Part IV : How to give thanks to the Mother of God : Chapter 3 : § 3.1-2

Chapter 3 : Trust in the Mother of God – a second feature of the gratitude we owe

[Continuing our translation of the 1845 reprint of Fr François Poiré’s Triple Crown of the Holy Mother of God (1643 French edition)]

Notre Dame des Grâces, Cotignac (Poggi, 2020)

§ 3. The second sign of trust : relying upon her in all things to free us from anxieties or hasty actions

 1   In the sixth chapter of his Gospel, St Mark writes[1] how the Disciples were afraid as stormy winds and waves buffeted their boat on Lake Tiberias. Jesus had spent the night in prayer on a neighbouring mountain and He came to their rescue, walking over the waters; but having drawn near, He would have passed by them, allowing them to perish. The sacred text suggests the reason was that they thought this was an apparition, even though He had often helped them previously in their necessities and they should not have failed to recognise Him. Unless I am mistaken, I feel confident in saying that one of the main reasons why God, the glorious Virgin and other saints very often pass by us when we are in some need, not responding to our prayers, is because we see them as apparitions separated from us by an infinite distance and we do not esteem their affection in the way we should. Thus we approach them, for instance, because we feel like others that it is the proper thing to do, or we feel in our hearts somewhat intimidated by their greatness and we think that everything said about their limitless kindness is not really for us but only for Saints and for certain privileged souls who are elevated far above the ordinary.  

Footnotes

[1] about the fourth watch of the night, he cometh to them walking upon the sea, and he would have passed by them.  But they seeing him walking upon the sea, thought it was an apparition, and they cried out. For they all saw him, and were troubled. Mark vi. 48-50.

 2   St Bernard included discussion about trust in one of the sermons he composed on the seven loaves which Our Lord miraculously multiplied. It takes a different tack and I was so struck by it I have decided to include it here to help people in how they put their trust into practice. 

There are three things, he says, which give such strength and fortitude to my heart that neither my utter lack of merit, nor an understanding of my baseness, nor my esteem for that which I hope to attain are capable of shaking me or causing me to fall from the high point of hope and trust which I have attained. These three things are: charity, granted to me so that I might partake in the grace of adoration; divine promises which are utterly true and reliable; and the power of the one making them to fulfil them in due time. In my opinion, this is the triple rock on which is founded the trust of the children of the Mother of love – a trust giving them a peace of mind and heart which cannot be troubled by any fear or anxiety. The first then is the wondrous charity which moved her to number them amongst her most dear children and it was this charity rather than any of their own merits or any of the services they might have performed for her. The second is the irrevocable promise she made never to abandon them but to see everything through to a successful conclusion. The third is the power she has of bringing her plans to completion, a power which can neither be frustrated or delayed by any outside force.

 

Yet a thought occurs to me challenging me to consider my nothingness and asking me on what personal merits I base my trust and confidence. My bold response to this would be that I base my trust not on my own good works nor on past services rendered but only on the innate goodness, the faithfulness and the power of her is beyond compare (God alone accepted). I would go on to say that I have not placed my hopes in the moving sands of merely human claims, neither does my strength come from mortal flesh, but my trust is built on a bedrock of reliability which cannot fail, on goodness which cannot fade, on truth which cannot deceive and on strength which cannot be defeated. 

Apart from this, let no one speak to me of distrust or presumption, for I do not even want to hear these words lest they wound the loving heart of her who deigns to take care of me and my journey through life. It is more than enough for me to know that she is the best Mother in the world and that I have the honour of belonging to her through the special choice she made of me. I should not presume to interfere, seeking to take charge myself or to worry about what she has planned for me. From the present moment, I foreswear every sort of anxious worry; I do not want my heart to be like those who willingly entertain such thoughts since to doubt her power would be criminal and to distrust her goodness or her faithfulness would be to make oneself forever unworthy of all her favours. There may be those who take a contrary view, but I am in no doubt at all that what I have described is the state of a soul worthy of the special protection of the MOTHER OF GOD. I wonder if there is any sort of gratitude which she appreciates more than the feeling of someone who lives his life like a child at his mother’s breast, trusting that he is at no risk from any harm whatsoever. If amongst us such trust as this cannot be esteemed as highly as it deserves; and if someone receiving such trust from another person would feel infinitely obliged not only because of the esteem being shown towards him by the person who is trusting in him with his whole heart and soul, but also by reason of the pleasure experienced in having a heart so completely devoted to us – then can we not see how our Mother’s tender heart would be no less affected by the trust of someone who has chosen to depend utterly and totally upon her (after God Himself)? 

Most holy and loving Mother, those who do not know who thou art might perhaps be forgiven for showing restraint and discretion in their dealings with thee; but as for those who do know thee, I could never forgive them for holding back their trust in thee unless it were shown that the belief they have in thy goodness and thy fidelity was based on a mistake or deception – which is altogether impossible. Accordingly, let them cast aside any fear they might have of entrusting themselves totally to thee; and let them be in no doubt that, the less they rely upon themselves and their own wisdom, then the more assuredly will they benefit from the plenitude of holy peace and every kind of spiritual progress.

 

 [End of Chapter 3]

© Peter Bloor 2025

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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.

He that hearkeneth to me, shall not be confounded: and they that work by me, shall not sin. They that explain me shall have life everlasting. Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) xxiv. 30-31.