Stations of the Cross Prayer Garden: Plants, Shrubs, Bushes and Flowers

Prayer, meditation and devotion are not just cerebral activities. True prayer involves the whole person. Catholics use body gestures to keep our hearts, souls and minds fixed on our Lord. We use the sign of the cross, we kneel, we bow, genuflect and sometimes prostrate ourselves to bring our whole self into oneness with our Lord. One of the best ways to engage spirit in worship is through the senses.

The Tantum Ergo or Pangua Lingua says "Praestet fides supplementum Sensuum defectui." (Basically, faith supplements when our senses fail.) Our senses, though limited, do guide us though. We smell the incense, we hear the chant, we act out the gestures, we taste the Lord's body and drink His blood. All very sensual experiences. One of the ways that I personally draw close to God is through nature. Being outdoors at a grotto or prayer garden completes my worship. To that end, here's a Stations of the Cross garden plan with suggested flowers to plant at each station. If you live in a cold climate, this garden could be created indoors. Lent and Easter Prayer Garden: Plants, Shrubs, Bushes and Flowers