Part II : The Crown of Power : Chapter 8 : § 2.3-6

Chapter 8 : The Seventh Star or Splendour of the Crown of Power of the MOTHER OF GOD

She is the Protectress of the Church

Continuing our translation of the 1845 reprint of Fr François Poiré's Triple Crown of the Mother of God (1643 French edition).

Notre Dame des Grâces, Cotignac.(Poggi, 2020)

§ 2. The first Image represents the incomparable love of the MOTHER OF GOD for the Church : the first quality she shows as Protectress 

 3   The eyes of this noble Lady, who is none other than the MOTHER OF GOD, are forever gazing upon the City and its inhabitants, showing the incredible love and affection she has for the Church. According to Alexander, the peripatetic philosopher[1], the eyes are the windows of the soul; the Arab sage Blemot calls them the seat of the soul. The eyes make manifest the most secret movements of our hearts: boldness makes them look forward, respect restrains them and lowers them, sadness makes them downcast, joy opens them like blossom, anger makes them blaze, hatred makes them frightening, anxiety makes them restless, concentration causes them to focus; in short, you could say that the soul reveal its state when it emerges in a certain manner through the eyes. Of all the feelings within our hearts, however, there is nothing that shows in the eyes more than love and affection. You have only to contemplate the sweet and beneficent eyes of this Lady gazing upon the Church in order to realise immediately how it has pride of place in her heart and occupies all her thoughts. In truth, the Holy Virgin has very good reason to cherish the Church, for she loves it as Mother and Spouse of the Saviour who is the Head and the Prince of the Church. She also owes it particular tenderness as she is the common Mother for all the children of salvation. She has furthermore, greater knowledge than anyone else of the beautiful souls found in the Church and of the perfections her Son has placed therein and which she herself has obtained, so that she loves the church with her whole heart.

Footnotes

[1] An apparent reference to Alexander of Aphrodisias (late second/early third century AD).

 4   Her loving heart, however, goes far beyond any obligations she might have and we can truthfully say that there is nothing to compare with the passion she displays for the Church, for encouraging its growth and for finding ways of giving help and support. The pious cardinal Peter Damian knew this from experience and here are some of the beautiful words that he addresses to her[1]:

Most Holy Lady, since thou hast been taken up into God and in a sense divinized, wouldst thou really be forgetful of thy poor children left here below? By no means, and there really is no need for us to fear this, for thou knowest only too well the dangers in which thou hast left us and to which we are exposed because of our sins. Thou art not so absorbed in contemplation of the divine mercies that thine own sense of mercy remains touched by the contemplation of our sorrows and tribulations. Even if thou dost now enjoy a happiness which has rendered thee impassible, thou hast not forgotten the compassion that we in our misfortunes hope for in thy loving and merciful heart.

Footnotes

[1] Serm. 1 de Nativit.

 5   The great Patriarch of Constantinople, St Germanus, addresses a long speech to her on this subject which is full of deep gratitude. Here is an excerpt:

Without thee, most Holy Lady, no one can escape the perils and dangers of this life! Who is there like unto thee able to protect sinners, and who can reach out to help those who have strayed from the right path? All the others who could speak on our behalf and question the sentence which was going to be pronounced against the barren fig tree withdrew after presenting their requests for fear of what might befall them as representatives of our case. But thou, with the heart and courage of a mother, hast obtained pardon for poor, abandoned sinners and thou hast brought about a favourable result for those who seemed irremediably condemned in the justice of God – for how canst thou be rejected, thou who art the true and Immaculate Mother of our Judge? He has no choice but to agree with all that thou askest of Him. This is why the afflicted have recourse to thee more than to any other, why the sick implore thine aid, and why those being worsted in war send thee forward to vanquish all their foes. There is no difficulty so demanding that thou canst not overcome it, nothing so deteriorated that thou canst not put right. Thou canst overturn decrees that purport to be executed against us; thou dost appease the wrath of God, mitigating the threats of His justice and the punishments due to our sins; thou dost intervene to deliver us from bondage to the enemy; out of love for all those who call upon the sacred name of thy Son, thou dost appeal against their condemnation in justice, summoning our detractors who see in shame all their claims dismissed. From this cometh the trust that the Christian people have in thee, seeking thine aid in all their difficulties and afflictions. This is why the prayers and requests addressed to thee continue to increase, while the graces and favours we receive from thee encourage us to ask of thee still more. The Angels are astonished for they observe on the one hand thy limitless generosity and willingness to help, whilst on the other they see the willingness of the Christian people to have recourse to thee in all their necessities, unconstrained in their confidence by any respect or fear of thy greatness.

