Poinsettias Miracle Flowers of the Nativity
By Laurel Marie Sobol
The Miracle Flowers
Beautiful Red Star Flowers
With Yellow Tiny Star Centers
Shine so bright in the winter light
Red the color of courage
Red the color of love
Red the color of strength
Flower leaves that swirl
Like a pin wheel
Radiant gorgeous plant of divine nature
Prologue
My mother was my best friend and parent. When I was a little girl, mother did her best to comfort me. She told me that the Aztec and Mayan trained the eyes of the princess’s to go inward as a sigh of beauty. I thought it was very interesting information, and my confidence in myself grew, because my eyes were not straight, at the age of nine months old, my eyes both crossed and grieved me very much. At two years old I had a major eye operation, followed by a second eye operation at age five, because the first operation did not hold. Then in my forties, I had a third major eye operation, and afterwards my eyes looked like rainbows. I prayed and prayed for my eyes to resume the way they had been prior to my last operation because I saw images as doubles. The Lord answered my prayers, so that I would not see double vision, and my eyes did appear more straight.
After learning about how the royal princess’s groomed their eyes to look beautiful, I learned that I was also 1/4 Spanish and Mexican, Aztec Mayan, on my grandfather’s side, whom was my mother’s natural father. Mother never met her natural father by, cause she was adopted out to a very nice family who were Italian. Interestingly enough, through my mother, I would become adopted by James Martin and his wife Lottie, James Martin is the direct relative and great great grandson of Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce Native Americans. Chief Joseph had three wives, and he was known as Rolling Thunder in the Mountains.
Mother was right, I was a true princess, and so was she. Life in it’s twists and turns, has miracles at every part, if we open our heart and eyes to see and feel and live it. In becoming the princess of the Nez Perce, Coyote People, I became the guardian of the precious Appaloosa pony which is the pride and joy of the Nez Peace people. I also advocate for the restoration of Nez Peace lands back to the Nez Perce peoples.
Perhaps little known to the world is the life of Mary, a person holy to God, while in her mother’s womb, Anna. Anna was very, very old, and desolate for not having a child, until one day, an angel of God, believed to be Archangel Michael, who came to tell her and her husband that they would soon be the parents of a baby girl. The angel appeared to both of Mary’s parents at separate times and places. Afterwards the angel told Anna to meet up with her husband at the golden gate, and she did. From there they told of their angel encounter and about how they would become parents of a baby girl. Soon afterwards Anna conceived and gave birth to Mary. Mary was a holy child from the onset, and was brought to live and be raised in the holy temple of God just as Samuel had been prior. At age three, when Mary was weaned from her mother, she was brought to the temple to be raised there. Her parents were very well to do. Her father arranged that other young children should be raised in the temple with Mary so she would have company and not be alone.
Gospel of the Book of Mary
Mother of Jesus
Perhaps little known to the world is the life of Mary, a person holy to God, while in her mother’s womb, Anna. Anna was very, very old, and desolate for not having a child, until one day, an angel of God, believed to be Archangel Michael, who came to tell her and her husband that they would soon be the parents of a baby girl. The angel appeared to both of Mary’s parents at separate times and places. Afterwards the angel told Anna to meet up with her husband at the golden gate, and she did. From there they told of their angel encounter and about how they would become parents of a baby girl. Soon afterwards Anna conceived and gave birth to Mary.
Mary was a holy child from the onset, and was brought to live and be raised in the holy temple of God just as Samuel had been prior. At age three, when Mary was weaned from her mother, she was brought to the temple to be raised there. Her parents were very well to do. Her father arranged that other young children should be raised in the temple with Mary so she would have company and not be alone.
