The "Sefer Zohar" is a book that records many of the Jewish mystical insights and traditions that I believe have their source in the mystical teachings of the early Jewish Christians that founded the Church (Kehilla). These mystical teachings were passed on in secrecy in the Jewish community by certain schools of mystics. They were veiled in order to preserve these mysteries and disguise their Jewish Christian meaning.
The beginning of the Sefer Zohar reveals that the book is concerned with the mysteries connected with Rosa Mystica (the Mystical Rose) which is identified with Our Lady and her Son the Jewish Mashiach. The feminine Rosa Mystica is Our Lady also called Kneset Yisrael, Matronita and Sabbath Queen. This spouse of the Ruach ha Kodesh (Holy Spirit) mirrors the mysteries of the Godhead as the Moon mirrors the Sun. She is the Woman (Isha) clothed with the Sun standing on the Moon of Apocalypse 12. Jewish traditions link Miriam the virginal sister of Moses with the name Zohar which alludes to the splendour of the noon-day sun. This Miriam is a template or icon of the ultimate Miriam who is more splendorous than the sun at noon-tide and the central figure of Sefer Zohar.
The "Sefer Zohar" opens quoting the verse from the "Song of Songs" about one who is a ‘shoshanah’ among the thorns. Shoshanah is translated as a Lily or as a Rose. In Ladino it is translated as ‘roza’. The Zohar considers it to be a rose as well. Since ancient times the Rose has been the sign of Mystery. In Aramaic ‘mystery’ is ‘raza’ and the European word ‘roza’ derives from the Aramaic word Raza symbolised by the Rose. The rose was also a symbol of paradise for the early Christians coming from the Jewish concept of the Mystical world called Pardes to which the mystics ascend and descend.
“Rabbi Hezekiah opened, ‘Like a rose among thorns, so is my darling among the maidens’ (Song of Songs 2:2). Who is Rosa Mystica? Our Lady of Israel (Kneset Yisrael/ Matronita/ Sabbath Queen). For there is a Rose and then there is Rosa Mystica. Just as a rose among the thorns is coloured red and white, so Our Lady of Israel includes judgement and mercy. Just as a Rose has 13 petals, so Our Lady of Israel has 13 attributes of mercy surrounding her on every side. Similarly from the moment Elohim(God) is mentioned (in Genesis 1) he generates 13 words to surround Our Lady (in Eternity) and protect her. Then Elohim is mentioned again. Why again? To produce 5 sturdy leaves surrounding Rosa Mystica. These 5 are called Salvation (Yeshuot/Yeshua), they are 5 gates. Concerning this mystery (raza) it is written: I shall raise the Cup of Salvation (Psalm 116:13). This is the cup of Blessing, which should rest on 5 fingers and no more – like the Rose sitting on 5 sturdy leaves, paradigm of 5 fingers. This Rosa Mystica is the Cup of Blessing” Zohar 1:1a.
The "Sefer Zohar" then discusses this feminine Rosa Mystica who is the woman of Israel called Kneset Yisrael. Other traditions call her Matronita, the Heavenly warrior Queen of Israel. In the Catholic understanding this is Our Lady under her title of Rosa Mystica. This title is intricately linked with Our Lady’s title of Immaculate Conception.
The Zohar refers to this Rosa Mystica as connected with the 13 qualities or attributes of Mercy or loving-kindness (chesed). She is the mirror or created light that mirrors clearly and perfectly the 13 qualities of Mercy of the Divinity himself (seen as Divine Mercy). This is Our Lady of Fatima (as Our Lady of Mercy) who is connected with the number 13. This mystical Rose is red and white mirroring the Divine attributes of Judgement and Mercy. As a Rose has 13 petals so the Rosa Mystica has 13 qualities or paths of Mercy.
“Like a rose (shoshanah) among thorns, so is my darling among the maidens” (Song of Songs 2:2).This first section of the Zohar speaks of the Immaculate Conception using this verse from the Song of Songs to show that Our Lady the Rosa Mystica is saved, by Yeshua through his 5 wounds (gates), from the demonic forces that have ruled men since the Fall. The thorns represent sin and the demons. The 5 leaves that surround the rose are connected here with Salvation. Salvation is Yeshua (Jesus) in Hebrew. Salvation’s five gates (y'shuot) are the five wounds of Yeshua in his hands, feet and heart. These five gates are also linked to the five books of the Torah.
As we dance and rejoice at Simchat Torah so Our Lady Miriam ha Kedosha the rejoicing Daughter of Zion danced at Cana when the living waters of the Torah were transformed into the the new wine of the kingdom. This new wine is the full blossoming of the Rosa Mystica that was first revealed (eyes opened) in Bereshit (read at the Marian level as Bat Reshit/ First Daughter or Daughter of the Beginning) who as the Mediatrix of all Graces will, in union with St Joseph and the servant of God Luisa Piccarreta, usher in the era of the Divine Will reigning on earth as it is in Heaven.
