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

Feast of the Queenship of Mary

Chapter 3 : The Second Star or Splendour of the Crown of Excellence of the Mother of God

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

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

That from the beginning of the world she was announced by the Prophets and represented by ancient figures

In the previous chapter, I presented the Holy Virgin as a trial design by God when considered in relation to the Saviour, who was Himself the first actual masterpiece in the world. In comparison with the rest of creation, however, it cannot be denied that Mary was the second masterpiece by God who produced a thousand preparatory sketches, as will be seen in the following discussion.

§ 3. On the three other figures, namely the Ark of the Covenant, Solomon’s Throne and the Cloud of Elias

First Figure : The Ark of the Covenant

 1   I have no trouble in persuading myself that the Ark of the covenant was a figure for the MOTHER OF GOD, at the very least as famous as any of the preceding figures. This is because all the Doctors hitherto cited make mention of it, and because of the great mysteries it contains and the 

excellent traits which interconnect with each other. Firstly, the ancient Ark was kept safe in the most secluded place in the Temple, which was called the Holy of Holies. It was in the same place that the Holy Virgin, figure of the true Ark, spent several years as I shall explain in chapter six.

As for the ancient Ark, says Peter Damian[1], it was built by Beseleel; the new Ark was built by Emmanuel. The former had for his companion Ooliab, which means my protection; the divine Word was accompanied by the Holy Ghost, first and chief Guardian of the glorious Virgin, His Spouse. Note that the whole Trinity was involved in this divine work:, consecrating this Temple, making ready this dwelling, preparing this nuptial couch to receive the Spouse who is the most handsome and pleasing of all the sons of men.

The Ark of the Old Testament was made of incorruptible wood in order to show, says the same Cardinal[2], that although the Virgin came from stock corrupted by sin, she had nevertheless been selected and preserved by the Holy Ghost in virtue of the office for which she had been chosen by God.

 2   The Ark of the Old Testament had its length, breadth and height measured using the human cubit, which is a perfect measure. The new Ark had her long-suffering patience, her wide-stretching charity and her aim fixed upwards to God; these were like the three dimensions of her soul, altogether perfect in their kind and surpassing anything found in other creatures.

The old Ark, says St Gregory Thaumaturgus[3], was covered within and without in purest gold; the new Ark was enriched with the treasure of perfect holiness. 

Indeed, if St Jerome[4] could say quite truthfully that the Spouse of God is an Ark of the Covenant gilded within and without, with all the more reason must I say this of Her who is the peerless Spouse beyond compare.

The old Ark, says St Ildephonsus[5], contained within itself or nearby all the most secret mysteries of the old Law; the new Ark had all the treasures of the knowledge and wisdom of God, and all the wonders of the new Law.

Mary carried in her womb the Law of God and the God of the Law; for a long period of time, she had close by her the King of glory and the sweet delight of the Saints, I mean by this her beloved Son. Or, if you wish, she bore deep in her heart the Law of God ; and close by her was the true bread of Angels that she gave to the world, and the flower of the children of men. Putting it another way, I will say that three items in the old Ark are symbols of three qualities that she alone possessed: 

    • wisdom, prefigured the Tables of the Law;

    • uprightness, by Aaron’s rod; and 

    • mercy, by the manna.

Finally, these items are the signs of three sorts of great Dignities: Excellence, Power and Goodness. These are to be the subject of my first three Treatises.

The old Ark was covered by the protecting wings of Cherubims; the new Ark was always accompanied and helped by blessed Spirits. The old Ark had over it a crown round about[6], the new Ark was crowned with a thousand triumphs over vices and the enemies of God (as will be seen in the first two Treatises); she is surrounded by her beloved children whom she cherishes like a crown of glory, as Isaiah says[7]. The old Ark is associated with the Glory of the Lord, as appears at various points in Scripture[8]; the effects may be seen in the new Ark, as may be seen elsewhere[9]. 

Footnotes

[1] Serm. de Nativit. Virg.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Serm. 1 in Annuntiat.

[4] Ad Eustoch. de Virginitate.

[5] Lib. de Partu Virg.

[6] and over it thou shalt make a golden crown round about: / faciesque supra, coronam auream per circuitum : Exod. xxv. 11.

[7] And thou shalt be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. Isai. lxii. 3.

[8] Vid. e.g., Exod. xl., Lev. ix., & Num. xvi.

[9] Cap. 13..

👑       👑       👑

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