Flowers for the Immaculate Conception (“Stop smelling the flowers!” edition)

That reprimand — “Stop smelling the flowers” — is not directed at Laudie-dog. I’m sure our Lady is happy for Laudie-dog to be Laudie-dog. That reprimand was instead directed at me when I was a young first year seminarian in Italy many moons ago.

There I was, a knucklehead, at a statue of our Lady which I passed by a dozen times a day up on the second floor of the seminary. I had gotten into the habit of stopping and praying a Hail Mary. One day, I smelled the flowers in the vase, lost in my own little world in front of our heavenly mother. I could have jumped through the roof when just then the reprimand was barked out by another seminarian who was truly upset that I would be so presumptuous as to smell flowers meant for our Lady.

But hey! I always figured when I gave flowers to my mom back home that she would put them out for others to enjoy, and she did. I’m guessing Jesus’ good mom is the same way.