Part III : The Crown of Goodness : Chapter 11 : § 1.1-2

Chapter 11 : The Tenth Star or Splendour of the Crown of Goodness of the MOTHER OF GOD

She is the Consolation of the Afflicted

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)

There is nothing which touches mothers to the quick more effectively than children’s tears, and there is nothing with more power to move the heart of the MOTHER OF GOD than an afflicted spirit. Just as being in this condition renders us more worthy of compassion, so too it marks the point at which the Mother of the afflicted is most inclined to show her sensitive nature.

§ 1. The MOTHER OF GOD  is the Consolation of the afflicted 

 1   Consider the effect which an eclipse has on the sun, green wood on a fire, stormy winds on the air, tempests on the sea, illness on the body, frost on plants, cankers on fruit, rust on metal, or moths on wool and linen – these will give you an idea of the effect of sorrow and affliction upon the spirit, causing a paralysis of the soul’s rational faculties. It is the dark night of the understanding and, for as long as it persists, a person does not know what he is doing nor even where he is going, but he feels surrounded by darkness and takes fright at everything. This acedia disables the will so effectively that it remains unable to move and has no inclination whatsoever for the good. It is like a consumption of the heart, pushing a person to his limits and leaving him like a dying candle, so to speak, with a sputtering flame. His febrile imagination conjures up thousands of fantasies and grotesque shapes in the air, wishing to pass off as infallible truth that which never was and never shall be. It is a debauching of the sensitive appetite which, detecting that reason has been disabled, throws over the traces like a runaway horse, given full rein to every disordered inclination. The passions become like like raging winds which blow hither and thither, exerting total control over the poor soul which is like a ship tossed mercilessly by the waves and the tempests. For this is a time when temptations attack and overwhelm the heart whilst it is powerless and drained of courage. Having almost no feelings for God or spiritual things, the heart is on the contrary aroused and consumed by desires for base and earthly things. This is a spiritual sickness which makes a person disgusted with all things that are good but brings before his senses all those evil things which people normally find repulsive and which we shall not mention here. This is a time of rejoicing by our invisible enemies who, being essentially spirits of darkness, are never more successful than when operating under cover of night. 

 2   This was the state of the holy man Job who prayed[1] the day would perish wherein he was born and not be counted in the days of the year; and the night of his conception should be spoken of only as a time of dark misfortune. It was also the state of poor Moses[2] who, when faced with the seditious words of his people, told God that his life was hanging by a thread; and of the valiant Samson[3] when pursued relentlessly by Dalila who would not allow him a moment’s peace and brought him within an inch of death. It was also the state of the venerable Tobias[4] when he asked God to receive his spirit in peace which had been overwhelmed with woes and tribulations; of Jonas[5] when he complained about his life and wished his final hour had come; and of Elias[6] when he sat under the juniper tree and prayed earnestly that God would take him out of the world; and of the devout Ezechias when he turned his face to the wall[7] next to his bed after hearing the sad news that the Prophet had brought him; and of the indefatigable Saint Paul when he said he had been pressed out of measure above his strength, so that he was weary even of life[8]. This is the state for which the wise Sirach[9] tells us to prepare ourselves when in prosperity so that we may profit therefrom. It is the state for which David has loving recourse to God, begging him[10] not to cast him off in the time of old age, when his strength shall fail. It is that state where we shall need everything heaven can give us and where the help provided will be truly appreciated. 

Footnotes

[1] See Job. iii. generally, and in particular: After this Job opened his mouth, and cursed his day, And he said: Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said: A man child is conceived. Let a darksome whirlwind seize upon that night, let it not be counted in the days of the year, nor numbered in the months. (verses 1-3 & 6] 

[2] Exod. iii. 

[3] Judges xvi.

[4] And now, O Lord, do with me according to thy will, and command my spirit to be received in peace: for it is better for me to die, than to live. Tob. iii. 6.

[5] And now, O Lord, I beseech thee take my life from me: for it is better for me to die than to live. Jon. iv. 3.

[6] And when he was there, and sat under a juniper tree, he requested for his soul that he might die, and said: It is enough for me, Lord, take away my soul: for I am no better than my fathers. 3 Kings (1 Kings) xix. 4.

[7] 4th Book of Kings (2 Kings) xx. 1-3.

[8] For we would not have you ignorant, brethren, of our tribulation, which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure above our strength, so that we were weary even of life. 2 Cor. i. 8.

[9] Eccli. (Sirach) i.

[10] Cast me not off in the time of old age: when my strength shall fail, do not thou forsake me. Psal. LXX. 9.

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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