Legend of the Dogwood
Al
N old and beautiful legend has it that, at the time of the Crucifixion,
the dogwood was comparable in size to the oak tree and other
monarchs of the forest.
selected as the timber for the cross, but to be put to such a cruel use
greatly distressed the tree.
Sensing this, the Crucified Jesus in his gentle pity for the sorrow and
suffering of all said to it, "Because of your sorrow and pity for My
sufferings never again will the dogwood tree grow large enough to be
used as a gibbet. Henceforth it will be slender, bent and twisted and its
blossoms will be in the form of a cross-two long and two short petals.
In the center of the outer edge of each petal there will be nailprints-
brown with rust and stained with red-and in the center of the flower
will be a crown of thorns, and all who see this will remember.'"
Because of its firmness and strength it was
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