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The Wild Rose is a popular flower that is used in many forms in monumental design. In a naturalistic form, it has a symbolic meaning of Love. In conventional form, it means Messianic Promise or Our Blessed Saviour and in heraldic form, the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Because of its many ornamental possibilities, the Acanthus is used in various forms in memorial design. The Acanthus plant is sometimes associated with the rocky ground upon which most of the ancient Greek cemeteries were placed, hence the attributed symbolism, "heavenly Gardens."
A popular element of monumental decoration, the Grape or True Vine represents Our Lord. It is also used to symbolize the Christian Church, which is made up of believers in the True Vine, Jesus Christ. "I am the vine, ye are the branches." (St. John 15:5)
Sometimes called the American Beauty Rose, the Cultivated Rose is an artistic decoration on memorials. The symbolic meaning is Everlasting Love. This is the representative flower for persons born in the month of June.
The Flowering Dogwood is a true symbol of Christianity, Divine Sacrifice and the Triumph of Eternal Life. When used with reference to the Cross or Crucifixion, it symbolizes Regeneration. The Dogwood is the official state flower of North Carolina and Virginia.
Another popular ornament in memorial design is Ivy, both in natural and artificial form. Its best known symbolic meaning is Memory, but it is also used to signify Friendship, Faithfulness, and Immortality. Used in wreath form, it symbolizes Conviviality.
Known as the Easter Lily, this flower is symbolic of Our Lord's Resurrection and of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Under the title Lilium Candidum or Madonna Lily, it is emblematic of the Annunciation, Purity and Heavenly Bliss.
The Passion Flower is one of the many symbols used to portray the story of Our Lord's Passion and Death. In its individual parts, stem, leaf, petals, etc., the flower is said to contain all the symbols of Our Lord's Passion and Crucifixion.
The use of the Calla Lily in memorial design has increased greatly in recent years. This is due to the application of new techniques which enable Guardian craftsmen to lend a deep, sculptured appearance to the flower. Symbolically, the Calla Lily means Majestic Beauty and Marriage.
There are thousands of social, religious, civic and fraternal organizations and their identifying insignia are often used on monuments and markers. One of the better known emblems is that of the Masons, shown here.
The Laurel symbolizes Atonement, Glory, Reward and Victory. In wreath form, it is particularly appropriate for persons who have attained distinction in the arts, literature, in military service or in the service of Christianity.
The Chi Rho, XP, is a contraction of the Greek word XPICTOC, meaning Christ, and is formed by combining the first two letters of the name. The Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet and symbolize Christ as the "beginning and the end."
The Cross is the dominant symbol of Christianity. There are many forms and variations, but the Latin Cross is usually regarded as the "True Cross" upon which Our Saviour died. The IHS is a Latinized contraction of the name Jesus (IHCOYC) in Greek.
The Fleur-de-lys is thought by many authorities to be a conventionalized form of the Annunciation Lily, symbolizing the Annunciation of the Saviour. The Fleur-de-lys is also a symbol of the Holy Trinity and of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The inspirational value of Holy Scripture is represented by the open Bible. The Holy Bible symbolizes Divine authorship or the Word of God.
The counter part of the Masonic Order is the women's organization, the Order of the Eastern Star. In the emblem, the five points of the star have a traditional meaning of family relationship, highly appropriate for use on a family memorial.