THE BIRTH OF THE VIRGIN. FROM A GREEK DIPYTCHON OF THE THIRTEENTH OR FOURTEENTH CENTURY
Lost Books of the Bible
The GOSPEL of the BIRTH OF MARY
[In the primitive ages there was a Gospel extant bearing this name, attributed to St. Matthew, and received as genuine and authentic by several of the ancient Christian sects. It is to be found in the works of Jerome, a Father of the Church, who flourished in the fourth century, from whence the present translation is made. His contemporaries, Epiphanius, Bishop of Salamis, and Austin, also mention a Gospel under this title. The ancient copies differed from Jerome's, for from one of them the learned Faustus, a native of Britain, who became Bishop of Riez, in Provence, endeavored to prove that Christ was not the Son of God till after his baptism; and that he was not of the house of David and tribe of Judah, because, according to the Gospel he cited, the Virgin herself was not of this tribe, but of the tribe of Levi; her father being a priest of the name of Joachim. It was likewise from this Gospel that the sect of the Collyridians, established the worship and offering of manchet bread and cracknels, or fine wafers, as sacrifices to Mary, whom they imagined to have been born of a Virgin, as Christ is related in the Canonical Gospel to have been born of her. Epiphanius likewise cites a passage concerning the death of Zacharias, which is not in Jerome's copy, viz. "That it was the occasion of the death of Zacharias in the temple, that when he had seen a vision, he, through surprise, was willing to disclose it, and his mouth was stopped. That which he saw was at the time of his offering incense, and it was a man standing in the form of an ass. When he was gone out, and had a mind to speak thus to the people, Woe unto you, whom do ye worship? he who had appeared to him in the temple took away the use of his speech. Afterwards when he recovered it, and was able to speak, he declared this to the Jews, and they slew him. They add (viz. the Gnostics in this book), that on this very account the high-priest was appointed by their lawgiver (by God to Moses), to carry little bells, that whensoever he went into the temple to sacrifice, he, whom they worshipped, hearing the noise of the bells, might have time enough to hide himself; and not be caught in that ugly shape and figure."—The principal part of this Gospel is contained in the Protevangelion of James, which follows next in order.]
CHAP. I.
1 The parentage of Mary. 7 Joachim her father, and Anna her mother, go to Jerusalem to the feast of the dedication. 9Issachar the high priest reproaches Joachim for being childless.
THE blessed and ever glorious Virgin Mary, sprung from the royal race and family of David, was born in the city of Nazareth, and educated at Jerusalem, in the temple of the Lord.
2 Her father's name was Joachim, and her mother's Anna. The family of her father was of Galilee and the city of Nazareth. The family of her mother was of Bethlehem.
3 Their lives were plain and right in the sight of the Lord, pious and faultless before men. For they divided all their substance into three parts:
4 One of which they devoted
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to the temple and officers of the temple; another they distributed among strangers, and persons in poor circumstances; and the third they reserved for themselves and the uses of their own family.
5 In this manner they lived for about twenty years chastely, in the favour of God, and the esteem of men, without any children.
6 But they vowed, if God should favour them with any issue, they would devote it to the service of the Lord; on which account they went at every feast in the year to the temple of the Lord 1
7 ¶ And it came to pass, that when the feast of the dedication drew near, Joachim, with some others of his tribe, went up to Jerusalem, and at that time, Issachar was high-priest;
8 Who, when he saw Joachim along with the rest of his neighbours, bringing his offering, despised both him and his offerings, and asked him,
9 Why he, who had no children, would presume to appear among those who had? Adding, that his offerings could never be acceptable to God, who was
judged by him unworthy to have children; the Scripture having said, Cursed is every one who shall not beget a male in Israel.
10. He further said, that he ought first to be free from that curse by begetting some issue, and then come with his offerings into the presence of God.
11 But Joachim being much confounded with the shame of such reproach, retired to the shepherds, who were with the cattle in their pastures;
12 For he was not inclined to return home, lest his neighbours, who were present and heard all this from the high-priest, should publicly reproach him in the same manner.
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CHAP. II.
1 An angel appears to Joachim, 9 and informs him that Anna shall conceive and bring forth a daughter, who shall be called Mary, 11 be brought up in the temple, 12 and while yet a virgin, in a way unparalleled, bring forth the Son of God: 13 gives him a sign, 14 and departs.
BUT when he had been there for some time, on a certain day when he was alone, the angel of the Lord stood by him with a prodigious light.
2 To whom, being troubled at the appearance, the angel who had appeared to him, endeavouring to compose him said:
3 Be not afraid, Joachim, nor troubled at the sight of me, for I am an angel of the Lord sent by him to you, that I might inform you, that your prayers are heard, and your alms ascended in the sight of God. 2
4 For he hath surely seen your shame, and heard you unjustly reproached for not having children: for God is the avenger of sin, and not of nature;
5 And so when he shuts the womb of any person, he does it for this reason, that he may in a more wonderful manner again open it, and that which is born appear to be not the product of lust, but the gift of God.