But what else are we to do, other than to go straight to thee since thou art are undying hope, our best refuge, our ever watchful guardian, our unfailing source of safety, our infallible help, our unshakable defence, our wall that cannot be breached, our impregnable citadel and our unassailable bastion? Since thou art a tower and refuge for those under siege, a haven for those suffering torment, a place of calm and repose for those labouring, an advocate for sinners, a sanctuary for those in despair, a homecoming for the exiled, a way to reconciliation for those fallen from grace. Thou art a place where those condemned for their sins may find healing, a blessing for those who had deserved God’s curse, and refreshing dew for spirits that languish. Thou art at the same time Mother of the Lamb and of the Shepherd;  thou alone art publicly recognised for bringing us every sort of grace and favour. How true indeed it is that everything in thee is wondrous and replete with justice and equity. There is nothing in thee that is not more pleasing and sweeter even than honey, and flowing from this are thine acts of mercy which are quite incomprehensible, delighting heaven and earth. They are such that they can never receive as much praise as they deserve : we are more strongly attracted to them than someone dying of thirst is to a spring of fresh waters, and they are incomparably more necessary to our salvation even than air we breathe is for us to live. To sum this all up : if we were ever once to lose thee, then we could abandon the hope of eternal happiness that our faith brings; but as here on earth it is through thee and in thee that we breathe, in the same way we hope to rejoice with thee in eternity, which is the highest of our hopes and prayers.

 6   That is just one part of the pious colloquy between this holy Patriarch and the most sacred Virgin, his beloved Mother. It shows how he honours her title MOTHER OF GOD which he sees with good reason as the foundation and basis for the wonderful power that she has with her Son and of the love she shows for us. The close connection and rapport between the two wills, namely those of the Son and His Mother, is in truth a cause of great consolation for us. Who could explain in an adequate way the fruits that we receive from this reciprocal love and affection they have for one another? The Son grants everything out of love for His Mother, and the Mother asks for everything through her love for the Son. The Son wills that all the good he does for His children should come to them through His Mother; and the Mother, in consideration of her Son, loves the children that He acquired at the price of His own blood. The Son gives to the Mother all power over His Church; and the Mother, in order to please her Son, devotes herself to His Church with a love that can scarcely be described. The liaison between these two, let us repeat, is a source of wonderment to us and we should not consider it as anything other than the living source of all the graces and blessings that we possess.

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The Virgin of Tenderness. >12th century.

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. 

 

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

© Peter Bloor 2025 

Part II : The Crown of Power : Chapter 8 : § 1.3-4 > § 2.1-2

Chapter 8 : The Seventh Star or Splendour of the Crown of Power of the MOTHER OF GOD

She is the Protectress of the Church

Continuing our translation of the 1845 reprint of Fr François Poiré's Triple Crown of the Mother of God (1643 French edition).

Notre Dame des Grâces, Cotignac.(Poggi, 2020)

This title follows on from the previous one to which it is inseparably linked because, if the Church is not given protection, then its government can only be only partial. The more we explore this question, the more we shall find the Holy Virgin partaking of the Royal qualities of her Spouse and her Son. The more we shall also see that she has the courage and the determination to pursue her goals, to obtain for all of us the graces and favours we need and to turn away the evils which threaten us.

§ 1. Protector of the Church : third attribute of the Incarnate King of glory 

 3   This was just little extract of all that has been said about Solomon and it is nothing in comparison with what Sacred Scripture has to say about how the King of Angels and of men protects and defends His Church. In order to be effective in his role, a protector must have the following three qualities: firstly, great love and affection for those whom he is defending; this naturally begets, like a mother, the second quality, namely care and vigilance; the third quality is the strength necessary to deal with enemies and opponents. 

Holy Scripture shows us how perfectly equipped the Lord is in this regard. When it comes, for example, to His affection, it is not possible to find one title or name in human language sufficiently capable of expressing this idea. In consequence, Scripture likens His love to that of a King, a Father, a Teacher, a Spouse, a Pastor, a Captain[1], and there are many other examples we could add to this list. 

His vigilance is the equal of His heartfelt care for His people. Through His prophet Isaiah, He instructs those whom He has redeemed with His blood[2] to have no fear or anxiety because when they shall pass through rivers and torrents, He will keep them safe from the waters. They will emerge safe and sound from the midst of flames, and He will guide and accompany them everywhere: by day He will be a cloud protecting them from the heat of the sun, and by night He will lead them with a pillar of fire; their tents will not be affected by the scorching heat of the sun nor put at risk by downpours, storms and whirlwinds[3]. These and a thousand other examples of His solicitude are so many tokens of the exceptional care and vigilance He shows towards them. 

As far as His strength is concerned, there is no reason to fear, for in one place He promises His beloved Jerusalem that he will be for it a wall of fire roundabout[4]. Elsewhere, he reveals to His beloved children that He will hold them in His arms just as protectively as the lion defending its prey which fears not the shouts of the shepherds[5]. He will protect them from any fear and anxiety, like birds flying[6]. Elsewhere, He gives them His word that on the Holy Mountain, meaning within the Church, they will not be in fear of wild beasts such as tigers and leopards. Even the most deadly serpents will have no fear for them, neither shall they experience any problems dwelling in the midst of flesh-eating or poisonous animals.

Footnotes

[1] Cf.: out of thee shall come forth the captain [dux] that shall rule my people Israel. Matt. ii. 6. 

[2] Isaiah xliii.

[3] Isaiah iv. 5.

[4] Zach. ii. 5.

[5] Like as the lion roareth, and the lion's whelp upon his prey, and when a multitude of shepherds shall come against him, he will not fear at their voice, nor be afraid of their multitude: so shall the Lord of hosts come down to fight upon mount Sion, and upon the hill thereof. Isaiah xxxi. 4.

[6] As birds flying, so will the Lord of hosts protect Jerusalem, protecting and delivering, passing over and saving. Isaiah xxxi. 5. The Fillion translation has : "As birds flying over their nest." 

