Part IV : How to give thanks to the Mother of God : Chapter 13 : § 2.6-10

Chapter 13 : Advancing in the service of the MOTHER OF GOD and magnifying her glory – twelfth 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)

§ 2. Various ways of magnifying the honour and service due to the MOTHER OF GOD 

 6   The Trumpeters and Buglers of this great host are the mighty Preachers who throughout history have inspired those hearing their call to offer their service to her cause. They fill the soldiers of the Virgin with courage and it is through their actions that they are able to enter the fray. I have already spoken earlier about St Bonaventure[1] and how he was not satisfied with always doing this personally each time he spoke in public but, as soon as he was appointed General of his Order, he expressly enjoined all the Friars Preachers to make frequent reference to the Holy Mother in their sermons and to remember that this was one of the principal ways of attracting people to her devotion. 

The learned, devout and admirable writings of St Bernardine of Siena provide ample proof of how he loved to speak about the great qualities and splendours of the Queen of Angels, enkindling in the hearts of his listeners tender love and devotion. Alfonso Salmerón was one of the first ten Fathers of the Society of Jesus and he came to be well known for his writings. He never failed to follow this holy custom and when he was preaching during Lent, for example, he would speak of the Holy Virgin’s praiseworthy qualities and encourage his listeners to devote Saturdays to her. This is apart from his other sermons which he used to honour her and encourage his listeners to take her into their hearts. 

I feel that I need to acknowledge in particular the gentle memory of Fr Gonçalo da Silveira who had the honour of offering his life in defence of the Christian faith in the Kingdom of Monomotapa. His devotion towards the MOTHER OF GOD burned so fiercely in his heart that no sooner had he boarded the ship that was to take him on his mission then he asked the Captain for his authority to assemble the crew daily at a suitable time so that he might speak to them about the prerogatives of the Virgin, the true Star of the Sea, and of ways in which to honour her. With the approval of the Captain, he introduced the practice of singing the Litany of the Virgin – firstly each Saturday evening and then later every day – after assembling all those on board for this purpose.

Footnotes

[1] 1 Cap. 3, § 1.

 7   The Masters and Commanders of artillery are the Exegetes and Commentators on Scripture and other learned Writers who bring to bear the weaponry of Holy Scripture and who employ the authority of the Holy Fathers to cast down the enemies of God with all their pomp and works.

 8   The Engineers are all those who have been inspired by their devotion to the Empress of Heaven to introduce new ways of honouring her – to the great benefit of souls and for the exaltation of the the Holy Virgin’s name.

 9   For quite some time, however, I have been watching a Squadron of light cavalry commanded by blessed Philip Benizi, General Superior of the Order of Servites or Servants of the MOTHER OF GOD, who has joined forces with the main army. This is the same man whose vocation[1] and glorious death[2] I described in Part III.  Some time after the confirmation of his Order, he received from Heaven through a most special favour of the MOTHER OF GOD the Chaplet of the new Order, and one of the most glorious titles ever conferred upon any man : namely, Apostle of the Virgin, in a remote location called Montamieta, near Siena in Tuscany. He had gone there to prevent his election to the Pontificate (which had already been agreed by the Conclave of Cardinals). He had received assurances of this when he first went to visit the small group of servants of the Virgin who were gathered near the city of Florence. Upon receiving these communications from Heaven, he set off and visited Italy, France, Germany, Saxony, Poland and many other countries, bearing the news of his mission and inflaming the hearts of all his listeners with his message of love and devotion to the most sacred Virgin. It would be remiss of me not recall what happened to him on his return to Italy. 

At one point, he found himself with his companions in a remote and lonely place far from any human help. Those who were with him, feeling hungry and exhausted, threw themselves upon the mercy of God’s Providence. Philip, however, having gone off on his own to pray, suddenly noticed some shepherds coming towards them carrying white bread and other refreshments which they offered to the group, saying:  

“Take this, servants of the Virgin; this is to help you on your way.” 

With that, they disappeared and were never seen again. 

Footnotes

[1] Chap. 5, § 5.

[2] Chap. 13, § 3.

 10   Let everyone choose his rank and role in this great army of soldiers who are fighting to promote the glory of the MOTHER OF GOD. I have to say frankly that I would not have a very high opinion of anyone not wishing to sign up and I pray that the good servants of this Lady will do everything they can to produce an endless succession of people dedicated to her service. I pray too they will not be satisfied with just bringing one or two people into this devotion but will encourage newcomers to win over others, and then those too still more, so that in this way they can carry forward the devotion they have into the centuries to come. This will accomplish the wishes of the Holy King and Prophet David[1], who wanted these great things to be known to posterity, so that they should make the same known to their children: that another generation might know them; and so on from generation unto generation until the number of the elect might be accomplished through the intercession of the Mother of love. 

I pray that they will remember that, just as in the case of sins the greatest are those which do not die with those who committed them but continue to have an existence after them, being passed on from father to son, family to family, city to city, and kingdom to kingdom; in the same way, when it comes to good works, there are none more pleasing to God than those which carry on multiplying themselves as though they were being continually reborn from themselves through a holy germ of immortality contained within them and through the extraordinary blessings of Heaven. 

How blessed that age which will see these desires accomplished! How blessed those to whom God and His Holy Mother will grant such a voice of virtue which will make itself heard even unto the last of the children of men! How holy are those the associations of men and women who will use all their strength and energy to proclaim to all the ages to come: 

LONG LIVE JESUS AND MARY! LONG LIVE JESUS AND MARY! 

Footnotes

[1] That they should make the same known to their children: that another generation might know them. The children that should be born and should rise up, and declare them to their children; Ps. LXXVII. 5-6.

[End of Chapter 13]

© Peter Bloor 2026 

👑   👑   👑

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.