6 For the first mother of your nation Sarah, was she not barren even till her eightieth year: And yet even in the end of her old age brought forth Isaac, in whom the promise was made a blessing to all nations. 3
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7 Rachel also, so much in favour with God, and beloved so much by holy Jacob, continued barren for a long time, yet afterwards was the mot her of Joseph, who was not only governor of Egypt, but delivered many nations from perishing with hunger. 1
8 Who among the judges was more valiant than Samson, or more holy than Samuel? And yet both their mothers were barren. 2
9 But if reason will not convince you of the truth of my words, that there are frequent conceptions in advanced years, and that those who were barren have brought forth to their great surprise; therefore Anna your wife shall bring you a daughter, and you shall call her name Mary;
10 She shall, according to your vow, be devoted to the Lord from her infancy, and be filled with the Holy Ghost from her mother's womb; 3
11 She shall neither eat nor drink anything which is unclean, nor shall her conversation be without among the common people, but in the temple of the Lord; that so she may not fall under any slander or suspicion of what is bad.
12 So in the process of her years, as she shall be in a miraculous manner born of one that was barren, so she shall, while yet a virgin, in a way unparalleled, bring forth the Son of the most High God, who shall, be called Jesus, and, according to the signification of his name, be the Saviour of all nations. 4
13 And this shall be a sign to you of the things which I declare, namely, when you come to the golden gate of Jerusalem, you shall there meet your wife Anna, who being very much troubled that you returned no sooner, shall then rejoice to see you.
14 When the angel had said this he departed from him.
CHAP. III.
1 The angel appears to Anna; 2 tells her a daughter shall be born unto her, 3 devoted to the service of the Lord in the temple, 5, who, being a virgin and not knowing man, shall bring forth the Lord, 6 and gives her a sign therefore. 8 Joachim and Anna meet and rejoice, 10 and praise the Lord. 11 Anna conceives, and brings forth a daughter called Mary.
AFTERWARDS the angel appeared to Anna his wife saying: Fear not, neither think that which you see is a spirit. 5
2 For I am that angel who hath offered up your prayers and alms before God, and am now sent to you, that I may inform you, that a daughter will be born unto you, who shall be called Mary, and shall be blessed above all women. 6
3 She shall be, immediately upon her birth, full of the grace of the Lord, and shall continue during the three years of her weaning in her father's house, and afterwards, being devoted to the service of the Lord, shall not depart from the temple, till she arrives to years of discretion.
4 In a word, she shall there serve the Lord night and day in fasting and prayer, 7 shall abstain from every unclean thing, and never know any man;
5 But, being an unparalleled instance without any pollution or defilement, and a virgin not
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knowing any man, shall bring forth a son, and a maid shall bring forth the Lord, who both by his grace and name and works, shall be the Saviour of the world.
6 Arise therefore, and go up to Jerusalem, and when you shall come to that which is called the golden gate (because it is gilt with gold), as a sign of what I have told you, you shall meet your husband, for whose safety you have been so much concerned.
7 When therefore you find these things thus accomplished, believe that all the rest which I have told you, shall also undoubtedly be accomplished.
8 ¶ According therefore to the command of the angel, both of them left the places where they were, and when they came to the place specified in the angel's prediction, they met each other.
9 Then, rejoicing at each other's vision, and being fully satisfied in the promise of a child, they gave due thanks to the Lord, who exalts the humble.
10 After having praised the Lord, they returned home, and lived in a cheerful and assured expectation of the promise of God.
11 ¶ So Anna conceived, and brought forth a daughter, and, according to the angel's command, the parents did call her name Mary.
1 Mary brought to the temple at three years old. 6 Ascends the stairs of the temple by miracle. 8 Her parents sacrificed and returned home.
AND when three years were expired, and the time of her weaning complete, they brought the Virgin to the temple of the Lord with offerings.
2 And there were about the temple, according to the fifteen Psalms of degrees, 1 fifteen stairs to ascend.
3 For the temple being built in a mountain, the altar of burnt-offering, which was without, could not be come near but by stairs;
4 The parents of the blessed Virgin and infant Mary put her upon one of these stairs;
5 But while they were putting off their clothes, in which they had travelled, and according to custom putting on some that were more neat and clean,
6 In the mean time the Virgin of the Lord in such a manner went up all the stairs one after another, without the help of any to lead or lift her, that any one would have judged from hence that she was of perfect age.
7 Thus the Lord did, in the infancy of his Virgin, work this extraordinary work, and evidence by this miracle how great she was like to be hereafter.
