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 François 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.
§ 7. On Abigail, Martha and Mary Magdalen
First Figure : Abigail
The extraordinary humility of Abigail and the Mother of God.
1 Abigail is one of the wise and gracious Ladies in the Old Testament who was included by St Bonaventure among those prefiguring the MOTHER OF GOD. She is worthy of perpetual remembrance for this and I must confess she deserves a fuller account of the links she has with the incomparable Virgin. My wish to avoid presenting too many details means, however, that I shall have to abbreviate this account. Consequently, I shall present three parallels, of which the first concerns the name Abigail which means exultation of the Father[1]. The next chapter will cover this first link and show the inestimable affection of the Eternal Father for the Blessed Virgin and the joy they brought to each other. Abigail gave proof of her extraordinary prudence and her remarkable wisdom in the following episode. David had been offended by the churlishness and bad nature of Nabal her husband.[2] Following the coarse and hard-hearted reply Nabal had given to his men, David set out to make him pay with his life and the destruction of all he owned. Abigail, however, appeared before him with such candour and propriety that the Prince was astonished and suddenly had a change of heart. He could only bless God who had given this lady such wise counsel and he said to her: Blessed be the words thou hast spoken to me, and blessed art thou, whom God hath sent in good time to halt the plan I had formed to take vengeance on mine enemies, as I most surely would have done if thou had not prevented me. In this encounter, David was not only a type but also prophesied another encounter incomparably happier and much more important when he said: Mercy and truth have met each other: justice and peace have kissed[3]. This came to pass when the true and unique Abigail, she who alone could appease the Eternal Father justly angered by the foolish sinner, came forward and received the wondrous kiss of peace, that is to say, the divine Word. This is the subtle, learned and devout interpretation of Blessed St Bonaventure at the beginning of his commentary on the Canticle of Canticles.
Abigail, says St Bonaventure[4], pacifies David with her words and gifts; Mary holds back God’s wrath with her prayers and her merits. Abigail turns aside a temporal punishment, Mary brings about the revocation of eternal condemnation. Abigail merits the blessing of David, and Mary renders herself worthy of God’s blessing.
Footnotes
[1] Patris exultatio.
[2] 1 Kings (1 Samuel)
[3] Ps. lxxxiv. 11.
[4] Speculi, c. 12.
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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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