HONORING OUR LADY’S MESSAGE OF PEACE, WE WORK AND PRAY
FOR THE UNITY OF ALL PEOPLE, AND FOR TRUE AND LASTING PEACE ON EARTH.
Symbolism of Features in the Prayer Garden
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Statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe (The Grotto):
The statue is approximately 4 feet tall, and is made of cast bronze
depicting the Virgin Mary as she appeared to the Mexican peasant Juan
Diego. She is surrounded by “rays” of sunlight, and the platform on which
she stands is encased in stone representing the mountain.
There are two bronze plaques on the front of the platform - one in English
and the other in Spanish. To view the texts on the two plaques, click here.
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Sponsorship Rocks:
Olive Tree Rocks:
Small rocks with bronze sponsorship plaques are installed in front of
each olive tree, including the trees on the Alden Lane parkway.
Gateway Markers:
A large rock marks each entry to the
Prayer Garden. These rocks are referred
to as “Gateway” rocks. Each of these
rocks has two bronze plaques. The texts
on the two plaques are identical, with one
in English and the other in Spanish. The
texts on both pairs of plaques include a
special prayer and the words “Our Lady of
Guadalupe Prayer Garden”, with
additional text specified by the sponsor of that particular rock. To view the texts on the two
pairs of plaques on the gateway marker rocks, click here.
•
Cactus Plants:
The Prayer Garden contains dwarf versions of the cactus plants traditionally
associated with the appearance of the Virgin Mary in the Our Lady of
Guadalupe vision.
•
Roses:
The Prayer Garden contains many rose bushes. Roses are a
very important element associated with the appearance of the
Virgin Mary in the Our Lady of Guadalupe vision.
Symbolism is a very powerful tool in creating a spiritual atmosphere.
Certain events, and the setting for these events, have special meaning for Christians. The night
prior to his crucifixion, Christ prayed in a garden. It was the garden of Gethsemane and it contained
many olive trees.
A major element of the Prayer Garden is the statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe as she appeared to a
Mexican peasant. Tradition has it that she appeared to be standing on top of a mountain. The sun
was behind her and rays of sunshine shown all around her. The mountain was strewn with many
rocks and there were numerous cactus plants growing on the mountain as well as many wild rose
bushes.
We have made the inclusion of these significant symbols a priority in the design of the Prayer
Garden.
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Olive Trees:
There are a total of 9 olive trees planted in the Prayer Garden. Five trees
are located along the Alden Lane parkway and four trees are located in
the Garden proper. The Alden Lane parkway trees were planted a year
before construction began on the main part of the Garden, and there
were sponsors for all five trees.