Chapter 12 : The Eleventh Star or Splendour of the Crown of Excellence of the Mother of God
Continuing our translation of the 1845 reprint of Fr François Poiré's Triple Crown of the Mother of God (1643 French edition).
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| Notre Dame des Grâces, Cotignac.(Poggi, 2020) |
She has been and is still recognized and called blessed by all generations in the world
Sometimes we see coming from the Sun, the father of the day, a beam of light that shoots downwards until it meets a dark and solid object which causes it to halt; it seems to turn back on itself and its brightness is diffused around itself. In the same way, we can picture coming from the radiant face of God a ray of glory which penetrates the souls of the Blessed, enlightening their understanding, bringing strength and joy to their wills and producing wondrous effects in their bodies. We call such gifts glorious endowments[1] and they are like accretions to the honour and reputation of those souls whom God has undertaken to glorify, rendering their name famous on earth, as their merit is recognized in Heaven. They are the result of the struggles of the Saints before God, for as their secret was to lead a hidden life and to consider themselves as nothing out of love for Him, He for His part brings into play various ways of honouring them and adding to their greatness, both on earth and in Heaven.
An example of this is the case of Mary Magdalen : after she placed her honour and her reputation at the feet of the Lord, He promised that her fame would be be carried to the ends of the earth. Another example is St Anthony : after he had withdrawn into the desert where he saw only wild animals and demons, he was promised that he would be famous throughout the world. God made the same promise to the majority of His Saints and He was as faithful to His word as He was free in giving His promise. This reflects what He wrote through the Prophet who said to Heli the High Priest: whosoever shall glorify me, him will I glorify: but they that despise me, shall be despised[2]. He also declared that there is no man who renders Him even a little honour by way of service who shall not receive an hundred times as much[3].
All this is truly realized in the MOTHER OF GOD who for the sake of her love humbled herself beneath all creatures but who was raised to the foremost position in Heaven as we have just seen. She received, moreover, such great honour while still on earth that it seems God’s only thought was to find ways of honouring her. It is by no means the least among the splendours of the MOTHER OF GOD and I see clearly enough that, to expound it as it deserves, I shall need the help of both parties involved, namely of Him whose pleasure it was to glorify her, and of her who merited to receive such honour.
Footnotes
[1] endowment : the translation chosen here for the French word douaire which was commonly used to denote what a husband gives to his bride on marriage.
[2] I Kings (I Samuel) ii. 30.
[3] Mark. x. 30.
§ 1. The MOTHER OF GOD, following the prophecy she herself uttered, has been called Blessed by all generations
1 The holy Patriarch Job[1] and the Prophet David[2] are in agreement that God speaks once, and repeats not the same thing a second time. His word is all-powerful and brings about what it signifies. Why would it not be permissible for me to say the same thing proportionately about the MOTHER OF GOD, since she spoke one prophecy saying that all generations shall call her blessed[3], and we have seen the effects of this all over the world and we shall continue to see them until the end of the world? Scarcely had she uttered the words than they came to be obeyed throughout the Lord’s domain, just as if a peal of thunder had carried them everywhere. I have described the words as prophetic along with the great Saints and the best Doctors who understood them and verified they were such. These include St Basil[4], St Cyril[5], St Epiphanius[6] and St Ildephonsus, whose words bear repeating[7]:
Please listen to the Mother and Prophetess of God, or better, listen to the Evangelist. Pay heed to his words, all ye Virgins, and may there be no woman, of whatever quality or condition, who does not understand the exceptional humility of the Virgin. Do not believe me if you do not see that everything the spirit of truth prophesied through her come to pass in every detail. She said that all generations would call her blessed, and she said this at a time when she was scarcely known by anyone, and that too only Judea. She spoke the words with great confidence, as though sure about what would come to pass. Is it not indeed true that there is no country under the Sun which does not have knowledge of the Saviour, and that wherever they speak of Jesus, His holy Mother is also famous. All the languages and all the nations of the earth call her blessed, and you have as many witnesses to this fact as there inhabitants on earth.