 4   This introduction has paved the way for our discussion of the Holy Virgin where we shall see the three beautiful qualities we mentioned above feature in the role given to her by the Saviour as protectress of His Church. I shall be making use of images to show how she embodies these qualities. In doing so, I shall be speaking in general terms of how she defends the body of the Church, without going into the details yet of the loving care that she has for those who, by reason of a special devotion, are under her particular protection. This will form the subject of one of the main discussions in Part III.

§ 2. The first Image represents the incomparable love of the MOTHER OF GOD for the Church : the first quality she shows as Protectress 

 1   Imagine that you are looking at a painting of the City that lieth in a foursquare[1], referred to by St John in various chapters of the Apocalypse, along with all that can be said about its incomparable beauty.  Picture in an eminent position visible to the whole City a venerable Lady appearing through the clouds; her gaze is fixed upon the City, whose inhabitants are looking back in turn upon her, showing by their faces and demeanour how much they rejoice in her singular favour. Take note of the cartouche that is over her head, partly hidden in the clouds but showing forth the following words: By day and by night I shall keep watch over her. This represents the indescribable love and affection of the MOTHER OF GOD towards Holy Church.

Footnotes

[1] Apoc. xxi. 16.

 2   Even though the majority of the Holy Fathers firmly believed that by the foursquare City of St John we are to understand the abode of the Blessed, there are nevertheless certain Doctors[1] who, with persuasive reasoning that I do not have time to explore here, have concluded that this symbol of a City refers to the Church Militant as well as to the Church Triumphant. With this interpretation, they have determined that the light of God which illumines the Holy City is the pleasing doctrine of the Saviour; the walls of jasper stone represent the solidity of the Church; the twelve gates, which are twelve pearls, represent the Pastors, the Doctors and all those who provide entry into the faith; the twelve foundations are the twelve Apostles; the area enclosed by the walls, measuring on each side five hundred leagues, represents the capacity of the Church; the streets paved with gold represent the charity which unites and enriches Christians; the living water which passes through the centre of the City are the divine Sacraments; the trees which bear blossom and fruit in every season represent the just, whose holy desires and virtuous actions are never wanting in the Church.

Footnotes

[1] Ubertin., Tract. de septem statibus Ecclesiæ, c. 8, § 12 ; Turrianus, Tract. de Eucharist. ; Bulen-gerus, in Apocal. Alcazar, in Apocal., c. 21 initio.

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The Virgin of Tenderness. >12th century.

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. 

 

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

© Peter Bloor 2025 

Part II : The Crown of Power : Chapter 8 : § 1.1-2

Chapter 8 : The Seventh Star or Splendour of the Crown of Power of the MOTHER OF GOD

She is the Protectress of the Church

Continuing our translation of the 1845 reprint of Fr François Poiré's Triple Crown of the Mother of God (1643 French edition).

Notre Dame des Grâces, Cotignac.(Poggi, 2020)

This title follows on from the previous one to which it is inseparably linked because, if the Church is not given protection, then its government can only be only partial. The more we explore this question, the more we shall find the Holy Virgin partaking of the Royal qualities of her Spouse and her Son. The more we shall also see that she has the courage and the determination to pursue her goals, to obtain for all of us the graces and favours we need and to turn away the evils which threaten us.

§ 1. Protector of the Church : third attribute of the Incarnate King of glory 

 1   It was once the custom amongst people from the North that, upon the death of a celebrated man, the person chosen as successor would climb to the highest point of a tower and then let fall onto the ground a shield with the armorial bearings and motto of the deceased. The shield would be picked up and carried in great triumph through the streets. This was understood as signifying that leaders, and especially Princes and Kings, should be like shields that defend and protect their peoples. Several writers have found confirmation for this in the rite of the Hebrews for consecrating their Kings : they would not only anoint them but also their shields, to symbolise how just as the Shield is the King amongst weapons, in the same way they should be the Shields of their subjects. Some commentators apply this understanding to the words of Isaiah[1]: Anoint the shield[2]. This is an alternative reading to our version which says: Take up the shield. The alternative reading requires only one letter to be changed. The Rabbi Solomon, along with some of our own exegetes, applies this idea to what is written in the second book of Kings[3]: There was cast away the shield of the valiant, the shield of Saul as though he had not been anointed with oil.

Footnotes

[1] Isaiah xxi. 5.

[2] The commentary in the Fillion Bible on the Vulgate's arripite clypeum confirms that the Hebrew literally means “grease/oil the shield.”

[3] II Kings (II Samuel): i. 21.Ps. LXXI. 4 et seq. (a selection of excerpts and paraphrases).

 2   David the King and Prophet, while discussing the royal qualities required by his son Solomon (whom we have hitherto regarded as a type prefiguring the King of Heaven Incarnate) speaks of him as of the true protector of his people and the shield for his subjects. Without exception of person, he says[1], he shall judge the poor of the people, and he shall save their children from the oppression of the powerful.  He shall strike down the author of calumny and his accomplices; he shall come down like rain showers falling gently upon the earth and rendering it fertile. Similarly, his care and protection will console his own and overwhelm them with happiness. His power will deliver the weak from the teeth and claws of the mighty rich; he will help the needy that had no helper; in his goodness he will pardon the weak who have recourse unto him with a humble and submissive spirit. He shall redeem their souls from usuries and iniquity, both the principle and the interest, and he will redeem poor subjects with his own life, delivering them from death and ruin. In short, everywhere will be heard the cry: Long live the glory of this Monarch, King, Father and Protector of his people: he will indeed enjoy long life and all will bring presents unto him and his reign will ever flourish in greatness and in contentment, continuing to grow more and more.

