For centuries, the wreath has been a sign of hospitality, a warm invitation into one’s home. If you have used the front entrance of our church during this Easter season you likely have seen the living wreaths that hang on either side of the doors. Living wreaths are wreaths that are created using live plants. Made of small succulents, the wreaths are meant to last for a long time. We wanted to decorate the entrance with something that would last the entire fifty days of Easter. Whenever possible, the Church prefers the use of live plants as stated in the U.S. Bishops’ document Built of Living Stones:

The use of living flowers and plants, rather than artificial greens, serves as a reminder of the gift of life God has given to the human community. Planning for plants and flowers should include not only the procurement and placement but also the continuing care needed to sustain living things.

This preference not only applies to flowers but also to other items used in the liturgy:

Candles for liturgical use should be made of wax. To safeguard authenticity and the full symbolism of light, electric lights are not permitted as a substitute for candles. Votive lights are not to be electric … Above all, the paschal candle should be a genuine candle, the pre-eminent symbol of the light of Christ.

Clearly, the Church has a preference for liturgical décor and liturgical symbols that are living and authentic. That’s because the human community that celebrates the liturgy is living and authentic.

Live plants and candles made of wax also help to express death and new life. Plants die and then reseed. Wax melts and all of our leftover candle stubs are donated to the monastery in Conyers, where they are further melted to create new candles. These symbols help us to be more aware of our share in the death and resurrection of Jesus.

So as we celebrate this Easter season, may our flowers and our candles be reminders of our share in the Paschal Mystery and may our wreaths be a sign of God’s hospitality, welcoming guests from every corner of the globe.