photo - St. Peter Cathedral collection

ften called the "white-robed apostles of hope," lilies were found growing in the garden of Gethsemane after Christ's agony.  Tradition has it that the beautiful white lilies spring up where drops of Christ's sweat fell to the ground in his final hours of sorrow and distress.  Christian churches continue this tradition at Easter by banking their altars and surrounding their crosses with masses of Easter lilies to commemorate the Resurrection and hope of life everlasting.