Footnotes

[1] Ps. LXXI. 4 et seq. (a selection of excerpts and paraphrases).

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The Virgin of Tenderness. >12th century.

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. 

 

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

© Peter Bloor 2025 

Part II : The Crown of Power : Chapter 7 : § 5.4-6

Chapter 7 : The Sixth Star or Splendour of the Crown of Power of the MOTHER OF GOD

She rules and guides the Church

Continuing our translation of the 1845 reprint of Fr François Poiré's Triple Crown of the Mother of God (1643 French edition).

Notre Dame des Grâces, Cotignac.(Poggi, 2020)

§ 5. Her particular care for Princes and Prelates of the Church

 4   Prelates are the Fathers and Princes of the Church and for this reason they have a special right to the graces and favours of the MOTHER OF GOD, whom St John Damascene calls the glory of Prelates[1]. Personally, I have no doubt that it was the King of Heaven her beloved Son who inspired this title and this would be easy to demonstrate through numerous stories. One example concerns Udo, whose story I shall relate in another place[2] but whose fate serves as an example to those who abuse responsibilities which Angels would tremble to take on. Another example is a story of the blessed St Nicholas which serves as a powerful encouragement to Pastors, encouraging them to discharge the duties of their office in a worthy manner. Methodius, Patriarch of Constantinople wrote a life of St Nicholas which has been confirmed by several authors as worthy of belief. He recounts how:

this Saint was one night overtaken by a mysterious sleep, during which he saw to his right  the Saviour in great majesty holding a book of the Gospels which shone with diamonds and other precious stones; to his left was the Blessed Virgin who was carrying the archiepiscopal pallium which she proceeded to place on his shoulders. A few days after this he understood the meaning of this vision, for he was miraculously elected Bishop of Myra in Lycia, in a way that everyone knows.

Human affairs, however, can change rapidly and after several years this holy Prelate fell into disgrace. A number of writers relate an incident which happened to him at the Council of Nicea:

He was so carried away by his zeal that he struck the cheek of an Arian bishop who had overstepped the mark in his language. The Council was duly obliged to take cognizance of this matter, in view of the complaints filed by the Arian bishops. The upshot was that he was deprived of his archiepiscopal mitre and pallium. Our beloved Mother in the goodness of her heart did not allow this for very long, and a few days later as he was celebrating Holy Mass in honour of the same Virgin, she appeared with two Angels, one of whom placed the mitre back on his head, and the other placed the pallium on his shoulders. There are some who say this happened the first night after they had been withdrawn from him, and that he received both from the hands of his beloved Mother, who had been present when the Council judged against him.

Footnotes

[1] Orat. 1 de Nativ. Virg.

[2] Part III.

 5   At this point, we would really need Saints such as Chrysologus, Ildephonsus, Germanus and other similar Prelates worthy of eternal memory who consecrated their hearts, their speech and their pens to praising the greatness of the MOTHER OF GOD. They would be able to tell us of  the heavenly light that she gives to good shepherds, the prevenient graces she supplies to them, the noble resolutions she helps them to make, the skills with which she equips them to discharge their pastoral duties, the holy teachings she communicates to them, the success that she gives to their deliberations, the strength she obtains for them in the undertakings, the ability to withstand great trials for the benefit of their flock, and the friendly admonishments she gives them when they are remiss in their duties: for all these are favours given in secret which we would need to have experienced ourselves in order to speak worthy of them. I am in fact of the opinion that these favours are amongst those which have been expressly hidden from us so as to temper us in the exercise of our faith and to increase the joy we shall experience on high when we eventually see all these wonders revealed. I cannot help recalling, however, how the Holy Virgin spoke to a Prelate[1] one day through St Bridget, reproaching him for the way he was neglecting his church,

warning him enigmatically that the right transept had been damaged; that the stonework in the vault was coming loose, posing a clear danger to those coming into the church, several of whom had already felt material falling on their heads; that the pillars were starting to bow; that the floor was cracking – in short, that there was scarcely anything not in need of repair, and if he did not give his prompt attention to these problems, he would be the very first to be crushed beneath the ruins, and besides this he would have to answer for however many people would suffer death or injury because of his neglect.

Footnotes

[1] Lib. IV Revelat., c. 68.

 6   In this way our gentle Mother makes provision for everything, correcting some, encouraging others, giving help and support to everyone, distributing countless graces to good Shepherds out of consideration for their flocks, and helping the flocks in their infirmities for the love of their good Shepherds, so that God may be blessed and honoured in all things here on Earth, and much more on high in the Heaven where all the little sheep of the church will be led, so that they will then be forever under the one Shepherd, who is the Shepherd of the Shepherds and the Prince of Shepherds.

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The Virgin of Tenderness. >12th century.

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. 

 

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

© Peter Bloor 2025 

Part II : The Crown of Power : Chapter 7 : § 5.1-3

Chapter 7 : The Sixth Star or Splendour of the Crown of Power of the MOTHER OF GOD

She rules and guides the Church

Continuing our translation of the 1845 reprint of Fr François Poiré's Triple Crown of the Mother of God (1643 French edition).

