What is the significance of the lily? It actually matters quite a bit. In Catholic art and tradition, the lily symbolizes a deeper reality. In Catholic culture, the lily is known by many names, such as the Annunciation Lily, Easter Lily, Madonna Lily, and Resurrection Lily, each with a different meaning. Today, let us explore the meaning behind the lily associated with St. Joseph, often called the Lily of Purity. Let’s examine how the lily of St. Joseph teaches us about the Holy Family.
In this article, I aim to explore how the lily is used to symbolize the eternally significant events that established the Holy Family and what they mean for us.
The certainty of Divinity entering into humanity in the person of Jesus Christ was established by eternal Divine Decree before the creation of humanity. But the knowledge of when this was to occur was unknown to the Angels and all creation, reserved only to the Holy Trinity. It was at the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady that the Angels knew that it was imminent, for she was Full of Grace, and without stain. She is the perfection of humanity. At her conception, she was preserved from the stain of sin and received the fullness of God’s gifts destined for humanity.
It is clear from this understanding that Our Lady has no need to possess the lily of purity, for she is Immaculate. But she does have a desire to share the fruit of her gifts, and as such, in Catholic art, she is sometimes portrayed as the dispenser of lilies to us, her children. (An example can be found below in this image of Saint Maria Goretti)
In Catholic art, Our Lady, when depicted with a lily, holds it not in a way of possession but in a way of offering. Why is that? The lily symbolizes the gift of purity, yet Our Lady does not need to be made pure; she is far more than that—she is Immaculate! Purity results from purification, which means being stained and then cleansed, but Immaculate means never stained at all. It’s important to understand that the lily does not represent Our Lady’s nature, but it does symbolize the nature of St. Joseph. So, when we see Our Lady with a lily, it signifies an offering—a gift. When we see Saint Joseph with a lily, it indicates possession of that gift.
The lily that St. Joseph holds is called the Lily of Purity. But what Our Lady teaches us through devotion to her, as the Immaculate Virgin, Patroness of America, is that it represents more than just the gift of purity; it symbolizes participating in the life of the Holy Family. Here at the Our Lady, Patroness of America Center, we have started referring to the lily she holds and offers as the Lily of the Holy Family. The statue of Our Lady, Patroness of America, in the Oratory of the Holy Family depicts her offering us this lily and inviting us to share in the life of the Holy Family in a mystical, intimate way.
This way is not new. It is deeply rooted in Scripture and the Holy Sacraments of the Church, though most Catholics do not realize it. Our Lady aims to bring her children a deeper understanding and participation in this mystery of God’s Church. Recognizing and responding to Our Lady’s call is the essential first step in helping her lead the world to peace.
To understand the lily Our Lady offers us, we first need to understand the lily that St. Joseph holds. How did St. Joseph receive his lily? It was through a series of gifts given early in his life, culminating in his betrothal to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The lily he holds symbolizes the completion of the gifts given to him so he could receive his son as the worthy Virgin-Father of the Christ Child.
About a week after Our Lady came to Sr. Mary Ephrem in Rome City, in September of 1956, St. Joseph came to Sister in a purported locution and revealed some very significant details, revealing the first gifts he was granted immediately after his conception. Here is what he said to Sr. Mary Ephrem.
In early October, 1956, about a week after Our Lady’s first appearance, St. Joseph, though I did not see him at this time, spoke to me the following words:
“It is true my daughter, that immediately after my conception, I was, through the future merits of Jesus and because of my exceptional role of future Virgin-Father, cleansed from the stain of original sin.
“I was from that moment confirmed in grace and never had the slightest stain on my soul. This is my unique privilege among men. “My pure heart also was from the first moment of existence inflamed with love for God. Immediately, at the moment when my soul was cleansed from original sin, grace was infused into it in such abundance that, excluding my holy spouse, I surpassed the holiness of the highest angel in the angelic choir.
Here we see St. Joseph receiving some very special gifts that laid the foundation for him to become the worthy Virgin-Father of the Redeemer. Essentially, he was baptized (saved) in the womb through the future merits of Jesus Christ, and then, by an abundance of grace and love for God, he was able to avoid all sin, even though his free will was fully in place.
Although this is not a Dogma of the Church, it reflects a consensus among theologians and is mentioned by saints and mystics. Many arguments support this, based on the Church’s tradition and logic.
