At the heart of our Faith and Flowers logo, designed by Phoenix artist Celeine Minton, is the Passion flower. For centuries, this magnificent flower has enriched the faith and devotion of believers throughout the world. The various parts of the flower represent Our Lord’s Passion through its symbols of the scourging, crowning with thorns and crucifixion.

Born on the Feast of the Presentation of Mary;
Conceived on the steps of the Vatican

In January 2008, two moms who met through their devotion to St. Philomena and Our Blessed Mother, traveled to Rome, Italy on pilgrimage with their families. Rebecca made this journey with her beloved mother Peggy who was battling ovarian cancer. Her mother’s love for everyone around her and her strong devotion to the Catholic Church inspired the entire family to deepen their faith. Their pilgrimage of hope began with their visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes and continued to other holy sites including St. Peter’s Basilica, the Catacombs of Priscilla, the site of the Eucharistic Miracle in Lanciano, and the earthly home of St. Philomena in Mugnano. Melody joined Rebecca and her family in Rome, and it was on this spiritual trip that they discovered a shared desire to promote the beauty of their faith through flowers. This was a growing aspiration Rebecca had held close to her heart for many years. And, it was literally on the steps of St. Peter’s square in Vatican City, that this dream bloomed into the vision that was to become Faith and Flowers.

With more than three decades of communications and marketing experience in the corporate and government sectors, Melody and Rebecca set out to join their skills for the purpose of spreading The Word – connecting flowers to the virtues of faith lived by Jesus and Our Blessed Mother Mary.

Through reading the work of John Stokes, who established the international Mary Garden movement in 1951, they learned that before modern-day botanical names were assigned to plants and flowers with the introduction of printing, every flower was first bestowed a name that reflected the virtues of Our Lord and Our Blessed Mother. Marian religious flower names were circulated through the countryside by priests, monks (beginning with St. Francis of Assisi) and pilgrims, and handed down in oral tradition through successive generations. This was another example of how throughout history, man has sought spiritual symbols on earth, and through plants and flowers has discovered the glory of heaven on earth.

On November 21, 2009, the Feast of the Presentation of Mary, Faith and Flowers debuted. It is dedicated to Our Mother Mary, the most perfect creation and model of how to live and adore God in all things. On this day, “Wherefore let us cry out to her with all our strength: ‘Joy to you, fulfillment of the Creator’s plan!’ At the moment when the young girl Mary was presented in the glorious temple, ‘everything that humans build was already diminished by the praise in her heart’” (Rilke).

We present this endeavor for the glory of God, and hope that it inspires others to meditate on the beauty of life in all of creation and draw ever closer to Him through their appreciation of the miracle and splendor of His great works. In keeping with the spirit of Faith and Flowers, a portion of our proceeds will be donated to support culture of life initiatives promoting respect for life from conception to natural death.

“They will bloom with abundant flowers, and rejoice with joyful song.” Isaiah 35:1

On June 28, 2009, Peggy Barrett passed from time to eternity. Like Mary, her beautiful soul always proclaimed the greatness of the Lord: “The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” – Luke 1:49