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).
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| 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.
§ 4. On certain living and animated figures that have represented the MOTHER OF GOD, beginning with Eve, Sara and Rebecca.
First Figure : Eve
Four links between Eve and the Blessed Virgin. 1. The manner of Eve’s creation. 2. The end of her creation. 3. The name Adam gave her. 4. The excellent qualities she was given.
2 Eve is the first figure because before the others she received from God Himself the honour of being created and representing the MOTHER OF GOD. You will scarcely encounter any of the ancient Fathers who do not include her in their discussions of the MOTHER OF GOD. It is true that the majority speak of her in opposition to Mary as I aim to show, God willing, when dealing more fully with their differences in the second Treatise. For the present, we are not discussing how one is the antithesis of the other but rather we are focussing on proportion and harmony. I will say only that if my plan was not to postpone this discussion to a later time[1], I would have plenty to say on this figure who provides at the outset four remarkable links.
The first is found in the way God formed this woman, the Firstborn of all the others. He made her from Adam’s rib whilst Adam was deep in an ecstatic sleep sent by God to show him great and very important mysteries. The second link relates to the end for which God created her : namely, for her to serve the man as a companion and a helper, working with him in the propagation of the human race. The third link concerns the name Adam gave her following the express commission received from God. He called her Eve, which means the mother of the living, as we learn from the text in Genesis[2]. The fourth link may be seen in the excellent qualities that the Author of nature gave to this woman. He did this by the work of His own hands at the birth of the world, with the aim of rendering her the model and paragon for her sex.
I should be pleased to consider each of these links which provide ample material for discussion but I plan to cover them in the second Treatise where I will deal with them in detail and at greater leisure[3]. It will be for the reader to find what he wants there. In this he will be helped by what is said about the Holy Virgin’s rare qualities and natural perfections in chapter six of this Treatise. In chapter seven, we shall discuss the eminent quality of her grace.
Footnotes
[1] Tract. II, c. 5, § 3.
[2] Cap. 3.
[3] Cap. 1, 5, etc.
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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
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