Part III : The Crown of Goodness : Chapter 13 : §4.6-12

Chapter 13 : The Twelfth Star or Splendour of the Crown of Goodness of the MOTHER OF GOD

She safeguards her children at the hour of death and provides them with their passport to Heaven

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. How the holy Virgin defends her children against the attacks of invisible enemies

 6   The Holy Fathers are all so certain about this that they say it is impossible for someone to perish who has the MOTHER OF GOD on his side. This is what she herself declared one day to St Bridget[1], when she said that: 

there is a double wall between her and her faithful servants who are still here on earth. They can only reach her after overcoming these barriers, but on her side she helps them in wondrous ways to do this. The first of these walls is the world which is for them like a prison in which they are surrounded by temptations to test their virtue. The second wall is death and they must needs pass through it as though storming through a breach so as to gain their liberty. 

She went on to add that: 

she gives them help in hundreds of different ways to deal with the first obstacle, shielding them from the slings and arrows of the enemy’s attacks. When it comes to the second obstacle, she comes to aid them in person, helping them upwards and surrounding them with protection as though providing them with a personal bodyguard. In this way she helps them pass fearlessly and unharmed through the serried ranks of their enemy.

Footnotes

[1] Lib. IV Revelat., c. 55.

 7   She explained the same idea to blessed Saint Gertrude, making use of a different image.

During Compline one day on the feast of the Nativity of the Virgin, this most devout Bride of the Saviour offered one hundred and fifty Ave Marias to her Spouse, imploring Him through the love He had for His beloved Mother to send her help at the hour of her death. At the same time, she noticed a pile of gold coins at the feet of Our Lord which equalled in number the words she had uttered in the course of her praying. She noticed that the Saviour was handing these coins to the glorious Virgin who, after placing them carefully next to her heart, explained to St Gertrude that she would match the number of coins with an equal number of graces and favours at the time of her death, to protect and sustain her when she was assailed by her invisible enemies.  

Let us now consider one or two examples of this special help she provides to her children.

Emmanuel Fernandez

 8   Emmanuel Fernandez[1] was a Jesuit priest who was one of those sent by the Holy See in 1566, following a request from the King of Portugal, along with Andrea of Oviedo another Jesuit who was titular Bishop of Hierapolis and Patriarch of Ethiopia. Their mission was to work for the conversion of this great kingdom. He was one of those who would die there in misery and poverty, in company with the same Patriarch, having left not only to the inhabitants of the country but to strangers as well, a thousand signs of his virtue when put to the test by every sort of trial and tribulation.

A Catholic came to visit him during his last illness and Fr Fernandez asked him when Christmas Day was.  

“Next Sunday,” replied the Catholic.  

“Well that is the day I am waiting for,” said the priest.  

This proved to be the day of his death but a short while before dying, he asked Fr Lopez (who was helping him during his last trial) to make the Sign of the Cross towards a corner of the room which he would point out to him. Then he turned and called out:

“Most Holy Lady! Most Holy Lady!”

After a period of time had elapsed, he turned to Fr Lopez and said: 

“Just a while ago, I saw the Virgin Mary, my dear Mother, and she was so beautiful and glorious that the mere sight of her filled me with joy and consolation.”

After these words, his soul left his body to follow the Queen of Heaven who had come to escort him to Heaven.

Footnotes

[1] Speculi B. Virg.

Pierre Favier

 9   According to the history of the Carthusians, we read of the death in 1313 of a monk of this Order called Pierre Favier who was very devoted to the MOTHER OF GOD. After he had received the Holy Sacraments, he was attacked by the old enemy and was almost overwhelmed by feelings of despair[1]. 

This evil spirit delights in making accusations against monks such as Pierre and all the rest of us at such times. He keeps careful watch on us and tries to make us stumble as death approaches with the aim of ensnaring us. He was holding a large tome in his hands in which were recorded the sins the poor monk had committed during his life. When she saw that he was at a particularly low point, Pierre’s gentle Mother appeared to him, holding her beloved Son in her arms and she spoke to him as follows:  

“Wherefore art thou so lacking in courage and confidence? Behold I bring thee a token of thy salvation and of the love I have for thee in thine hour of need. I declare to thee that through the merits of the Holy Infant I am holding in my arms, all thy sins have been remitted.”

No sooner had she spoken these words than the evil spirits who had been there disappeared in an instant and the heart of this servant of the holy Virgin became suffused with indescribable consolation. A short while later, those present began to sing that Litany which is customary when death approaches. When they came to the following words: Omnes sancti et sanctæ Dei, orate pro eo[2],  he was heard to say:

“All ye holy men and women, Saints of God: Pray for me.”

With these words he surrendered his blessed soul into his Mother’s embrace.

Footnotes

[1] Petrus Sutor, de Vita Carthus.

[2] All ye holy men and women, Saints of God: Pray for him. See Litaniae Sanctorum / Litany of the Saints at Preces-Latinae.

Pierre Caralt

 10   What happened to a Dominican friar called Pierre Caralt is not very different from what we have just been discussing.  

He had such a special devotion towards the MOTHER OF GOD that in this respect he was numbered amongst her greatest servants. Just as he had served her most faithfully, in the same way he was graced with experiencing in a significant way the effects of her graces and favours. Whilst the Friar was ill, Satan disguised himself as a Doctor of theology and paid him a visit, putting to him a question on the mystery of the most holy Trinity. Satan wove a web of arguments that caused him so much difficulty that he was on the point of falling into error. As he no longer knew what to reply, he cast his eyes on an image of the Virgin which was in the room, imploring the Queen of Heaven to help him out of the dire straits in which he found himself. He felt the eyes in the image of Our Lady turn towards him and her gaze was so penetrating that suddenly he felt that all the clouds of confusion Satan had put in his mind had all been blown away. He could now see how false the reasoning was that had previously seemed so persuasive to him and he replied to the enemy in such a powerful way that he could not bear the brightness of the light which was shining from the Friar’s soul and, being thrown thus into confusion, he departed.

Adulphe

 11   Here is one more example[1] I have chosen to illustrate the help provided by our holy Mother at the moment of death. 

Adulphe was a young nobleman who had left the principality of Alsace in order to embrace the poverty of Jesus Christ and to take up His Cross under the banner of St Francis. As he had finally arrived at the point where his death was imminent the Queen of Heaven, whom he had always loved most devotedly, came to see him accompanied by a host of countless Blessed Spirits. Seeing how he was gripped with fear by reason of this his final combat, she spoke to him no more than the following few words: 

“My dear Adulphe, why dost thou fear to die since thou art one of my own children? Come now to me and come with confidence; for my Son whom thou hast served most faithfully is to give thee the crown of glory.”

These sweet words so calmed his soul that henceforth there was no trace of sadness upon his countenance; on the contrary, his eyes wept tears of joyful consolation and his heart was on fire with gratitude. It was accordingly with great happiness that he exchanged his abode in this valley of tears for a new life replete with blessings.

Footnotes

[1] Ex Chron. S. Franc.

 12   Step forward boldly now, all ye beautiful souls, and fear not to take this step which causeth such terror to others. Place yourselves fearlessly in the embrace of your loving Mother who will receive you with welcome arms and will protect you from all your enemies. 

Dearest Mother and Virgin beyond compare : may all those who know thee bless and thank thee for the countless favours and graces thou hast granted to thy servants ; and may those who do not yet know thee learn from all this to love thee and to place all their trust in thee. 

.👑   👑   👑

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