Part IV : How to give thanks to the Mother of God : Chapter 8 : § 1.14-17

Chapter 8 : Honour – a seventh feature of the gratitude we owe the Mother of God

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)

§ 1. First sign of honour : adoring her with hyperdulia

 14   I mentioned Blessed Hermann von Steinfeld at several points in Part III of this work and I might point out here that he was someone whose love for the Holy Virgin was such that he could not prevent himself from performing acts of reverence.

The Premonstratensian Order, as everyone knows, is singularly devoted to the honour of the most sacred Virgin and it is one of their customs to kiss their prie-Dieu every time the name of the same Virgin is uttered during the Office on ferial days, and her hand on her feast days. Each and every time that Herman recited his Office outside the choir, especially on Feast days, he would prostrate himself on the ground when he came across the name of the Virgin and he would stay there for as long as he could without troubling those who saw him. One day he was asked by one of his brethren, a wise and spiritual man, why he did this and he innocently confessed that each time he did it he felt as though he was surrounded by the scent of all the flowers of spring. As soon as he felt obliged to rise from the ground, this fragrance was taken away from him. We can see exemplified in him what it says in Ecclesiasticus about Josias[1], since for him the memory of Mary was like a blend of beautiful scents and a mixture of various sweet aromas. This was, however, quite different from the fragrance of roses that bloom in summer or lilies growing by the brink of the water[2].

Fr Gonçalo da Silveira, S.J., who was put to death in the capital of the Monomotapa for his Catholic faith

never passed an image of the Virgin[3] without bowing his head and lowering his eyes; in fact, he would actually make a profound reverence towards the ground if he thought no one was looking. He followed this custom religiously, saying his Rosary each time he began an Ave Maria.

Footnotes

[1] The memory of Josias is like the composition of a sweet smell made by the art of a perfumer: Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) xlix. 1.

[2] Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) l. 8.

[3] Godin, in ejus Vita.

 15   It is quite possible that some will say as an aside that this devotion may be all well and good for those who live alone or for people who have plenty of spare time but not for those who are busy with the daily duties and preoccupations of living in the world. It may also be said that allowance has to be made for our spiritual weakness and our want of devotion. Even if things are as they imagine, what sort of servant of the Virgin could excuse himself from making a reverence to one of her images each time he enters and leaves his study or private chamber, a reverence more or less profound (depending on whether he is alone or in company), saying in his heart or out loud: Holy Virgin, I adore thee with all the strength of my affection; Holy Mother, I offer my heart unto thee? Let us not hear anyone trying to excuse himself with the fine pretext of being too busy. We should remember that these holy and praiseworthy practices we have been discussing always attract the Queen of Heaven’s blessing and this in turn means that all our undertakings move forward more quickly and are more successful. Once the practices become a habit for us, then they require no more effort than raising one’s hat upon meeting a friend.   

UNCOVERING ONE’S HEAD IN PLACES DEDICATED TO THE HOLY VIRGIN AND IN FRONT OF HER IMAGES 

 16   It is an act of exterior adoration to uncover one’s head in front of images of the Virgin , or when her holy name is uttered, and to remain bareheaded in her presence, whether in private or in places where she is especially honoured.

Among countless wonderful examples of virtue that I have observed in the great Congregation of Our Lady (a most beautiful and devout institution) which was established in the noble city of Avignon, I have frequently been struck with wonder by a man of outstanding merit who over the space of thirty years and more used to appear amongst the devout members of this honourable Company without anyone ever seeing his head covered for any length of time, no matter how inclement the weather might be.

I knew of a person who every evening before retiring for the night would never fail to kneel with bare legs on the ground, holding a lighted candle in his hand, barefoot and with his head uncovered ; in this position he would confess his sins and offer reparation for them through the MOTHER OF GOD.

I have spoken elsewhere about the first fruits of the devotion of St Bernardine of Siena and the level of holiness to which this praiseworthy exercise brought him.

Footnotes

[1] See Pt III Ch. 4. §2 [5].

PRONOUNCING THE HOLY NAME OF MARY WITH RESPECT

 17   It is an act of exterior adoration to pronounce frequently with respect and reverence the most holy and noble name of Mary. 

Our Annals recount that in the year 1621 holy Baptism was conferred upon a Japanese woman who had been so hopelessly given over to the worship of Amida, the god of the Japanese, that out of respect she would repeat his name up to 140,000 times each day rising for this purpose at dawn. In doing this, she was routinely aided by a spirit that served as an alarm-clock for her. As soon as she became a Christian, she transformed this idolatrous superstition into a form of devotion and made it her duty through love and gratitude to pronounce each day the sacred names of Jesus and Mary instead. When she started doing this, the spirit of darkness departed from her and her guardian Angel came to her side as a replacement, so great was Heaven’s pleasure in her simple piety. 

© 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.