. David also prophesied concerning you, saying before: "Hear, O my daughter, and see again, for the king desired your beauty, O Adam." While you embrace your child, the flower white and red, within the temple, your beauty on the day of the miracle of victory. Come, my dove, you draw me from the milk; and come, my good one, with Gabriel the joyful, and Michael, like you, compassionate.

Sewitos and Sernayos for Thaddeus and Bartholomew, and the wine which you gave, made them drunk on the day of your planting, the right hand of Mary. For Peter and Paul preached, through you the dead became alive. And the apostles and angels in heaven proclaimed.

Who is the wise one who knows the sweetness of your flower without it? The stars of heaven are counted, and the sand of the sea is measured. For your praise, Mary, as for a painter who paints, for the ink is exhausted, your miracle is sealed. We have spoken the praise of your flower, we have told the truth. Praise to you, Mary, by the flower of the vigilant angels. Praise to you, Mary, by the flower of the holy prophets. Praise to you, Mary, by the flower of the preaching apostles. Praise to you, Mary, by the flower of the martyrs and the righteous. And praise is due to the hymn of your flower and wine, for by your flower and wine the sorrowful rejoices.

Hail to you, throne of the sun, heaven of the stars, a crown; and the earth, adorned with the flower of the dew. Mary, the joy of the season. Hail to you, when Adam went out from the city of the flower of the garden, who offered up through you the incense of prayer. Mary, the beauty of the ear of grain. Hail to you, as I say to you a salutation like the angel Gabriel, from my mouth, the flower of the time of morning and evening, equal to the mother of God. Hail to you, Mary, again your miracle is hidden; after the sleep of the dead, with your salutation, the joy within it, it appears as the flower of my tongue, this.