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).
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| 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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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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