The Crown of Excellence : Chapter 3 : § 3. 3-4

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 hundreds of preparatory sketches, as will be seen in the following discussions.

§ 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

 3   The old Ark had golden rings at its four corners and bars were put through them so that the Ark might be carried from place to place; gifts of the Holy Spirit were placed into the intellectual powers of  the new Ark making her gentle and responsive to all His movements. When the old Ark was lifted up and placed on the shoulders of the Levites, the Priests chanted the motet Moses had composed, saying[1]: Arise, O Lord, and let thy enemies be scattered, and let them that hate thee, flee from before thy face.  And when it was set down, they said: Return, O Lord, to the multitude of the host of Israel.[2]

In the same way, says St Bernardino of Siena[3], through the exaltation of the MOTHER OF GOD the forces of our enemies are weakened and with her comes always the mercy of God. Immediately the old Ark appears, the walls of Jericho come falling down, the idol of Dagon is thrown down[4], and all those who treat the Ark with a lack of reverence are punished in an exemplary manner[5].

In this way, at the sight alone of the Holy Virgin, the resistance of obstinate hearts is overcome, the devil is vanquished and all those who speak ill of her fall into the hands of God’s avenging justice. The old Ark was hidden away by the Prophet Jeremiah on Mt Nebo[6], for fear that it would suffer at the hands of the infidels. Since then, it has never again been seen by any mortal man but is kept safe in the same location ready to be produced in time for the last days and to renew the covenant between God and this ruined people. By the design of God which inspired the Holy Apostles, the new Ark was laid in the tomb at Gethsemani, whence she was assumed into heaven to be seated on the throne of glory;  there, she discharges her office as Advocate, reconciling errant sinners to God.

Footnotes

[1] Num. x. 35.

[2] Num. x. 36.

[3] T. III, serm. 11, art. 1, c. 2.

[4] Behold Dagon lay upon his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord: and they took Dagon, and set him again in his place. 1 Sam. v. 3.

[5] Vid. e.g., 2 Sam. vi. 6-7.

[6] 2 Mach. ii.

 4   I must not forget to mention the Propitiatory (Mercy seat), since it is the principal element in this figure. It is worth noting that the Virgin is called the Propitiatory for the whole earth by St Methodius[1], St Andrew of Candia[2], St Ephrem[3] and several other writers[4]. The Propitiatory was made of a sheet of pure gold which covered the Ark of the Covenant; in the case of the new Ark, the soul of the most Holy Virgin was purest love and charity. The Propitiatory was the seat of God and the place where he rested; there are hundreds of references in the writings of the Holy Fathers where the Holy Virgin is called the Throne of the Divinity. From the Propitiatory, God delivered His prophecies and made known to men His will; through the mediation of the Virgin, we have learned of His thought s for peace and the good that He desires for us. The Cherubims were presented kneeling on the Propitiatory, their gaze fixed on the centre of the Ark and adoring in fear and trembling the Majesty of Him who dwelt there. Holy Angels are also ever-present around the glorious Virgin, gazing on her as the chosen dwelling for His divine Majesty. The Propitiatory was a place of sanctuary for all the chosen people and the place where they would come from all parts to appease the wrath of the Lord. The Holy Virgin is the place of safety where the whole of Adam’s posterity can withdraw to seek God’s pardon for their sins and restoration into the good grace of their Creator.

Footnotes

[1] Orat. in Hipapante.

[2] Orat. 1 de Dormit. B. Virg.

[3] Orat. de Laudibus Mariæ.

[4] Epiph., de Laudibus Deiparæ.

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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