Notre Dame des Grâces, Cotignac.(Poggi, 2020)

§ 5. Her particular care for Princes and Prelates of the Church

 1   I know thanks to St John Damascene who, when speaking of the glorious Virgin in the second sermon he composed about her decease, said that:

there is indeed a great mystery discernible here : for when God wanted to establish Moses as judge, captain and prince of his people, he appeared to him in a burning bush which, according to the opinion of the Holy Fathers, was an image prefiguring the MOTHER OF GOD. This would show the world that the selection of Kings, Princes, Judges and Leaders on earth would henceforth be in the hands of the Holy Virgin, represented by the burning bush.

Holy Church supports the idea of this pious Doctor when, in the office of Our Lady of the Snows, she applies to her the following words of Solomon[1]: By me kings reign, and lawgivers decree just things; by me princes rule, and the mighty decree justice. Anyone who takes the time to consider how important Princes and especially Sovereigns are for man’s good and for their progress in the spiritual kingdom of the Saviour, will have no doubt that the Queen of this kingdom pays particular attention to them, keeping them under her special protection. We will be discussing later the magnificent way she recognised even the least of services they offered her, the victories and periods of prosperity that she gave them, and the happiness that she procured for them. At this point, however, I want to focus on the care that she shows for Princes and for their States in general, when they have devoted themselves to her service.

Footnotes

[1] Prov. viii. 15-16.

 2   I demonstrated clearly in Part I[1] that throughout history the Holy Virgin has cherished the Kingdom of France over all other countries in the world. This could not have come to pass unless the Kings that had been granted to lead her were as much the favourites of the MOTHER OF GOD as they were the elder sons of the Church. Another thing particular to them amongst all the kings of the earth is that among the seven blessings given to them on the day of their consecration is one that they should be protected by the glorious Virgin on all sides – no more nor less than by a bodyguard – and that the care she has for them will be like a horn of plenty and a store of weapons to protect the peace and happiness of their people. It seems to me that all we have to do is to open our eyes and consider the progress made by this flourishing realm from the time of the very first most Christian King until the most recent, the favours received from on high, the victories won by the French in battle, the glory of their name carried to the remotest fastnesses of the world, the credit she has won in justice and in the world of letters – all these force us to admit that events have surpassed expectations, and that the blessings of the MOTHER OF GOD have produced results we could never have dared to hope for. Now is not the time to delve into the particular favours that she granted to the great Clovis, to Charlemagne the Conqueror, to Louis the Pious, to the valiant Dagobert, to the peerless Saint Louis, to the courageous Louis XI, to Louis the Just, a wonder amongst good kings : I will be discussing these later at a more suitable point in this work[2], but for the present I shall be speaking in general terms.

Footnotes

[1] Chap. 22.

[2] Part III, ch. 7, § 5.

 3   The King of Kings and the Sovereign Monarch of the world, who reveals His secrets unto whomsoever He pleases, wished one day to make known to His spouse, (the Blessed Saint Bridget), just how valuable His most beloved Mother was to the world and the care she had for it, especially with regard to Princes and Sovereigns.

To this effect, he showed her a palace which could not be anything other than the Empyrean or an image of Paradise. In the middle of this palace there was a throne for the King of glory incarnate, a king who was a thousand times more dazzling than the Sun. At His side there was another throne for the glorious Virgin, who was in appearance more beautiful than all the sparkling gemstones in the world, not only because of her own splendour but also because of the light she received from her Son. In front of them were millions of blessed Spirits kneeling on the ground, singing the praises of the Son and the Mother,  of the Bridegroom and His Bride. The Saviour of the world spoke first, offering advice for the Kings and for the Princes of the earth, and some special words for the King of Sweden in particular, who was a close relative of the Saint. The Virgin Mother followed and the thrust of their advice was to explain to the Kings and the Monarchs who it is from whom they all derive everything they have; what sort of men they should have in their councils; which are the people to whom they can show their favour; what appearance they should adopt; what reading matter they should be given; what virtues they should seek to acquire; how they should comport themselves before God, towards each other, towards the Queens their Spouses, towards their children, towards their subjects, towards their enemies, towards the good, towards the evil, and towards every sort of person; how they should command their undertakings, and especially those launched against the infidels; and what sort of persons are suited to be raised to offices of public responsibility. Finally, they were told of the great rewards prepared for them if they live the lives of good Princes; and, conversely, the terrible chastisements that await them should they do otherwise.

These are but examples of the advice given and the predictions made, and they are sufficient to make us realise that they could only come from Heaven. It would, however, be too time-consuming to give further details here: that would come within the purview of those who prepare courses and deliver lectures to the great on the subject of how those who live in palaces are to live in accordance with God’s will. 

In another place the most sacred Virgin gave details to this Holy Widow of the main sins committed by a certain king which attracted the wrath of God upon him; and she warned him that if he did not soon restore order to his life, then her Son would withdraw His graces from him and deprive him of his realm and his position.