8 But the parents having offered up their sacrifice, according to the custom of the law, and perfected their vow, left the Virgin with other virgins in the apartments of the temple, who were to be brought up there, and they returned home.
2 Mary ministered unto by angels. 4 The high-priest orders all virgins of fourteen years old to quit the temple and endeavour to be married. 5 Mary refuses, 6 having vowed her virginity to the Lord. 7 The high-priest commands a meeting of the chief persons of Jerusalem, 11 who seek the Lord for counsel in the matter. 13A voice from the mercy-seat. 15 The
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high priest obeys it by ordering all the unmarried men of the house of David to bring their rods to the altar, 17 that his rod which should flower, and on which the Spirit of God should sit, should betroth the Virgin.
BUT the Virgin of the Lord, as she advanced in fears, increased also in perfections, and according to the saying of the Psalmist, her father and mother forsook her, but the Lord took care of her.
2 For she every day had the conversation of angels, and every day received visitors from God, which preserved her from all sorts of evil, and caused her to abound with all good things;
3 So that when at length she arrived to her fourteenth year, as the wicked could not lay anything to her charge worthy of reproof, so all good persons, who were acquainted with her, admired her life and conversation.
4 At that time the high-priest made a public order. That all the virgins who had public settlements in the temple, and were come to this age, should return home, and, as they were now of a proper maturity, should, according to the custom of their country, endeavour to be married.
5 To which command, though all the other virgins readily yielded obedience, Mary the Virgin of the Lord alone answered, that she could not comply with it.
6 Assigning these reasons, that both she and her parents had devoted her to the service of the Lord; and besides, that she had vowed virginity to the Lord, which vow she was resolved never to break through by lying with a man.
7 The high priest being hereby brought into a difficulty,
8 Seeing he durst neither on the one hand dissolve the vow, and disobey the Scripture, which says, Vow and pay, 1
9 Nor on the other hand introduce a custom, to which the people were strangers, commanded,
10 That at the approaching feast all the principal persons both of Jerusalem and the neighbouring places should meet together, that he might have their advice, how he had best proceed in so difficult a case.
11 When they were accordingly met, they unanimously agreed to seek the Lord, and ask counsel from him on this matter. 2
12 And when they were all engaged in prayer, the high-priest, according to the usual way, went to consult God.
13 And immediately there was a voice from the ark, and the mercy seat, which all present heard, that it must be inquired or sought out by a prophecy of Isaiah to whom the Virgin should be given and be betrothed;
14 For Isaiah saith, there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a flower shall spring out of its root,
15 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and Might, the Spirit of Knowledge and Piety, and the Spirit of the fear of the Lord shall fill him.
16 Then, according to this prophecy, he appointed, that all
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the men of the house and family of David, who were marriageable, and not married, should bring their several rods to the altar,
17 And out of whatsoever person's rod after it was brought, a flower should bud forth, and on the top of it the Spirit of the Lord should sit in the appearance of a dove, he should be the man to whom the Virgin should be given and be betrothed.
CHAP. VI.
1 Joseph draws back his rod. 5 The dove pitches on it. He betroths Mary and returns to Bethlehem. 7 Mary returns to her parents’ house at Galilee.
AMONG the rest there was a man named Joseph, of the house and family of David, and a person very far advanced in years, who drew back his rod, when every one besides presented his.
2 So that when nothing appeared agreeable to the heavenly voice, the high-priest judged it proper to consult God again,
3 Who answered that he to whom the Virgin was to be betrothed was the only person of those who were brought together, who had not brought his rod.
4 Joseph therefore was betrayed.
5 For, when he did bring his rod, and a dove coming from Heaven pitched upon the top of it, every one plainly saw, that the Virgin was to be betrothed to him:
6 Accordingly, the usual ceremonies of betrothing being over, he returned to his own city of Bethlehem, to set his house in order, and make the needful for the marriage.
7 But the Virgin of the Lord, Mary, with seven other virgins of the same age, who had been weaned at the same time, and who had been appointed to attend her by the priest, returned to her parents’ house in Galilee.
CHAP. VII.
7 The salutation of the Virgin by Gabriel, who explains to her that she shall conceive, without lying with a man, while a Virgin, 19 by the Holy Ghost coming upon her without the heats of lust. 21 She submits.
NOW at this time of her first coming into Galilee, the angel Gabriel was sent to her from God, to declare to her the conception of our Saviour, and the manner and way of her conceiving him.
