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The Annunciation, early 1460s; by Willem Vrelant.The Getty Museum, L.A. |
It is referred to in the French work by Fr François Poiré called The Triple Crown of the Holy Mother of God (1630) which I translated on this blog starting on the 1st of May 2024.
I offer this annotated edition of St Bonaventure’s work as a small gift to our gentle Queen and Mother in gratitude for all her graces and favours, requesting her continued help and protection for the author and his family.
The Latin text and references are based upon Speculum Beatae Mariae Virginis (1904). The English text is based upon that attributed to Sr Mary Emmanuel O.S.B. (published by Herder in 1932). Amazon's various editions acknowledge that this text is in the Public Domain worldwide, attributing it to the text of a Dublin edition (author unknown) published in 1849.
Chapter 18 : The twelve effects and benefits of the fruit of Mary’s womb
Part 1
Blessed is the fruit of thy womb. We have considered above the nature and quality the blessed fruit of Mary’s womb; we have also considered the men and women to whom it rightfully belongs; we must now consider its effects and the persons to whom these benefits are needful. This fruit is a remedy against evil and is necessary for good. It is necessary in six of its effects as a remedy against evil; and it is necessary in six other effects for the attainment of good; for this blessed fruit has twelve very useful effects, or remarkable benefits, on account of which all men rightly praise the giver of this fruit, according to what is written in the Psalm[1]:
“Let the people, O God, confess to thee: let all the people give praise to thee; the earth hath yielded her fruit.”
The first effect of this fruit is expiation of mortal sin; the second is pacification of mortal enmity; the third is healing of original sin; the fourth is satisfying the soul’s hunger; the fifth is preservation from the divine Judge’s wrath; the sixth is deliverance from the pains of hell; the seventh is renunciation of worldly goods; the eighth is enrichment of the rational soul; the ninth is consummation of the spiritual life; the tenth is enabling the universal Church to increase and multiply; the eleventh is repairing the empyreal ruin; and the twelfth is propagation of eternal glory.
Footnotes
[1] Psalm. lxvi 6-7.
Firstly, therefore, the blessed fruit of Mary is necessary for the expiation of mortal sin. Of this we can understand what is said in Isaias[1] :
“This is all the fruit, that the sin thereof should be taken away.”
By all the fruit we may understand Him of whom St. Bernard says[2] :
“On the cross hangs all the fruit of life, because this is the tree of life in the midst of Paradise.”
All the fruit, therefore, means the whole fruit, the whole of Him who was the Fruit given; for this was He born and for this did He suffer: so that the sin of man might be taken away, just as the Angel said[3] :
“For he shall save his people from their sins.”
He also is the one of whom John spoke[4] :
“Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who taketh away the sin of the world!”
Accordingly, this Lamb – this fruit – does indeed take away sins, both mortal and venial; anyone cleansed from mortal sins by this fruit bears the same fruit and will also be cleansed from venial sins, so that he may bear fruit more abundantly, as it is written[5] :
“Every one who beareth fruit, He will purge, that he may bring forth more fruit.”