Sub rosa: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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In the Middle Ages a rose suspended from the ceiling of a council chamber similarly pledged all present (those under the rose) to secrecy.<ref name="Scottish">{{cite web|url=http://www.subrosascotland.eu|title=Sub Rosa|work=subrosascotland.eu}}</ref>

In Christian symbolism, the phrase "sub rosa" has a special place in confessions. Pictures of five-petalled roses were often carved on [[confessional]]s, indicating that the conversations would remain secret.<ref name=merriam /> The phrase has also been understood to make referencerefer to the mysterious virginal conception of Christ.

The rose is also an esoteric symbol of [[Rosicrucianism]] which was often considered to be a secret society or brotherhood.