2 Accordingly going into her, he filled the chamber where she was with a prodigious light, and in a most courteous manner saluting her, he said,
3 Hail, Mary! Virgin of the Lord most acceptable! O Virgin full of Grace! The Lord is with you, you are blessed above all women, you are blessed above all men, that. have been hitherto born. 1
4 But the Virgin, who had before been well acquainted with the countenances of angels, and to whom such light from heaven was no uncommon thing,
5 Was neither terrified with the vision of the angel, nor astonished at the greatness of the light, but only troubled about the angel's words:
6 And began to consider what so extraordinary a salutation should mean, what it did portend, or what sort of end it would have. 2
7 To this thought the angel, divinely inspired, replies;
8 Fear not, Mary, as though intended anything inconsistent with your chastity in this salutation:
9 For you have found favour with the Lord, because you made virginity your choice.
10 Therefore while you are a Virgin, you shall conceive without sin, and bring forth a son.
11 He shall be great, because he shall reign from sea to sea, and from the rivers to the ends of the earth. 1
12 And he shall be called the Son of the Highest; for he who is born in a mean state on earth reigns in an exalted one in heaven.
13 And the Lord shall give him the throne of his father David, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
14 For he is the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, and his throne is for ever and ever.
15 To this discourse of the angel the Virgin replied not, as though she were unbelieving, but willing to know the manner of it.
16 She said, How can that be? For seeing, according to my vow, I have never known any man, how can I bear a child without the addition of a man's seed?
17 To this the angel replied and said, Think not, Mary, that you shall conceive in the ordinary way.
18 For, without lying with a man, while a Virgin, you shall conceive; while a Virgin, you shall bring forth; and while a Virgin shall give suck.
19 For the Holy Ghost shall come upon you, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow you, without any of the heats of lust.
20 So that which shall be born of you shall be only holy, be. cause it only is conceived without sin, and being born, shall be called the Son of God.
21 Then Mary stretching forth her hands, and lifting her eyes to heaven, said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord! Let it be unto me according to thy word.
1 Joseph returns to Galilee to marry the Virgin he had betrothed. 4 perceives she is with child, 5 is uneasy, 7 purposes to put her away privily, 8 is told by the angel of the Lord it is not the work of man but the Holy Ghost, 12 Marries her, but keeps chaste, 13 removes with her to Bethlehem, 15 where she brings forth Christ.
JOSEPH therefore went from Judæa to Galilee, with intention to marry the Virgin who was betrothed to him:
2 For it was now near three months since she was betrothed to him.
3 At length it plainly appeared she was with child, and it could not be hid from Joseph:
4 For going to the Virgin in a free manner, as one espoused, and talking familiarly with her, he perceived her to be with child.
5 And thereupon began to be uneasy and doubtful, not knowing what course it would be best to take;
6 For being a just man, he was not willing to expose her, nor defame her by the suspicion of being a whore, since he was a pious man.
7 He purposed therefore privately to put an end to their agreement, and as privately to put her away.
8 But while he was meditating these things, 3 behold the angel of the Lord appeared to him in
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his sleep, and said Joseph, son of David, fear not;
9 Be not willing to entertain any suspicion of the Virgin's being guilty of fornication, or to think any thing amiss of her, neither be afraid to take her to wife;
10 For that which is begotten In her and now distresses your mind, is not the work of man, but the Holy Ghost.
11 For she of all women is that only Virgin who shall bring forth the Son of God, and you shall call his name Jesus, that is, Savior: for he will save his people from their sins.
12 Joseph thereupon, according to the command of the angel, married the Virgin, and did not know her, but kept her in chastity.
13 And now the ninth month from her conception drew near, when Joseph took his wife and what other things were necessary to Bethlehem, the city from whence he came.
14 And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled for her bringing forth.
15 And she brought forth her first-born son, as the holy Evangelists have taught, even our Lord Jesus Christ, who with the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, lives and reigns to everlasting ages.
In the country of Mexico, in a village called Taxaco, lived a people whom many had been converted to Christianity in the conquest of the Aztec People of Mexico, by the Spanish Conquistadors in 1519 to 1521.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Mother of the Civilization of Love
Our Lady of Guadalupe is a miracle derived from a miraculous happening ten years after the Spanish Conquistadors came to South America to what is now the area of Mexico City. The arid desert like habitat was where a peasant named Juan Diego came upon a heavenly scene, where he heard heavenly music and birds and song of the Most High. Our Lady of Guadalupe was seen by Juan Diego, who told the clergy about it, and he was not believed.
