Chapter 6 : The Fifth 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) |
§ 1. On the Nobility of the MOTHER OF GOD
2 Some may want to remind me of what was said by St Jerome[1] who maintains that in our Religion
• no regard is paid to persons and whether or not they are high-born;
• people’s souls and interior qualities are what matters;
• no distinction should be drawn between the Noble and the Commoner;
• the only Nobility in God’s eyes consists of being famous and exemplary for one’s virtues.
They may also cite the words of St Ambrose who said that there is no pedigree whatsoever that is comparable to that of virtue and virtuous ancestors. My response to these points is to remind those who stress the importance of virtue that there is no Nobility whatsoever to compare with that of the MOTHER OF GOD, whether we consider her own virtues or look at the virtues of her ancestors. As far as her own virtues are concerned, you will appreciate that this is not the place to cover them; but as for her ancestors’ virtues, I can say quite simply that all the virtue which lit up the world from the time of her forebears until she arrived belongs to her.
For those who think otherwise, let them show me penance which was longer and more painful than that of Adam, a devoutness more ancient than that of Enos, innocence purer than that of Enoch, perseverance more enduring than that of Noe, piety more sincere than that of Sem, faith firmer than that of Abraham, obedience more perfect than that of Isaac, a more generous heart than that of Booz, kindness more pleasing than that of David, wisdom more profound than that of Solomon, a religious sense more sincere than that of Josaphat, a more ardent zeal than that of Ezechias, probity more irreproachable than that of St Joachim and St Anne. In short, let the doubters reject the following authorities : St Epiphanius[2], St Germanus of Constantinople[3], Sergius of Hierapolis[4], St Fulbert of Chartres[5], St John Damascene[6], as well as others, who all describe Mary as the daughter of Saints.
2 In the third place, both divine law and human law confer on a wife the right to share the glory of her husband’s Greatness and Nobility. This being so, who could describe the honour and glory coming to the Holy Virgin from the Blessed Holy Ghost, her invisible Spouse and from the meritorious Patriarch St Joseph, her visible Spouse and faithful companion?
If the office-holders in the household of a sovereign Prince merit thereby the titles and trappings of nobility, what will we say of Mary who for over thirty years did service in the household of the King of Kings? But apart from these considerations, the fact of being the MOTHER OF GOD elevates her so far above all that seems great in this world that there is no Nobility which does not owe homage to her. This is the view of the pious Cardinal Peter Damian[7]. St Augustine writes that, just as the Nobility of the Son who is born of the Virgin depends in part on His Mother’s virginity, the principal Nobility of the Mother derives from the Divinity of the Son she brings forth. Finally, St Ambrose[7] sums up in a few words what could be the title for a much fuller discussion:
You speak of Nobility, says this great Saint, but what in the world could be more noble than the MOTHER OF GOD?
Footnotes
[1] Epist. ad Celantiam.
[2] Hæresi 79.
[3] In Psalm 44.
[4] Orat. de Natali Virg.
[5] Serm. de Nativit. Mariæ.
[6] Orat. 1 de Dormit. B. Virg.
[7] Serm. 2 de Nativit.
[8] Lib. II de Virginibus.
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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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