Flora Unveiled

282 i Flora Unveiled

Therefore enclosed garden, because the Virgin’s uterus was always pristine and incor-

ruptible in every way. It is called a garden because all of the delights of paradise flower

within it, and the womb is closed from shame, where the fountain brings forth our

redemption.^40

Finally, Alcuin of York, Charlemagne’s minister of education, gave the follow-
ing botanical epithets to Mary:  “flower of the field,” “lily of the world,” and “hortus
conclusus.”^41

Berceo’s “Milagros de Nuestra Señora”

Despite Mary’s growing popularity, there was not enough in scripture to satisfy the public’s
increasing demand for stories about her life and miracles. A poem by the thirteenth- century
Spanish poet and cleric Gonzalo de Berceo, “Milagros de Nuestra Señora” (Miracles of Our
Lady), was written in vernacular Spanish in an attempt to disseminate Marian theology
among the Castilian- speaking population of Christian Spain.
In the introduction, the poet states that “while on a pilgrimage” he came upon a flowery
meadow, which turned out to be a garden, although it lacked a wall around it:

The flowers there emitted a marvelous fragrance;

they were refreshing to the spirit and to the body.

From each corner sprang clear, flowing fountains,

very cool in summer and warm in winter.

There was a profusion of fine trees—

pomegranate and fig, pear and apple,

and many other fruits of various kinds.

But none were spoiled or sour.^42

Berceo goes on to explain that the meadow/ orchard symbolizes the Virgin Mary, and its
greenness signifies her virginity:

This meadow was always green in purity

for Her virginity was never stained;

post partum et in partu She truly was a virgin

undefiled, incorrupt in Her integrity.

Berceo next states that the names of the flowers are the names by which the Virgin Mary
is known:

Let us turn to the flowers that comprise the meadow,

which make it beautiful, fair, and serene.

The flowers are the names the book gives

to the Virgin Mary, Mother of the Good Servant.