In the end, however, we must always come back to the main point of our discussion: the invisible favours that she grants to princes, favours which cannot be numbered and cannot be measured. Since she is the Dispensatrix of all graces and of all Heaven’s treasures, (as I shall demonstrate later[1]) there can be no doubt that she distributes these in a way suited to the condition and merits of each individual. Kings and Sovereigns are like the universal causes for the good government of states. It follows from this that, as they have more need than any others, reason obliges us to declare that she gives her assistance to them in a most liberal manner, and she delights to show them generosity with the blessings and favours of her Son – provided they are willing to make themselves worthy thereof.

Footnotes

[1] Chap. 10.

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The Virgin of Tenderness. >12th century.

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. 

 

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

© Peter Bloor 2025 

Part II : The Crown of Power : Chapter 7 : § 4.6-8

Chapter 7 : The Sixth Star or Splendour of the Crown of Power of the MOTHER OF GOD

She rules and guides the Church

Continuing our translation of the 1845 reprint of Fr François Poiré's Triple Crown of the Mother of God (1643 French edition).

Notre Dame des Grâces, Cotignac.(Poggi, 2020)

§ 4. The care that the Holy Virgin has for all the Orders in the Church

Her care for Confessors

 6   The army of Holy Confessors is greater in extent than all the others in Holy Sion. Because the soldiers of Christ who belong to this noble fighting force are so numerous, it is divided into various regiments which are themselves composed of various companies. Amongst them you will find a great number of holy Prelates who have brought honour to their pastoral office with their eminent virtue and especially through their limitless patience in the great works that they perform to look after their flocks. You will also find great Princes who, in the midst of the riches and pleasures of life at court, learned how to reject all that is passing and to focus on those values which are enduring and eternal. You would lose count of the various members of Religious Orders who attained the heights through mortification of their bodies and through their renunciation of all things in order to follow Jesus Christ, stripped of all worldly attachments. You will find great numbers of anchorites who, in order to have greater freedom to contemplate God and Heavenly things, withdrew themselves from the company and society of men. You will find countless lay people who have been faithful to God and have made great progress, some at court or in government, others in the corridors of power, some running public affairs, some promoting works of piety – some in this way and some way in that. All these people come within the jurisdiction of the MOTHER OF GOD, all receive the benefit of her graces and favours, and there is not one among them who would not say that, after God, he is indebted to her for the eternal happiness he will enjoy. I will have more to say later on how this affects Princes and Prelates. As far as the members of Religious Orders are concerned, I have already shown elsewhere[1] that she has taken all the Orders under her special protection. In Part III, we shall be considering the care she devotes to those whom God has chosen to be saved by this manner of life or to be raised up to some special degree of holiness. We would be doing an injustice to people in other modes of life if we thought her maternal love did not embrace them too or that there might be a solitary soul whom she has not touched through the effects of her kind heart.

Footnotes

[1] Part I, ch. 12.

Her care for Virgins and married women

 7   One of her titles is Virgin of Virgins and this recalls the observation made by St John Damascene who said[1]:

She is a plant most fruitful in virginity and through her the beauty of this angelic virtue is spread all over the world. 

This corresponds in a most marvellous manner to what the great St Jerome wrote to his dear spiritual daughter Eustochium[2]:

Since the time when a Virgin conceived and brought forth the King of Virgins, who bears on his shoulders the marks of His pre-eminent status, the gift of virginity has been granted more liberally to the world, especially among the female sex; and the Son of the Virgin chose here below a retinue of Angels Incarnate just as on high he had  heavenly Angels for His entourage. 

Not all women enjoy the blessing that St Catherine of Alexandria received through the Blessed Virgin, being visibly married to the Spouse of beautiful souls, and receiving from Him a golden ring in token of His faith and troth. It is nevertheless true that there is not one amongst them who was not, thanks to the holy Virgin, taken in and put forward for service to the King her Son and who did not eventually merit the honour of being received on His nuptial couch.

It is she, according to the eloquent words of Saint Ambrose[3], who welcomes Virgins at the end of life, who presents them to their heavenly Spouse, and who sings hymns of joy when they are introduced into the privy chamber of the Prince of glory.

She it is who plants these lilies everywhere and who causes them to grow in monasteries, in private houses, in cities, in the countryside, and who leads them finally to marital union. She it is who gave courage the following women to live with their husbands no more nor less than as with men without bodies, or with Angels from Paradise : Saints Daria, Basilissa, Pulcheria, Cunegunda, Delphina, Ægique, Stamberg, Bertha and many others. It is she who delivered the following women from places and situations so wicked that they were like the dens of iniquity and the fleshpots of Babylon : Saints Theodora, Antonia, Euphrasia, Glaphyra and others who had found themselves led to such places only to see the honour of their modesty tarnished. It is she who through means inspired from Heaven preserved from the enemies of chastity virgins such as Saints Flavia, Domitilla, Seraphia, Denise, Susanna, Anastasia, Euphemia, Agnes, Emerentiana, Lucy and thousands of others. It is she who awarded two crowns to Saints Thecla, Felicula, Potenciana, Valerie, Agatha, Anatolia, Pelagia – adding to the lilies of virginity the crimson roses of martyrdom. It is she who inspired several Virgins whom we find in history preferred for their bodies to be disfigured rather than their souls to be corrupted. To sum up : she it is who in a thousand different ways preserved the honour of these lilies for the love of Him who is most worthily called the Lily of the valleys[4], and who is most pleased by the fragrant purity of these lilies.