Our Lady of Guadalupe asked Juan to return to her, and Juan complied. He was late in returning to Our Lady because his beloved uncle fell deathly ill, and he tried to help his uncle. Then Juan returned to the lady and she asked him why he had not come sooner. Juan explained that his loved uncle was sick and on his death bed. Our Lady of Guadalupe told Juan, “Juan your beloved uncle is not going to die, he will live through this sickness.” Juan was relieved to hear the information.
The clergy asked Juan Diego for Our Lady of Guadalupe to perform a miracle so they would know she was truly of God. The miracle was performed, Our Lady of Guadalupe had Juan Diego go collect exotic rare flowers and roses, Castilian roses, not blooming or growing in that arid desert in winter. The beautiful flowers that were around Our Lady in the heavenly nature scene before Juan Diego’s eyes, along with beautiful and exotic birds singing among the exotic flowers. The time was 1521, ten years after the Conquistadors arrived in Mexico. Juan Diego did as he was bid, and collected the flowers in his tilma, a cloth derived out of the agave plant fibers. He returned to Our Lady of Guadalupe with the flowers and roses in his tilma, and Our Lady of Guadalupe then arranged them in the tilma held by Juan Diego. Then Juan Diego set out to the clergy to give them the flowers in his tilma. When Juan Diego arrived at the clergy to show them the flowers, as he opened his tilma before the the flowers poured forth, and on the tilma the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe remained a wonder of wonders miracle of miracles. It is preserved to this day. There is more to this story, for Our Lady of Guadalupe saved the life of Juan Diego’s uncle at that same time, and visited him on his death bed telling him he would not die at that time. Our Lady of Guadalupe requested that a church be built on the hill where she presented herself to Juan Diego. Our Lady wanted this church to be there for God, and to help people traveling to find a place of refuge, and a place to pray along their journey.
This part of the story is about the miracle of flowers. In the southwest Mexican desert, not tremendously far from the miracle of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and not very long in years after this miracle took place.
Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrimo.) is native to southwestern Mexico and Guatemala where it grows in rocky canyons. The plant was cultivated and valued by the Aztecs and Mayans well before the arrival of Europeans. The Aztecs call poinsettia cuetlaxochitl which means brilliant flower. Mayans called Poinsettias k'alul wits, which means ember flowers. The Mexican, Guatemalan, Aztec and Mayan indigenous peoples had a multitude of apothecary and other uses of the Poinsettia.
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Euphorbia pulcherrima
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Poinsettias Euphorbia pulcherrima called the Christmas Star flower is a plant species of spurge family Euphorbiaceae and grows in Southwest Mexico and Guatemala.
Euphorbia pulcherrima is a shrub or small tree, typically reaching a height of 0.6–4 meters 2 feet to 13 feet high.
The Aztecs used the Poinsettias to produce red dye and as a antipyretic fever reducer plant medicine. In Mexico and Guatemala the Poinsettia is called the Flor de Noche Buena, the flower of the Nativity.
The star shaped leaf brightly colored in red, and varieties of pink, white, beige, and coral, is like the star over Bethlehem is said to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem, and the red color represents the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ by the crucifixion of Jesus.
December 12 is National Poinsettia Day.
Aztecs, Mayans, and Teeneks used Poinsettia for different things. Aztecs used the sticky milky white sap and applied it to the breasts of women to help increase milk production of nursing mothers. The milky sap helped reduce fever. This milk sap was also used as a depilatory which is removal of unwanted hair. The bark and red bracts of Poinsettias were used to make a reddish-purple dye. Cuetlaxochitl Poinsettia was believed to cause some things in legends, it could make magical ailments in women, by having contact with the plant, or smelling it, infection of the female reproductive organs was possible, and sight of the plant would cause a pregnant woman to have a baby laying cross-wise in her abdomen instead of the natural head down position. The brilliant Poinsettia primarily represented purity.
Mayan and Teeneks use Poinsettias in their gardens and medicinal apothecary. When Poinsettias, also known as k'alul wits is flowers, the yellow inflorescence and red bracts are boiled and administered to women as a remedy for either obstetrical or gynecological hemorrhaging.
To heal adverse effects of snakebites can be comforted and soothed by boiling and drinking the root of Poinsettias.
