The Crown of Power
Continuing our translation of the Preface to the 1845 reprint of Fr Poiré's Triple Crown of the Mother of God (1643 edition).
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| Notre Dame des Grâces, Cotignac.(Poggi, 2020) |
• the heavenly attractions of her virginity which offered to the Son of God a sanctuary in perfect keeping with His sovereign holiness;
• the depth of her peerless humility; and
• her assent to the request Heaven sent through the angel and without which the mystery of the Incarnation would not have come to pass.
3 ✷ The third Star represents the power Mary wielded over Him who was not only her own son but the Son of God Himself, suckling Him at her virginal breasts and guiding Him in His first steps.
4 ✷ Mary is the Spouse of the divine Word who unites Himself to faithful souls. All the mysteries of the sacred Canticle find their fulfilment in Mary. This glorious union, in which she partakes more than all others combined, gives her a share in the power of her heavenly Spouse. Let us honour this mystery in the fourth Star.
5 ✷ Her Son is called the Father of the world to come, and the Saviour of the human race. In the fifth Star of her power, Mary is presented as sharing these glorious titles with her son. On Calvary, she offered up the victim who by His blood opened for us the gates of eternity; she suffered along with the Redeemer and mingled her tears with the blood that poured from the Man-God. If His death turned around the primeval curse, it is because Mary was from the beginning substituted for Eve.
6 ✷ The sixth Star shows the power of Mary, insofar as the Word, who positioned Himself as Head of His Church, established Mary as its Queen and placed in her hands the power of propagating the faith throughout the world, destroying heresies, guiding the Apostles, giving fortitude to the Martyrs, enlightening Pontiffs, inspiring Doctors, sanctifying Confessors, raising up Virgins, watching carefully over those faithful living in the conjugal state.
7 ✷ But Mary is not only Queen of the Church, she is also its powerful protectress. The seventh Star represents this aspect of her power. The love in her heart is limitless for the family members in the Church, which is the mystical Body of her Son. Through her the Church is protected like an unsinkable vessel, weathering every storm. She is that Tower of David bristling with a thousand shields, protecting the holy City for ever.
8 ✷ The Church is also the army of the Lord and Mary is invested with the power of commanding this army. The eighth Star represents this power and Mary goes forth to meet all the foes who desire to halt the triumphant march of this invincible army. These enemies fall into four groups: demons, sorcerers, heretics and blasphemers. History bears witness to Mary’s four-fold victory over them.
9 ✷ The ninth Star of Mary’s power represents the overflowing treasure-chest of riches that are in her gift to distribute. This inexhaustible treasure is comprised of her Son’s graces which she has been authorised to dispense and all of which pass through her hands before coming to us.
10 ✷ The Man-God is appointed by His Father to judge the living and the dead. Beneath His judgement seat, Mary exercises her power as an Advocate and a Mediatrix. This is the tenth Star and represents the immense power which comes from her rights as a Mother with regard to her Son and which is acknowledged by the Son whose tender Heart wishes for all men to be saved.
11 ✷ Before the divine Incarnation, Satan was the prince of this world which had become subject to him by sin. The Son of Mary dethroned him and, seated at the right hand of God the Father, He became King of the redeemed world. Mary is the Queen and sovereign Lady; the whole of God’s work is subject to her law. This is the eleventh Star of Power.
12 ✷ The twelfth and final Star of this second Crown is Mary’s omnipotence. Her Son, through His union with the person of the Word, entered into possession of divine power; nothing can resist this power and its operation knows no limits. He willed that His Mother, as far is possible for a mere creature, should partake of the irresistible power residing in Him. This is why every century resounds with the fame of Mary’s miracles, of every sort. This is why all generations have placed their hopes in her, hopes which have never been disappointed.
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.
The Vladimirskaya Icon. >12th century.
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