Footnotes

[1] Cap. 5.

[2] Epist. 22. See St. Eustochium Julia in Catholic Encyclopedia.

[3] Lib. II de Virginib.

[4] Cant. ii. 1.

 8   The Church has no hesitation in giving to the female sex the glory of being called the devout sex and I believe that all women, whether virgins, married, widows, or of whatever state or condition, can have recourse to her as to one who is the honour of this sex, each one according to her rank and her merit: indeed, as she is the Queen of all Saints, I hold it as beyond question that her care extends to the limits of the world and as far as the rays of the sun reach. Wherever there are children of the Church, there she will have her audiences and her opportunities to teach and help. All that she does is for the good of the Saviour’s subjects, whom she is anxious to guide on their way to taking possession of the happiness which awaits them on high in Heaven.

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The Virgin of Tenderness. >12th century.

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. 

 

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

© Peter Bloor 2025 

Part II : The Crown of Power : Chapter 7 : § 4.1-5

Chapter 7 : The Sixth Star or Splendour of the Crown of Power of the MOTHER OF GOD

She rules and guides the Church

Continuing our translation of the 1845 reprint of Fr François Poiré's Triple Crown of the Mother of God (1643 French edition).

Notre Dame des Grâces, Cotignac.(Poggi, 2020)

§ 4. The care that the Holy Virgin has for all the Orders in the Church

Her care for those in authority within the Church

 1   St Paul most certainly had a very good reason for calling the Church a great house[1], since before him the Saviour had honoured it with this name[2]. If we pause to consider the extent of its vast domain, the number of its departments and the multiplicity of its offices, I am sure we will agree that it belongs to God alone to know everything that is done within the Church, to appoint each one to his position and task, and to show a particular care for everyone and everything. Now, in order to rule over a handful of people, so to speak, it was necessary for God to fill Moses with His spirit, but He did this so generously that when there arose a need to provide him with special Lieutenants[3], it was found that Moses had enough to share[4] with seventy of the ancients of the people, who were appointed to resolve differences and disagreements. 

If this was the case with Moses, I leave you to imagine what He must have done for the blessed Virgin, to whom he entrusted the administration of all His Estates and responsibility for managing all the Orders of the Church. What capacity and what celestial strength of mind must she have received to know in detail the whole state of this great Monarchy, to provide for so many offices, to manage so many affairs and to make everything succeed according to the eternal designs of God? We find ourselves astonished to see St Paul under the pressure of his many tasks and projects; we can all agree he must have been an extraordinary man, or rather, a man specially selected and helped in an extraordinary manner by God so that he could visit so many countries, found so many Churches, consecrate so many Bishops – in a word, to do all this and at the same time be everything for everybody. In view of this, we should not wonder to see how the Holy Virgin prepares Apostles, chooses Monarchs, helps Prelates to become established, supports Martyrs in their trials, inspires Confessors, multiplies Virgins, and shows a special care for everyone and everything in the House of God. Her approach is calm and measured, but she has an eye for every significant detail. She is a most perfect imitation, insofar as this is possible for a simple creature, of the sovereign immutability and the infinite capacity of divine understanding.

Footnotes

[1] II Tim. ii. 20. See also: O Israel, how great is the house of God, and how vast is the place of his possession! Baruch iii. 24.

[2] In my Father's house there are many mansions. John xiv. 2.

[3] Num. xi.

[4] That I may come down and speak with thee: and I will take of thy spirit, and will give to them. Num. xi. 17.

Her care for the Martyrs

 2   The poor Queen of Saba once found herself lost in astonishment when she saw the order of Solomon’s royal house and reflected on how everything about it was controlled in one man’s head. I prefer to follow his father David and lose myself in contemplation of the wonders of the Lord’s works and the honour that He showed to a simple creature by placing His domain and empire in her hands. To tell the truth, this is one of the sweetest and most sublime of all thoughts that can inspire the heart and the mind. Take a moment, if you will, to consider the state of the nascent Church after the death of the Redeemer. See how this good Mother busies herself in forming these Masters and Teachers of the world, polishing what her beloved Son had begun and the Holy Spirit had completed. The affection here is mutual for she cherishes these men as her own children and they offer to her the honour that a Mother deserves. She is the living Oracle that St Peter consults when encountering difficulties in the early Church, she is the star that St Paul follows on his voyages and the guide that accompanies him on his travels. St Matthew, Saint Mark, Saint Luke and St John all seek her enlightenment about several mysteries, notably the Incarnation, the infancy and childhood of the Saviour. St James, Bishop of Jerusalem undertakes nothing without consulting her, and her help is always readily available. The other St James keeps her informed about what is happening in Spain and of the limited progress that is being made there. She comes like a loving Mother, arriving on the spot in a miraculous manner to console him and to raise his spirits. All of them have recourse to her in their needs but this is especially true of the beloved Disciple. He was entrusted with caring for her and he has the honour of her company everywhere. As a result, he also has a greater share than the others in her holy opinions, in her divinely inspired instruction and in the heavenly example that she sets.

