Part II : The Crown of Power : Chapter 3 : § 1.3-4

Chapter 3 : The Second Star or Splendour of the Crown of Power of the MOTHER OF GOD

It was from her alone, as His Mother, that the Eternal Word wanted to take our nature

Continuing our translation of the 1845 reprint of Fr François Poiré's Triple Crown of the Mother of God (1643 French edition).

Notre Dame des Grâces, Cotignac.(Poggi, 2020)

§ 1. How the general power of the MOTHER OF GOD over all creation is shown in the mystery of the Incarnation

 3   It is of course true (and perhaps we need reminding of this) that the Incarnation was the handiwork of God and was indeed His own work par excellence; but we must also remember that it was the also work of the Virgin. God had no wish to complete this work except in her alone, just as He did not wish to accomplish His design except through her and with her. This is what the holy Doctors had in mind when they honoured her with showers of epithets and titles to show the sublime excellence of her Power. Saint Ambrose calls her in this respect the Royal Court of the divine mysteries[1]. St John Damascene calls her the miraculous Fountain, or the Fountain of wonders[2]. Saint Epiphanius has many wonderful things to say, including that here may be found the inexplicable and inexhaustible treasure of the holy Economy[3], which is the word normally used by the Greek Fathers when speaking of the mystery of the Incarnation. It is in truth most fitting for him to call this mystery a Treasure, because just as a treasure is a store of seemingly endless riches from which people can visit to help themselves, in the same way the wonders that may be found in this divine mystery are of such quality and in so great a quantity that there is no means of counting them.

Footnotes

[1] Lib. de Institut. Virg, c. 7 : Aula coelestium sacramentorum. [When aula occurs in the Vulgate, the Douay-Rheims translation is normally court, but it can also mean a large chamber, a hall or even a palace. See DMLBS.]

[2] Orat. 1 de Nativit. B. Virg.

[3] Orat. de S. Deipara.

 4   Just to mention one example in passing, what sort of miracle is it that the daughter should be the mother of her own father, and the builder of all things should take his being from his own handiwork?

It is not more than seven years ago that a little five-year old Chinese child called Denys (from the city of Hami) uttered a sentence which deserves to be passed on to posterity. It was noticed by many people but he did not seem to have learned it from anybody: the Lord of heaven, he said, created his own mother, and the mother conceived and brought forth the Lord of heaven. We might well believe that either God or His holy Mother must have revealed this beautiful truth to him. I am in fact inclined to believe this because it turns out that his house was a house of miracles and heavenly wonders, as may be seen in the story of the conversion of his elder brother aged seventeen. This young man had been struck by a serious illness and was thought to be beyond hope of recovery. On the fifth day of August at about four o’clock in the afternoon, he felt himself powerfully touched by God’s presence and he was inspired to become a Christian. To give effect to this desire of his, with many tears he was asking God to give him back his health when he saw very clearly some letters written on the canopy above him. It is true that they were few in number but they were deeply mysterious. On three different occasions the characters would be joined together but he could not see the hand that was doing this. The first time, the writing urged him to change his way of life and to follow God who was calling him. The second time, he was given genuine hope that he would. easily overcome all sorts of difficulties and that he would be the cause of salvation for several other people. The third time, he was promised that two years from then God would grant him an extraordinary grace. Such a novel experience gave him much cause to reflect especially when, from being someone whom the doctors had considered a hopeless case, he suddenly found himself healed. His conversion to the truth followed quickly thereafter and he received holy baptism, being given the name Raphael. Finally, as if to reinforce his faith in Heaven’s promises still more, his conversion was followed by that of all his family.

To return to our theme, however: this miracle that I have been speaking about is none other, in the judgement of the great saint Augustine, than the one the holy Virgin had in mind when she said He that is mighty had done great things to her.

Is it not indeed the case, most holy Virgin, (asks the admirable Doctor), that a creature hath conceived and brought forth her Creator, that the handmaid hath given life to her Lord, who hath by means of thee brought light, redemption and life to the world?

Most holy Lady! cries the eloquent Archbishop of Ravenna[1], Him whom thou hath made, hath been made from thee; from thee hath poured forth Him who is thy source; thou art the mother of thy father, and He who hath brought light into the world hath wished to take it from thee.

Footnotes

[1] Chrysol., Serm. 142.

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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 2025