Thus spoke the great Archbishop of Toledo over one thousand years ago.
Footnotes
[1] God speaketh once, and repeateth not the selfsame thing a second time. Job. xxxiii. 14
[2] God hath spoken once. Ps. LXI. 12.
[3] Luke i. 48.
[4] Isai. 8 in illud : Accessit ad Prophetissam.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Hæresi 78.
[7] Serm. 2 de Assumpt.
2 St Bernard[1], discussing the same matter nearly five hundred years later,
said that:
All these generations who were to call her blessed comprised all in the universe, from God right to the lowest order of insensible nature.
Now it is true that the Eternal Father called her blessed, despatching one of the foremost Princes of His Court to deliver the first embassy[2] in the world. The Son too recognized her as such, rendering her the honour which I spoke of earlier and which I will have occasion to mention again later. The Holy Spirit honoured her in every way He could, seeking her love with His affection and declaring her His Spouse.
The blessed Spirits had no wish to be remiss in their duty, knowing full well the will of their Master. St Athanasius[3] put this very well when he said:
Most Holy Virgin, all the Hierarchies of Angels along with the ranks of the Church militant call thee blessed, and all those privileged to be of this number raise their hands on high and give thee a thousand blessings! They make Heaven and earth echo to the sound of thy praises, saying blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. These are the acclamations offered thee by the first hierarchy, comprising the Seraphim, the Cherubim and the Thrones, all Spirits quite on fire with love for God and enlightened by His knowledge, showing their respect for thy sacred womb and for thy breasts which suckled the Lord. The second Hierarchy comprises the Dominations, the Virtues and the Powers; they do the same to the utmost of their powers, following the rhythm and cadence of the first group. The third Hierarchy is made up of the Principalities, the Archangels and the Angels. They feel especially duty-bound to honour thee since it was from these that the Ambassador was chosen who brought thee the accredited message; and with him they do not cease to proclaim : Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. We, thy little servants here on earth, seek to imitate them and do all we can to ask for thine assistance and to proclaim everywhere that thou art Lady, Mistress and Queen of the universe.
As if to confirm the truth of this, St Ildephonsus[4] and St Bernard[5] add the following:
The Archangel Gabriel rendered so much honour to the Virgin that it might be said he wished to adore her, notwithstanding the majesty of the relations these blessed Spirits had enjoyed previously in their dealings with men : for they had always spoken in the person of God and therefore it was not difficult for them to be treated with the honour which is due to Him alone.
Finally, the same St Bernard concludes his discussion[6] and then addresses the glorious Virgin, saying:
Most holy Lady, Queen of Heaven and earth, it is indeed true that all generations call thee blessed, both those in Heaven and those on earth; they do so with every reason, since thou hast been the Mother of life and glory for all. Through thee, the Angels meet the cause of their rejoicing, the just obtain glory and sinners hope to receive forgiveness. It is not without reason that the eyes of all creatures are fixed on thee, since it is through thee, in thee and by thee that the hand of the Almighty hath made whole that which he created.
The pious Abbot Guerric[7] follows his Master quite closely, saying:
It is entirely reasonable that Mary is able to reap the blessings which she sowed and, since this was for the benefit of all generations, duty obliges everyone to thank her for it, from the noblest Spirits to the simplest souls.
Footnotes
[1] Serm. 2 in Pentecoste.
[2] A message sent or delivered by an ambassador. Archaic.
[3] Serm. de S. Deipara..
[4] Serm. 2 de Assumpt.
[5] Serm. in Signum magnum, etc.
[6] Serm. 2 de Pentecoste.
[7] Serm. 1 de Assumpt.
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SUB tuum præsidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genitrix. Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen.
The Vladimirskaya Icon. >12th century.
Totus tuus ego sum
Et omnia mea tua sunt;
Tecum semper tutus sum:
Ad Jesum per Mariam.
© Peter Bloor 2024
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