 3   The Saviour had foretold that the beginnings of His church would be stormy and that all the powers of hell would conspire to overturn it. Was it not therefore expedient for Him to leave to His Church her who as Ruler and Guide would be most capable of foreseeing all the dangers that could threaten, who would be able to restrain and moderate some whilst supporting and encouraging others, and serving all with her advice and help? It is indeed consoling to see how some were fortified by her presence, others were consoled and inspired by the letters she sent, and in general everyone was helped and supported by the power of her continual prayer. Those who have written about the Holy Land insist that even today you can see the stone where the Virgin prayed on her two knees whilst St Stephen struggled with the hard-heartedness of the Jews who would stone him him to death. From this point on she took possession of his office and gave witness in the person of the first martyr of what she would do when she finally came to her place of rest, where she could devote all her time to thinking of others. This is why well instructed Christians have always believed that those who may face martyrdom should keep her as their close friend, knowing that she holds in her hands their palms and laurels. This was understood very well by St Theodore and St Theophones who were brothers reared from their childhood in the monastery of St Sabbas[1]. They had been sent into exile on the orders of the Emperor Leo the Armenian for defending holy images and icons. Following orders from Theophilos the Iconoclast, they were cruelly scourged and tortured in many ways but they never ceased to have recourse to the Queen of Martyrs, entreating her help. The same Theodore, who died in prison a short time afterwards, wrote of this in his own hand to John, Bishop of Cyzicus[2], in the region of Gallipoli, formerly known as the Hellespont.

Footnotes

[1] One of the oldest monasteries in the world: Mar Saba in Palestine’s West Bank. Named after St. Sabbas the Sanctified (“Savva” among Slavic Christians).

[2] The French text has Cycico which appears to be Cyzicus, a Mysian town in the Propontis. The closest modern village is Aşağıyapıcı & the nearest modern city is Erdek.

 4   The memory of the Blessed Martyr Andrew of Chios will live eternally and, for as long as he is remembered, people will never forget the help that he received from the MOTHER OF GOD. 

This indomitable hero died on the 29th of May in the year 1463. He was a native of the isle and town of Chios where from his childhood onwards he had offered himself up to the Queen of Heaven. He had later made a formal vow consecrating his virginity through her to God. He was captured by the Muhammadans and, since he refused to give up his faith, he was taken to Constantinople where he would be given a fine stage on which to demonstrate to the enemies of the faith what Christian courage can achieve when strengthened by the grace of God and the protection of His holy Mother. 

He was tortured in various ways for nine consecutive days, during which he displayed an invincible patience which shone like a diamond through all the cruelties that these barbarians inflicted upon him. On the first day, he was beaten with rods and scourged so ferociously that at first he was seized by a great trembling from head to toe; but he calmly folded his arms on his chest and as soon as he had uttered these words: Holy Virgin, come unto mine aid, he immediately felt so comforted that he stayed with his feet together on the same spot and in the same posture until sunset. On the following day, they ripped his flesh with iron nails; on the third day, they dislocated all his joints; on the fourth, they stripped the flesh from his shoulders. To sum up : from then until the ninth day, they exposed bone in every part of his body. At the beginning of each of these torments, he would summon the Holy Virgin’s help, and during this long martyrdom he kept her constantly in his heart and in his thoughts. On the evening of the ninth day, she healed him miraculously from all his wounds. On the following day he was beheaded and at that instant he surrendered his spirit into the hands of this tender-hearted Mother who had obtained for him such constancy and fortitude. With permission from the grand Sultan, the Christians took possession of his body and gave it an honourable burial. After several months had elapsed, the sepulchre was opened and his sacred remains were found to be as fresh and incorrupt as if he were still alive and full of health.

All these details are described by Gregory of Trebizond[1], a serious minded author whose account is worthy of belief. He was present at the opening of the tomb when the sacred body of this blessed martyr could be seen. He was able to verify what I have just written by speaking to countless eyewitnesses of what happened. All this is just a sample of the evidence which could be adduced to prove the love shown by the Blessed Virgin towards those whom she cherishes and honours to the point of obtaining for them the grace of being able to shed their blood and offer their life to her most beloved Son in return for the blood and life that He Himself offered for men.

Footnotes

[1] Trebizond: Modern Trabzon, a city on the Black Sea coast of north-eastern Turkey. The Empire of Trebizond, based in the city, was one of the three successor states to the Byzantine Empire, lasting from 1204 to 1461.

 5   Whilst we are on the subject of Martyrs, I cannot allow myself to pass over in silence the sufferings of the Japanese martyrs, twenty six of whom were crucified in the year 1597 in sight of the city of Nagasaki[1] on a small hill bearing a strong likeness to Calvary. These blessed soldiers of Christ included six members of the Discalced Observant Order and three members of the Society of Jesus, whilst the majority of the others were servants or close friends of the aforementioned Franciscan Fathers. They showed miraculous fortitude in their struggle to stand up for their beloved Master, having appealed to the most sacred Virgin to provide them with protection and constancy in their time of trial. In thanksgiving, the Christians promised God that as soon as the time came when they would be allowed to practise their religion in peace, they would build a Church on the site of the martyrdom, in honour of the MOTHER OF GOD and they would call the Church Our Lady of the Martyrs.

Footnotes

[1] For a short article on the persecution of Catholics in Japan, culminating in the bombing of Nagasaki in 1945, see: The Bombing of Japanese Catholicism, by James Bogle (2024).

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The Virgin of Tenderness. >12th century.

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. 

 

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

© Peter Bloor 2025