The Crown of Excellence : Chapter 1 : § 2. 3

Chapter 1 : On the title of the Mother of God, true source of all the great Dignities of the glorious Virgin

Continuing our translation of the 1845 reprint of Fr Poiré's Triple Crown of the Mother of God (1643 French edition).

 § 2.  That the title MOTHER OF GOD is the origin and the measure of all the Dignities of the Blessed Virgin

Notre Dame des Grâces, Cotignac.(Poggi, 2020)

 3   The same yardstick used to measure the great Dignities and Splendours of Jesus should also be used to measure those of Mary, His Mother. St Paul argues that He who gave us His only-begotten Son will never have the heart to refuse us anything. If this powerful teaching applies to each of one of us, consider how much more it applies in the case of Mary, to whom He gave His Son in a unique way not shared by any other human being. If the Father must show Himself to be generous with His daughter, the Son should be no less so towards His Mother. This is reflected in the rule of interpretation proposed more than fourteen centuries ago by St Hippolytus, Bishop (of the Port near Rome) and Martyr, when he wrote: 

He who commanded us to honour father and mother in order to keep the law He published did not Himself omit to do anything He reasonably could to shower honour on His own Mother.[1]

This is also the approach adopted by the devout Saint Bernard. Writing to the canons of the Cathedral of Saint John in Lyon, he argues that:

Denying to the MOTHER OF GOD any of prerogatives granted to the other Saints shows  a great weakness of intellect no less than a great temerity.[2]

It is the same understanding as that shown by the great Archbishop of Crete (writing between the dates of the previous authors). He places a striking emphasis which he goes on to repeat in his discussions highly favourable to the MOTHER OF GOD, as when he writes:

If God has done something in this Lady which we cannot understand, then we should not be surprised; rather we should plunge ourselves into the incomprehensible mystery accomplished in her, a mystery surpassing infinitely any sort of infinity.[3] 

This will be the rule I will follow from now on in my research into the Splendours and great Dignities of the MOTHER OF GOD. This will help me to grant her all that is fitting to the majesty of this title and will be fully in keeping with the faith and right reason we need to follow as our guide. Finally, I ask the devout reader to adopt this rule when he seeks to judge what is said on the prerogatives of the Queen of Heaven. He should not show himself reluctant to give his assent to pious belief when he sees it supported by Doctors who are named and worthy of faith. I recall what St Bernard once said:

The MOTHER OF GOD has no need to be honoured with titles and with praises that do not belong to her, seeing that she has more than enough to provide true material for panegyrics by those who wish to praise her.[4]

I understand well enough that a heart which is loving in its service will take joy from any fitting honour  received, as in the case of a well-born son who will delight in honour shown to his mother. With these preliminary thoughts in mind, I shall now begin the discussion of the Excellent Dignities of the MOTHER OF GOD, with the anticipation that the reader will never have explored them in this way before. It is my hope that he will come to love Her with all his heart for She has so many reasons to love Her, and if he already loves Her, then he will redouble the affection he has for her.

Footnotes

[1] Orat. de Sanctificat.

[2] Epist. 174.

[3] Orat. 1 de Dormit. B. Virg.

[4] Epist. 174 cit.

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The Vladimirskaya Icon. >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 2024