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).
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| Notre Dame des Grâces, Cotignac.(Poggi, 2020) |
§ 2. The Holy Virgin truly rules and guides the Church
3 If this were otherwise, tell me why this same Church would have bestowed on her the glorious titles of Queen of Angels, Queen of Patriarchs, Queen of Prophets, Queen of Apostles, Queen of Martyrs, Queen of Confessors and Queen of Virgins? It would in truth serve only to diminish the Holy Virgin’s honour if we were to say that these glorious names were granted her solely inasmuch as she surpasses the Angels in purity, the Patriarchs in perseverance, the Prophets in foreknowledge, the Apostles in holiness, the Martyrs in courage, the Confessors in patience and the Virgins in chastity. Personally, I could never be persuaded that this illustrious and magnificent title of Queen refers only to the excellent status she enjoys but without any actual power or dominion. This thought would not be to the honour of either the Mother or the Son, especially since the title has been given to her as MOTHER OF GOD.
Accordingly, let us proclaim with confidence that she is called the Queen of Angels forasmuch as she has been given full power over them, for the benefit of the children of God; she is called the Queen of Patriarchs inasmuch as in the Old Testament they were all like stepping stones leading up to her greatness, and in the New they are those whom she brings forward and guides in their duties and offices within the government of her Son’s Kingdom; she is called the Queen of Prophets, for she herself featured in what was foretold by the ancient Prophets and has served as a guide for the new; she holds the title Queen of Apostles since she was the Queen Regnant of the Sacred College and Mistress of the early Church; she has been granted the name of Queen of Martyrs, by reason of the opportunities that she gave them for shedding their blood and the courage she instilled in them to suffer even unto death; she is the Queen of Confessors in consequence of the patient forbearance she obtains for them, and the glorious way she honours their confession in practice; and she not only bears the title Queen of Virgins but its very effects are within her, and she invites them to follow her example while she watches over their chastity with a very special care.
4 The Angel who was teaching the Blessed St Bridget told her one day it was not without reason that, after the Saviour had ascended into Heaven, the most sacred Virgin was preserved so as to remain alive for a period time in the world. The status and privileges she enjoyed meant that she had to spend some time in her role as Queen of the Apostles, Consolatrix of Martyrs, Mistress[1] of Confessors, Mirror of Virgins, Help of Widows, and Counsel of Married women: in short, as a common refuge for the entire Church, and the pillar and ground of the faith.
During the whole of the time she survived after the Ascension of her Son, said this Angel, she made a particular point of revealing to the Holy Apostles certain of the mysteries of the Incarnation, and of the Saviour's infancy and adolescence up to His coming of age. She gave encouragement to the Holy Martyrs, recalling the example that her Son had left for them, and describing how she herself had suffered with Him for the space of thirty-three years. The Holy Confessors learned from her the way they were to persevere in their abstinence, their prayers, their retreats and in their spiritual life. The Virgins were taught how to love silence, to keep the house, to be lovers of piety, and to flee from both idleness and vanity. As for the Widows, she consoled them with her tender words and even more through the example of the incredible patience she showed, not only throughout the suffering and death of her Son, but also in the opposition, the scorn and the other trials that she had to suffer.
In this we can see her as a loving Mother who carefully provides her babes and sucklings with all the things they need. So too we can say of her in all truth what is written of the valiant woman in the last chapter of the book of Proverbs, according to the Septuagint version[2]: that even if her husband is physically absent from the house, he is not anxious about what happens there, forasmuch as he understands full well that his most wise and loving Spouse will be taking good care of it and that she would not allow her servants to be wanting for anything. It is in this way that several of the Holy Fathers have understood what is written in the Gospel[3] about the Bridegroom tarrying – which they understand as referring to the time that has to elapse between the Ascension and the final judgement. During this period, His Spouse most chaste and solicitous will rule the house with a Providence altogether remarkable and with incomparable gentleness. It is truly a source of extreme happiness for the Church to have a Queen and Mother who is so wise and so tender-hearted. I trust that we shall now appreciate this better now as a result of our discussion.
Footnotes
[1] Mistress : Here perhaps in the sense of a female patron or inspirer… or a female teacher; a woman qualified to teach, or particularly accomplished in some subject.(OED)
[2] See Proverbs xxix (Septuagint).
[3] Matt. xxv. 5.
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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 Virgin of Tenderness. >12th century.
Totus tuus ego sum
Et omnia mea tua sunt;
Tecum semper tutus sum:
Ad Jesum per Mariam.
© Peter Bloor 2025
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