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).
She has been and is still recognized and called blessed by all generations in the world
§ 7. How she was recognised and honoured in the Regular Orders
The Congregation of the Oratory
22 Even though this most illustrious Congregation, founded in the city of Rome by blessed Saint Philip Neri, is not in fact a Religious Order, it has not failed to produce the same fruits in the Church of God and it shares the same protection of the glorious Virgin Mary.
From the very beginning this group of men, distinguished for their learning and also by reason of their holiness, chose after God the Holy Virgin for their unique Patroness[1]. From that point onwards, the seal and the device of this holy Company incorporated the same Virgin, surrounded by rays of light and holding her Son in her arms. We should not forget the miracle which occurred when these Fathers took possession of the Church of Our Lady called Santa Maria in Vallicella. As a favourable omen, they found over the great door the image of a Virgin which was almost identical to the one they had taken for their device. It was as if the Holy Virgin had been preparing this house for them from the moment the foundations of the church were laid. Later they built a most beautiful church which they occupy now in the city of Rome and where there is a remarkable feature: all the chapels in the church are dedicated to the MOTHER OF GOD – except the one which houses the precious remains of blessed Philip. Several great names have emerged from this noble school of virtue and, just as they all have extraordinary zeal for promoting the honour of the most holy Virgin, they are also indebted to her for the countless favours and graces they received through her mediation.
What I have just written is equally applicable to the Oratory of Jesus and Mary founded in France by Cardinal de Bérulle. He was a man of remarkable virtue who also had a deep understanding and knowledge of interior things. His learning and example have shone forth brightly in our own day. The Sovereign head of the Church honoured him by raising him to the sacred purple, following the nomination of our own Louis the Just[2], a Monarch more distinguished than any of his predecessors for recognising and promoting worthy and virtuous persons. The name given to this congregation is a sure sign that it marches under the white banner of the MOTHER OF GOD, but there is nothing that shows more clearly the help she has given them in their undertakings than the wondrous fruits they have been bringing forth in France every day.
Footnotes
[1] Antonius Gallonius, in Vita S. Philippi Nerii.
[2] Louis XIII (1601-1643).
The Order of Fontevraud
23 Before I bring this discussion to a close, I feel I need to mention a few Orders which were founded principally for women. The first is the Order of Fontevraud which was founded by a Doctor from Paris no less distinguished for his holiness than renowned for his great learning[1]. He was called Robert d’Arbrissel and he died in the year 1117.
A few years previously, a certain Evraud who was of noble birth was reduced to living as a commoner as a result of his disordered life. He took to living in the woods with a band of robbers who were involved in all sorts of crimes, including robbery and murder. Robert was horrified by their behaviour and resolved to seek out Evraud with a view to encouraging him to have a change of heart. His exhortations were so successful that Evraud started to turn his attention away from material things. It was not only Evraud but also a large number of others whom Robert persuaded to embrace the austerity of religious life. With this in mind, he wrote a Rule for them which may be summarised this follows.He recalled some of the last words of the Saviour who said to his Holy Mother: Woman behold thy son (speaking of St John) and then said to the same St John: Behold thy Mother. These words underpinned his construction of a sizeable Monastery which was divided into two : one for men and the other for women, governed by an Abbess who would exercise general supervision and have authority over both. Following the example of St John, the men would be obedient to a woman who for her part would imitate the glorious Virgin by looking after the Religious as a mother would care for her own children.
This Order was approved by several Popes and flourished for a long time under Abbesses who were for the most part high-born ladies from the foremost houses in Christendom. They were as remarkable for their outstanding virtues as for their nobility.
Footnotes
[1] Baron., an. 1117.
The Order of St John of Jerusalem (for women)
24 Raymond Berenger was a purveyor or steward of the Order of St John and in the year 1128[1] he founded an Order for women called Saint John of Jerusalem (about eighty years after the first foundation of Knights) now known as the Order of Malta. Various Popes confirmed the Order up to the papacy of Gregory XIII. The first monastery for the nuns was called Our Lady of Sigena. This was founded by Queen Sancha, daughter of King Alfonso of Castile and wife of King Alfonso II of Aragon known as the Chaste. This virtuous lady founded it for poor young ladies, following a miraculous apparition of Our Lady. After the death of her husband the King, she herself entered the Order together with her daughter Dulce, Blanche the daughter of James II, King of Aragon and several other ladies of Royal blood. The Sisters in this Order wear a white Cross like the Knights of St John but the Prioress wears a full Cross on her front. The junior sisters are called pupils and the seniors mistresses. They have ten Priests and a Prior, on whom the Prioress confers the habit of the Order. They are known for their elaborate ceremony in services, a tradition they have kept for four hundred years. For the great Office, they each have a long belt-cord and carry a silver sceptre in the hand. Other Monasteries belonging to this Order include Our Lady of Alguaire in Catalonia which was founded around 1212 by Saurina de Iarba and Elsa de Sagardia, two Catalonian Ladies, and a number of other foundations.
Footnotes
[1] Petrus Bois., Historiæ Melitensis, vol. II.
The Order of Saint Saviour
25 This Order closely resembles that of Fontevraud which I described above, mainly because since its foundation the Monks and Nuns have their respective accommodation wings which are linked but separate. The Monks must number no more than thirteen, in memory of the Holy Apostles, and they are under obedience to the Abbess of the Monastery in all things except spiritual direction and the administration of the Sacraments (except insofar as this involves external forum). It is called the Order of St Saviour because the Saviour Himself dictated the Rule to Blessed St Bridget[1], making it clear that He was establishing the Order in honour of the Blessed Virgin, His Mother most venerable. More evidence of this is provided by the various devotions they are to practise in service of the Virgin. The Rule may be found written out word for word at the end of St Bridget’s Revelations, just as it was dictated by Our Lord and approved by Pope Urban V, in the year 1368[2].
Footnotes
[1] For this reason, it is also known as the Brigittine Order.
[2] Bonifacius IX, in Bulla Canonizationis S. Brigittæ ; Polyd. Virg., lib. VII de Inventoribus rerum, c. 4 ; Nauclerus, in Chronologia, vol. II, general. 46.
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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 2025