Part II : The Crown of Power : Chapter 9 : § 1.1-2

Chapter 9 The Eighth Star or Splendour of the Crown of Power of the MOTHER OF GOD

She commands the Church’s armies

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)

The following discussion will shed further light on the previous chapter, and what we learn about the Virgin’s martial skills in leading the armies of God will serve to strengthen us in the trust we must have in her protection. In this undertaking, I shall need the help of the Son and of the Mother: accordingly, I humbly entreat the former, along with the valiant Judith, to fortify me in this task; and the latter, along with the Church, to accept the praises that I offer her, and to fill me with the courage necessary to do battle against her enemies.

§ 1. Commander-in-chief of the Church’s armies : third attribute of the Incarnate King of glory

 1   At first glance, would you consider King Solomon was a great military general? I am talking of Solomon part of whose name means peace, who made peace flourish during his reign as a Prince in this world, and who was never seen at the head of an army shedding the blood of his enemies. Nevertheless, once you have had the chance to reflect upon certain considerations that I shall bring forward, I am convinced that you, like me, will conclude that this was a king most accomplished in the fortunes of both peace and war. Otherwise, how would he have maintained this long and happy peace which he enjoyed for some forty years, especially since his father had attacked the majority of his neighbouring princes, making them his vassals? We would have expected this to leave him facing a succession of wars, unless he had been judged by his enemies to be a king as courageous and valiant as he was wise and well advised. If his reputation had not corresponded to the reality, how would he have halted the factious intrigues of his brother Adonias[1], whose heart was always set upon the throne? How would he have dealt with the insolence of Joab, his military commander, in whose hands were all the armed forces of the kingdom? How would he ever have contained this multitude of people whom God had placed under him, and whose numbers were so great that scripture compares them to the grains of sand on the seashore[2], and tells us that from all time they had been inclined to mutiny and rebellion?

Footnotes

[1] III Kings (I Kings) i. 

[2] III Kings iv. 20.

 2   If we proceed beyond mere conjecture such as these, has he not born sufficient witness himself that he received from God a wisdom which was not limited to the brain and to the study but could be used when it came to practical challenges or military campaigns should this prove necessary? Here is how he speaks of this in the eighth chapter of the Book of Wisdom: Moreover by the means of her I shall have immortality: and shall leave behind me an everlasting memory to them that come after me. I shall set the people in order: and nations shall be subject to me. Terrible kings hearing shall be afraid of me: among the multitude I shall be found good, and valiant in war[1]. 

Let us continue with our evidence. We learn in the book of Paralipomenon[2] that this Prince had a heart so noble that he would not allow any Israelite or Jew to be employed in Servile Labour, whether in the construction of the temple or as servants in his household; from this we can form an idea of the great number of soldiers he had in his kingdom. The learned bishop of Avila[3], moreover, believes that none of his forebears or his successors had so many soldiers under arms as he did, even though we know that King Josaphat[4] could number in the city of Jerusalem alone one million and eighty thousand men bearing arms, all in excellent health and condition, without mentioning those who occupied other positions within the kingdom. We also find[5] that the military discipline which was maintained in the garrison cities was such that there were two hundred and fifty veteran officers made responsible for training these soldiers in every sort of military exercise. In view of this, who of us can be astonished that Solomon’s reputation preceded him everywhere, and there could not be found any Prince strong or rebellious enough to make an enemy of him rather than keep him as a friend?

Footnotes

[1] Wisdom viii. 13-15.

[2] II Paralip. viii. 9-10.

[3] Tostatus III Reg. 9, q. 12, et II Paralip. viii. 

[4] Paralip. xvii..

[5] Paralip. viii. 

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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