1-sided Mary with Emblematic Flowers Garden Flag

Also available as a two-sided variant for an additional cost. NOTE WELL: This flag has printing only on the front. The back is totally blank. Adding ANYTHING to the backside—a word, an icon, a picture, even a white or solid background color—will trigger a surcharge/an upcharge! + Add a finishing touch to your Mary Garden with a garden flag from Saints_Aplenty on Zazzle! This flag features the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) in a window-like arch surrounded by flowers. The Mary pictured here is Mary Immaculate. Roman Catholic Church doctrine maintains that Mary was free from original sin from the moment of her conception according to God’s plan for the salvation of humankind through her son Jesus Christ. + Here, Mary is dressed in her characteristic colors of blue and white: She wears a white gown and blue mantle. Her red-brown hair hangs loose and uncovered as it spills down over her shoulders. Her eyes are raised to heaven and her hands crossed modestly over her chest. She has given her Fiat, that is, she has consented to bear the Son of God. Her halo is surrounded by stars. Sprays of morning glories, columbine, and marigolds surround the arch which frames her. The flowers are emblematic. In the Middle Ages, morning glories were known as Our Lady’s Mantle; columbine, as Our Lady’s Slippers; and marigolds, as Mary’s Gold. + Image Credit (M 050; BVM): Adaptation of an antique die-cut image of Mary, the Blessed Virgin on ‘canvas’ or ‘linen’ paper, originally published in chromolithography by F. F. A., St. Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada, first quarter of the 20th century. The caption in Italian on the front reads: “A te, O Maria, madre mia, mi affido: proteggimi e benedicimi”, that is, “To you, O Mary, my mother, I commend myself: protect me and bless me”. On the back is a prayer to the Immaculate Blessed Virgin composed by Pope St. Pius X. + Image Credit (Morning Glories): Flowers extracted from an antique Fantasy Birthday Postcard of Little Children with Huge Morning Glories, originally published by Raphael Tuck, 1910. + Image Credit (Columbines): Flowers extracted from an antique Columbine Colorado State Flower postcard, c. 1905. + Image Credit (Marigolds): Flowers extracted from an antique French Happy New Year [Bonne Année] postcard, early 20th century. In secular terms, marigolds are frequently associated with good fortune, prosperity, and luck. + All four images are from the designer’s private collection of ephemera. + Feast of the Immaculate Conception: December 8. The United States, among many other countries, is under the patronage of the Immaculate Conception.