Myrrh Oil

Religious context

In Christian Scriptures, Myrrh was one of the gifts of the Magi to the infant Jesus according to Matthew, and is cited in Mark as an intoxicant that was offered to Jesus during the crucifixion:

"Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh."

-Matthew 2:11b, RSV "


"And they brought him to the place called Gol'gotha (which means the place of a skull). And they offered him wine mingled with myrrh; but he did not take it."

- Mark 15:22,23 RSV "


Because of both of these contexts, myrrh is a common ingredient in incense offered during Christian liturgical celebrations (see Thurible). In Roman Catholic liturgical tradition, pellets of myrrh are traditionally placed in the Paschal candle during the Easter Vigil.

In Eastern Christianity, the use of incense is much more frequent than in the West. In some traditions, special emphasis is placed on the offering of incense at Vespers and Matins, because of the Old Testament regulation regarding the evening and morning offering of incense.

Because myrrh was the primary ingredient in the anointing oil God commanded Moses to make (Exodus 30:23-33), it is used in the preparation of chrism which is used by many churches, both Eastern and Western.

 

MYRRH OIL | ROSE OF JERICHO

Rose of Jericho

This plant have the remarkable ability to survive in a curled up, dormant, brown, dessicated state for years, and then open up with a bit of water. After they open they go dormant again when their water source is removed, and can be revived again after dormancy. This cycle can be repeated for years. The skeptical, accusatory Sir Thomas Browne, in his Pseudodoxia Epidemica, or "Vulgar Errors" (1646), wrote about Anastatica hierochuntica:

play the video to see the Miracle of the Rose of Jericho

The Rose of Jericho, that flourishes every year just about Christmas Eve, is famous in Christian reports; which notwithstanding we have some reason to doubt, and are plainly informed by Bellonius, it is but a Monastical imposture, as he hath delivered in his observations, concerning the Plants in Jericho. That which promoted the conceit, or perhaps begot its continuance, was a propriety in this Plant. For though it be dry, yet will it upon imbibition of moisture dilate its leaves, and explicate its flowers contracted, and seemingly dried up. And this is to be effected not only in the Plant yet growing, but in some manner also in that which is brought exodus and dry unto us. Which quality being observed, the subtlety of contrivers did commonly play this shrew upon the Eve of our Saviors Nativity, when by drying the Plant again, it closed the next day, and so pretended a double mystery: referring unto the opening and closing of the womb of Mary.

In any case, the plant Rose of Jericho is often kept dormant in the home -- sometimes handed down through the generations -- and brought out at Christmas time, along with the Christmas decorations, to blossom for a while and adorn the Christmas table, and then close, all symbolizing the opening and closing of Mary's womb.

The Real Rose Of Jericho