Chapter 8 : The Seventh Star or Splendour in 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) |
Mary’s soul was unique in being totally free of any sin
§ 3. That the Holy Fathers say that the MOTHER OF GOD was incapable of sin, and how this is to be understood
First principle of the moral impeccability of the Mother of God, namely the extinguishing of concupiscence. A declaration on the nature of concupiscence.
THE FIFTH REASON, AS UNDERSTOOD IN THE WORD SIN
8 This contagion is regularly referred to as sin in the sacred Books[1], not because in itself it makes us guilty as perpetrators of sin (as the Council of Trent makes very clear[2]) but because it takes its origin from sin and causes us to be inclined to sin. I am very grateful to the learned Gerson who remarked perspicaciously on this point:
God was so anxious to ensure sin gained no foothold in the soul of the holy Mother that he even removed concupiscence from her, by reason only of the name.
In fact, when I consider this Lady as the abode and the temple of the living God, it seems to me that the Word of the Prophet Ezechiel applies just as well to her as to the actual physical temple of Solomon. This, he says, is the law of the house upon the top of the mountain: All its border round about is most holy.[3]
Footnotes
[1] Rom. 7.
[2] Loc. cit.
[3] Ezech. xliii. 12.
THE SIXTH REASON, AS UNDERSTOOD IN THE EXPRESSION CARNAL DESIRES
9 I shall be happy to move on from this discussion once you have heard the words of St Peter. His was a spirit of ardent fervour and he portrayed this foe in the form of a furious rabble-rouser who stirs up our faculties so that they become hot-headed and take up arms against reason and against God. Refrain yourselves[1], he says, from carnal desires which war against the soul. These desires are none other than the mutinous crew of the old adversary, namely the rebellious appetite who marches at the head of them all with a steely determination to vanquish virtue, leaving no trace behind.
In the name of God and for the good you wish for His Holy Mother, tell me why would anyone think to allow this rebel spirit to enter Mary, who is like the City of peace where war is unheard of and where even the least movement against God would provoke her profoundest sorrow? Richard of St Victor applies to her the words of David, King and Prophet[2], when he speaks of God making wars to cease even to the end of the earth, saying He shall destroy the bow, and break the weapons: and the shield he shall burn in the fire.
Now what is this earth, he asks[3], where God makes wars to cease even to its end, if not Mary of whom the same Prophet sings: Truth is sprung out of the earth[4] ? Thrice blessed is she who has been spared these alarums and excursions so as to enjoy a plenitude of peace.
Footnotes
[1] I Pet. ii. xi.
[2] Ps. XLV. 10.
[3] Lib. de Emmanuele, c. 29.
[4] Ps. LXXXIV. 12.
10 Who could adequately describe the benefit her beautiful soul derived from being kept thus far away from every kind of sin, granted that this disordered appetite is continually producing swarms of evil and pernicious schemes? And who is there amongst us so careful and circumspect as not to be caught off guard frequently by this inclination to sin? So righteous and determined to practise virtue as not to weaken before it? So strong and valiant as never to be overcome?
Blessed is she who did not have to run these risks and who before she was born saw peace in her domain and all her enemies at her feet.
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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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