Poinsettias were first associated· with Christian celebrations in the 17th century. Though truth be told, it is highly likely that these flowers were part of the bouquet Our Lady of Guadalupe gave to Juan Diego in the miracle of the 1500’s after the Conquest of the Aztecs.
In the 1600’s, a story of a miracle took place in Taxaco Mexico, and it happened around Christmas time.
In those times and in that area of Mexico, it was the tradition for people to celebrate Christmas as a community and in the style of a candle lit procession of church going individuals. The community was in Advent, celebrating the birth of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Children and their families prepared for the special Christmas Eve celebration of Jesus Nativity gathering at church with each family having a gift for the baby Jesus.
The priest asked the mother of a church attending family for help in making a new blanket for the baby Jesus nativity scene. The mother was very happy to make the blanket for the nativity scene. She asked her oldest child Maria for help in making the blanket. The village was known for it’s workmanship of superior wool blankets and clothing. Like Nazareth was known for it’s superior wool craftsmanship, without seams, this town was known as well.
Work progressed on the blanket by Maria’s mother with Maria helping her, until Maria’s mother got sick. Maria’s mother got so sick that she had to be moved from her home and cared for by her relatives. So ill was Maria’s mother that her father had to go with her to help care for her too. Maria was left at home with her two younger siblings, a brother and a sister.
Maria’s family was not together at Christmas Eve! Maria tried to make the beautiful cloth for the nativity scene appointed to her mother for Jesus, but her mother was gone and sick. Maria tried to make the blanket on her mother’s loom, but the yarn became tangled and it was not possible for Maria to make the blanket for Jesus. Maria was devastated that she had no gift for Jesus to bring him along with the other children of her village.
Night was falling and the people began to gather for the festivities at church. The bell tower was ringing joyously to call the families to the nativity gathering and the sharing of the nativity story of Jesus birth.
People already had their candles lit and were proceeding to the church. Maria’s brother and sister joined the procession, but Maria was so sad that she had no gift to bring the baby Jesus, she did not know what to do.
Then a very bright star shone above the church and it radiated and shone brilliantly upon the procession of people moving toward the church. People felt that a miracle was upon them with the star so close and bright.
Maria, who was a few years younger than Mother Mary was at the time of her child’s blessed heavenly birth, was at a loss for what to do. She said out loud and to herself, “I have no gift to give baby Jesus tonight for his nativity.”
Then Maria heard a voice from an angel that seemed to come from the brilliant star itself above the church. The voice said, “Maria it does not matter what you bring for the baby Jesus, he will know that you are bringing it with love in your heart, and that is the only thing that is important.”
Maria was astonished about the words she heard and from where they seemed to emanate from the star brightly lit above the church. The voice continued, “Maria, your mother will not die, she will get better.” Maria was very relieved and happy to learn these things, because she knew how seriously ill her mother was.
She saw some weeds on the side of the road, and gathered an arm full of plants, and covered them with her shawl. Then she caught up with the church going procession and filed into the church last.
She watched as each child went up to the nativity of Jesus manger cradle, and put their gifts down on the floor next to Jesus. The gifts the children brought to Jesus seemed bigger and better and nicer than ever. Maria was getting sicker and sicker at the thought that all she had to give Jesus was weeds she found on the side of the road.
The Father priest saw that all the children had given their gifts except for Maria. He saw Maria in the back of the church, and he called her to come forth with her gift. Maria moved toward the front of the church with her arms full of weeds and she closed her eyes as she set her bundle of weeds down and the shawl was lifted, the profusion of scarlet red flaming flowers lit up the church as each each weed transformed miraculously into a radiant bloom on it. The parishioners were astonished and soon they noticed that not only were the weeds gorgeous flowers Poinsettias, they were blooming all through the village and along the lanes! The Poinsettia had become the miracle flower of this small Mexican village.
Maria’s mother and father returned home after a while longer of healing. The family was happy to be reunited as a family, and the miracles that had happened spread far and wide, and are still growing around the world.
After Maria’s mother returned home, and when she was all well, she finished the nativity cloth for baby Jesus. Everyone was very happy and joyous!
Epilogue
Interestingly enough Mother Mary has two miracles told in this story. In each one, she helps save the lives of precious family members. In the case of Juan Diego, it was his beloved uncle whom he adored. In the case of Maria, it was her beloved mother whose life was restored. Both beautiful miracles within and around the full blossoming of both miracles.
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