Recently on a trip to the Botanical gardens, I marveled at the desert plants which filled one of the rooms in the Conservatory. There were easily 100 plants in a medium size room. The plants were of all different sizes and shapes. But, what surprised me was that every one of them had spines on them!

I know you’re saying at this point,
“ Big dah, cacti have prickles.”

I know. But, this was the first time I really noticed that EVERY plant had them. I looked carefully at each of the specimens, and wouldn’t you know it, they all had spines. I began to ask myself,( and those with me) ( and on the 4real forum) what meaning could this have? Could there be a deeper meaning?

Since Carmelite life is often referred to as a desert and the prophet Hosea is often quoted by them: “So I will allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak to her heart.” Hosea 2:16, I really started to believe there was some, (oh dear, I want to say, ... point) well, something to all these spines.

The prophet Elijah is considered by the Carmelites their father. On the mountain of Carmel, Elijah, completely trusting in God’s strength, battled and won against the 450 prophets of Baal. It is also from this mountain that the first sign of hope arrived after three and a half years of drought:

"Climb up and look out to sea," [Elijah] directed his servant, who went up and looked, but reported, "There is nothing." Seven times he said, "Go look again!" And the seventh time the youth reported, "There is a cloud as small as a man's hand rising from the sea." I Kings 18:43-44

It is easy for those devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary to interpret this passage in this way:

“The CLOUD bringing lifegiving water to the parched land of Samaria symbolizes Mary who bore in her womb the source of redemptive grace, the Word Incarnate, to restore life to the desert of this world.”
Father Stefano Manelli, All Generations Shall Call Me Blessed, 63.

Thanks to Rachel who passed on this valuable article, I took this scientific information and looked at it from the point of view of the spiritual life.

The Article begins saying that cacti have a “special means of storing and conserving water.”

Water symbolizes Christ.

“desert perennials remain dormant during dry periods”

This is the ability to remain docile, receptive, quietly conforming yourself to God’s will despite the desert like conditions of trial.

“cactus are adaptations of the rose family”

Well, the rose has long been associated with the Blessed Virgin Mary. So, it is easy to say, in order to survive in desert conditions, one must be of the same family as Mary. One must be Her child.

“drought resistant because of their lack of leaves”

Leaves can be interpreted to refer to earthly goods. Those who are detached from earthly goods will survive the heat of trials.

“drought resistant because of their shallow roots”

The Carmelites, in their cloistered life, sacrifice even the ties of family. Shallow roots symbolizing the (healthy) detachment from family.

“drought resistant because of their ability to store water in their stems”

Those who survive in the desert of temptations, keep the water of Christ stored in their hearts.

“waxy skin to seal in moisture”

Those who are not sensitive to fraternal correction, not susceptible to human respect, and who are strong in virtue.

“spines cast shade”

This was the most important piece of information. The reason God gave spines to all the plants in the desert, is to provide them with shade. To give a brief respite to the onslaught of the sun. The spines are easily identified with the Passion of Christ. The Crown of Thorns and the three nails can easily be detected in the shape and texture of the cactus spine. For the cactus, the spine casts shade, and for us, conforming ourselves to Christ’s Passion in our times of trial, struggle, hardship, when we feel we are in the desert, it is Christ’s Passion that will shade us from the blistering heat of suffering.