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