One of my favourite books is Herbs for the Mediaeval Household for Cooking, Healing and Divers Uses by Margaret B. Freeman (New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1943). My mother gave my father a copy for Valentine's Day, 1969. It is a beautiful volume illustrated with copies of 15th century woodcuts. Of lavender Freeman writes: "The Mother of God was very fond of lavender flowers explains the Hortus Sanitatis, because of their virtue in protecting clothes from dirty, filthy beasts. She also had great love of this herb for the reason that it preserves chastity... If the head is sprinkled with lavender water it will make that person chaste as long as he bears it upon him."
I love this mediaeval depiction of Mary as a careful housewife. But I also love the idea of a flower bringing chastity to those who wish it. For the perpetually single, it is a great gift not to be troubled by the fruitless desires of the flesh.