St. Joseph was being prepared from birth to be the Virgin-Father of Jesus! But this preparation was not complete. That did not happen until the betrothal to Our Lady, the Immaculate Conception.
By that time, with Our Lady’s parents deceased, the temple elders assumed responsibility for arranging her marriage. Venerable Sr. Mary of Agreda, in the Mystical City of God, recounts that when the potential suitors gathered, St. Joseph’s staff sprouted a budding lily, signaling to the elders that he was God’s chosen one for the role of the Virgin Mary’s spouse. Their marriage elevated him to the highest dignity in all creation, second only (by a large margin) to Our Lady, the Immaculate Conception. This marks the first time St. Joseph was seen holding the Lily of Purity, though it was still not fully in bloom, until the birth of Jesus.
However, the question of how he was raised to this noble title and high dignity remains. It was not just about being chosen as her husband, but about their sacramental marriage. The Catholic Church teaches that in Sacramental Matrimony, the two become one, and the gifts of each spouse are shared with the other. With this understanding, we can see in the Holy Family the profound mystery of marriage combined with the profound mystery of the Immaculate Conception.
In the Holy Family, St. Joseph shared in all the gifts of his wife. However, she possessed one gift reserved solely for her: the gift of the Immaculate Conception, given only to her. Nevertheless, what was shared were the fruits of the Immaculate Conception, the greatest of which was that each was to be the parent of the Redeemer, thereby revealing the Holy Family to creation. At their sacramental marriage, creation was forever changed, and the path to our salvation was made certain just days later with Our Lady’s YES to the Archangel Gabriel at the Annunciation.
Let us consult the Magisterium of the Church for clarity in understanding the marriage of Our Lady, Patroness of America, to St. Joseph. In QUAMQUAM PLURIES ENCYCLICAL OF POPE LEO XIII ON DEVOTION TO ST. JOSEPH, he provides us with insight into this mystery of St. Joseph.
“The special motives for which St. Joseph has been proclaimed Patron of the Church, and from which the Church looks for singular benefit from his patronage and protection, are that Joseph was the spouse of Mary and that he was reputed the Father of Jesus Christ. From these sources have sprung his dignity, his holiness, his glory. In truth, the dignity of the Mother of God is so lofty that naught created can rank above it. But as Joseph has been united to the Blessed Virgin by the ties of marriage, it may not be doubted that he approached nearer than any to the eminent dignity by which the Mother of God surpasses so nobly all created natures. For marriage is the most intimate of all unions which from its essence imparts a community of gifts between those that by it are joined together.” August 15th, 1889 (emphasis added)
In marriage, a community of gifts is formed. St. Joseph, through no merit of his own, shared in her gifts in a way that is deep and beyond our understanding.
Then, St. Pope John Paul II further discusses the Church’s reflection on St. Joseph and the Holy Family. In his APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION REDEMPTORIS CUSTOS ON THE PERSON AND MISSION OF SAINT JOSEPH IN THE LIFE OF CHRIST AND OF THE CHURCH, he echoes Pope Leo XIII by stating, “Since marriage is the highest degree of association and friendship involving by its very nature a communion of goods,…” but he further adds:
“… This bond of charity was the core of the Holy Family’s life, first in the poverty of Bethlehem, then in their exile in Egypt, and later in the house of Nazareth. The Church deeply venerates this Family, and proposes it as the model of all families.”
In the marriage of the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph, the Holy Family was founded. St. Joseph was entrusted to share in his spouse’s gifts through their marriage, and from this sharing, the Holy Family was formed and prepared to receive the Word Incarnate.
We will explore this in a subsequent article, but I want to leave you with a hint from John 19 (source USCCB)
25 Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.
26 When Jesus saw his mother* and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.”
27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
Here, we see Our Lady given to St. John as his Mother, and he given to Our Lady as her son. It is understood in Catholic tradition that St. John represents all Christians, and therefore, we are all spiritual children of the Blessed Virgin Mary! Our Lady, Mother of Christ, is also our mother!
Our Lady, Patroness of America, is revealing that living the life of the Holy Family is the essential antidote to the secular culture of our day and the necessary foundation for us to say yes to Our Lady’s request: that we help her lead the world to peace.
