Part III : The Crown of Goodness : Chapter 10 : § 4.3-5

Chapter 10 : The Ninth Star or Splendour of the Crown of Goodness of the MOTHER OF GOD

She is her children’s Teacher

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 love shown by the Holy Virgin in correcting her children : the third office of her teaching role

 3   It is easy for the human mind to be overwhelmed when trying to take in the wondrous goodness and exceptional generosity of this beneficent Mother, along with the ways her love finds of correcting her children in a gentle but nevertheless effective manner. The pious Cæsarius tells the following story[1]: 

There was a young Cistercian monk called Christian who had a singular devotion to the Queen of Heaven. One evening, after the conclusion of Matins, he fell asleep on the altar steps and the Holy Mother appeared and touched him gently with her mantle, saying: 

“Christian, this place is not meant for sleeping but for praying.”

In the life of St Edmund, Archbishop of Canterbury in England,  We read of the following incident: 

When he was still young, he promised to recite the prayer O intermarata[2] every day in honour of the most Holy Virgin, but one day he allowed himself to be so carried away by his love of study that he forgot about this daily tribute that he paid to his dear Mother. He did not get away with this fault for very long because that very night, bearing an express commission from her whom he loved so tenderly, St John the Evangelist came to him like an angry teacher carrying a cane. He pointed out the sin of omission that Edmund had committed and then raised the cane as though he was going to beat him ; but he stayed his arm, being content merely to strike fear into Edmund and warning him gravely that he must never in future forget his daily devotions, for whatever reason.     

It is related of the pious Thomas à Kempis that:

Whilst he was still a young monk, he had made it his custom to recite certain prayers daily to the most glorious Virgin, for whom he had a special devotion. One day he failed to say these prayers and he later saw his dear Mother doing the rounds of the dormitory to visit her beloved children and giving them the kiss of peace. Whilst he was waiting for his turn to come, he noticed that she passed him by, tacitly reproaching him for his forgetfulness and neglect. He was so mortified by this experience that never in his life did he again omit the duties he had promised to the Mother of fair love. 

I have no idea what fault it was that blessed Saint Mechtilde had committed but what I do know is :

that the Queen of Angels, her devoted Teacher, once appeared to her with an angry look on her face and wielding a golden whip in her hand which she threatened to use if she ever fell into this sin again. She wanted her to understand that if she did indeed correct her children it was nevertheless done out of love and charity, symbolised by the gold ; she took no pleasure whatsoever in causing them suffering but her aim was simply for them to amend their lives.

 

Footnotes

[1] Lib. IV, c. 11.

[2] O Intemerata was a very popular prayer during the Middle Ages and was invariably found in any Book of the Hours. The earliest known texts are from the 12th century, though it may have been composed earlier. For text, see Treasury of Latin Prayers. 

 4   All things being considered, however, I think we shall find no lesson more gentle than the one she gave to her beloved Herman Joseph of Steinfeld[1], whom we mentioned earlier[2]. 

During the time when he held the office of sacristan in the Monastery, thieves broke in secretly by night and having obtained what they wanted they then made off. This caused Herman to be so consumed by anxiety that the fear he had they might return and do worse things not only deprived him of his sleep but also made him forget his customary devotions. One night as he was keeping watch, he heard a noise and immediately ran to the gates of the Monastery. There all he saw was a poor woman dressed very plainly and, being afraid that she had been waylaid by the thieves who had then made off, he asked her who she was. She replied that for a long time she had been the guardian of the Monastery. Herman recognised from the voice that this was his dear Mother and this brought him indescribable joy but what astonished him was seeing her as an old woman, wrinkled and showing the signs of great age. Seeking to understand what this could mean, he asked what was signified by this change in her face and appearance. Here is what the Virgin replied to him 

“In thy heart and mind now I am just such a one as thou dost see me here – faded and withered like a dying flower. Of what I once was, there remaineth but a faint memory of the beauty and freshness which formerly lit up my countenance at that time when thou wast wont to greet me a thousand times each day and when thou wast so fervent in my service and didst converse so affectionately with me.”

Poor Herman was taken aback by this reproach and sought to lay the blame on the exceptional efforts he had been forced to take in order to safeguard the Monastery; but she quickly left him in no doubt that these were lame excuses which were completely untenable in view of the long experience he had of her fidelity. From this he should have learned that he had no better means of protection against thieves than by praying for her help and commending all things to her with his usual trust. These words were enough to re-awaken the devotion of this devout servant of the Virgin and it would be impossible to describe just how much he gained from this warning he had received which renewed in him a desire to please her from whom he had received so many blessings.

Footnotes

[1] Surius, in ejus Vita.

[2] Ch. 4. § 4. 

 5   Will you not join me, dear readers, in admiring the love and heartfelt affection of our Holy Mother? Would you not wish to be numbered amongst those chosen by Heaven to publish abroad the loving ways in which this Virgin Mother’s heart grants blessings and favours to her children on a daily basis? Do you not experience new feelings of love within your soul towards her who acquits herself so perfectly in her office of Teacher, giving lessons to her children with such tender affection, providing them with exercises and tests in such an adept manner and correcting them with such gentleness? Do you not feel impelled to serve her with renewed fervour, joining the ranks of those on whom she lavishes her most special care? 

I am going to conclude our discussion by applying to her the words which the pious St Bernard has left us in praise of charity, for they suit her perfectly, granted that she is none other than the Mother and Teacher of holy Love. 

What a good Mother the Virgin is to her children. Whether she is showing patience with the weaker ones, testing the more advanced or dealing with those who need correction, it is always with the same Motherly heart that she carries out these different offices. Her remonstrations are good-natured, her nurturing is candid, her chastisement is amicable, her gentleness is genuine, her anger is measured and her reprimands are without arrogance. 

In fulfilling our duties towards her, may we show ourselves to be her true children and good pupils, just as she shows herself to us as a true Mother and a good teacher.  

[End of Chapter 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