The Crown of Goodness
Continuing our translation of the Preface to the 1845 reprint of Fr Poiré's Triple Crown of the Mother of God (1643 edition).
 |
| Notre Dame des Grâces, Cotignac.(Poggi, 2020) |
The third Crown is that of Mary’s Goodness and, like the others, it dazzles the eye with its twelve precious stars; but it is perhaps more gentle to men’s eyes, bringing joy to hearts and opening them up to a confidence that carries all before it.
1 ✷ The first of these stars represents Mary’s part in the predestination of the elect. Her Son is the starting point for this supreme dignity, to which Mary is linked by God the Father in an ineffable manner; for the Father brings salvation to those in whom He sees a resemblance to Jesus Christ, a resemblance arising from the marks they bear of His beloved Daughter’s maternal adoption.
2 ✷ Mary is called the Mother of Fair Love because divine charity resides in her heart as though it were its source; she pours out this love for us and we become her children formed for love through a thousand touches of her tenderness. The Holy Spirit inspires in us our love for God, but we are also truly indebted to Mary for her care and influence over us. This prerogative is represented by the second Star.
3 ✷ Our Queen’s power means she has a host of noble favours for those who are honoured to draw closer to her. In the first place, she obtains advancement for them at the court of her Son; those who stay close to her obtain a status such that nothing is refused to them and she is pleased to grant them her special care. The story of the Saints is filled with examples recalling her peerless courtesy. This is the third Star.
4 ✷ The fourth Star points to the solicitous attention Mary shows towards those who have found the easy path to her maternal heart. She delights in arranging everything so as to set them on the way of salvation and perfection. The life-stories of the saints bear witness to this on every page.
5 ✷ Who could say how far the generosity of this venerable Sovereign might extend? In the order of nature — health, success for people in their undertakings, the growth of learning, the preservation of families on the verge of breakdown : all these are areas where requests have been made and all have been answered. In the order of grace — virtues that people have tried to acquire but without success seem to come down by themselves into the soul that opens itself to Mary by self-abandonment and prayer. This generosity so frequently encountered is the fifth Star.
6 ✷ The heart of such a powerful princess holds it as a point of honour to show gratitude towards those who glory in being her subjects. What favours has she not bestowed on those nations who serve her as their Queen, for as long as they they remain faithful to her? What has she not done for those towns who have sought her patronage and have shown themselves worthy through their zeal in confessing their happy reliance on her? All the emperors, kings and generals who have placed their states or their battalions under her protection — has their trust ever been disappointed? Has not Mary always returned their advances with interest? This gratitude of her ever faithful heart is accounted as the sixth Star of the Crown of Goodness.
7 ✷ We find the seventh Star in that wonderful title given by the Church to Mary: Mother of Mercy. This amiable Queen deigned to merit this title by her commiseration towards sinners. There would be no point in trying to set limits to Mary’s mercy. The Lord extends His mercy to all and He has willed that the Mother of His Son should ever assist Him in the exercise of this divine prerogative.
8 ✷ The eighth Star relates to Mary’s role as Protectress watching over her children. She keeps them safe from bodily harm, removes them from perils to the soul, foils the plans of wicked spirits, puts to flight temptations and clears away delusions that could throw her children off the path of salvation.
9 ✷ The Mother of God serves the souls of her children as a mistress who instructs them in every part of her Son’s teaching. She trains them in all that God wishes to see in His elect. If they go astray, she corrects them and sets them back on the right path. This ministry of care for her children is represented by the ninth Star.
10 ✷ The beautiful title Comforter of the afflicted shines forth in the tenth Star. How many are the anxious souls to whom Mary has brought reassurance and calm! How many broken hearts have through her found peace and consolation! How many have found hope in their despair as soon as her radiant love spreads its warmth and light in their souls, like a rainbow in the midst of a tempest.
11 ✷ Mary the Refuge of sinners is the eleventh Star. The old law had its cities of refuge and the gentiles had their places for seeking sanctuary. These symbolized, albeit inadequately, the safety that the sinner finds in Mary’s arms beyond the reach of the Lord’s wrath. The Mother of God acts like a shield to protect the sinner.
12 ✷ The twelfth and final Star on the Crown of Goodness represents the love Mary bestows on her children at the supreme moment when she renders her powerful assistance at the hour of their death. The presence of such a compassionate Mother dissipates the natural fear of this dread moment experienced by those who are dying. She also watches over her favoured children to spare them the fearful shock of what we call sudden death. When the soul has left its body, Mary lends her assistance before the judgement seat of her Son. When a soul is sent to Purgatory for the expiation of sin, the Mother of God never ceases to pay visits, easing by her gentle presence the pains of exile.
👑 👑 👑
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.
Totus tuus ego sum
Et omnia mea tua sunt;
Tecum semper tutus sum:
Ad Jesum per Mariam.
© Peter Bloor 2024
No comments:
Post a Comment