Chapter 11 The Tenth Star or Splendour of the Crown of Power of the MOTHER OF GOD
She is an Advocate for men and Mediatrix between them and her Son
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) |
§ 4. The Holy Virgin was uniquely chosen by God as Mediatrix between men and her Son
1 Cardinal Peter Damian[1] has written a thought-provoking observation about the throne of Solomon which was a masterpiece worthy of this Prince. Here is what he said:
Sacred Scripture has three names for this great king : Solomon, which means the Peaceful one; Ecclesiastes, which signifies the Preacher; and Idida[2], which means the Glorious one. The throne was made neither by the preacher nor by the glorious, but by the peacemaker alone.
This was to enable us to understand that the sacred humanity of the Saviour prefigured by this throne was to be a haven of peace and a sure refuge for men. St Paul invites us[3] to approach this throne of grace with every confidence, promising that we shall not be disappointed. Elsewhere, St Bernard shows great wisdom when he writes that:
Even though the Saviour exercises on high the office of Sovereign Mediator, He does not cease to be our Judge; this can make Him fearful to those who through the convictions of their own conscience acknowledge themselves to be sinners. In order to obviate this, God in His infinite goodness has willed to establish on high a bench of pure clemency, which has no prosecutors and none of the severity or dread associated with criminal proceedings, meaning that poor sinners can appear before it with less apprehension.
This Saint has received a special grace to make this known to us and the way he respects it in various places and contexts removes any doubts or hesitancy from our minds.
Footnotes
[1] Serm. 2 de Nativit. B. Virg.
[2] This seems to refer to the name Jedidiah (Hebrew Y’didiah, meaning Beloved of the Lord) which appears in II Kings (II Samuel) xii. 25: And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet, and called his name, Amiable to the Lord, because the Lord loved him.
[3] Let us go therefore with confidence to the throne of grace: that we may obtain mercy, and find grace in seasonable aid. Hebr. iv. 16.
2 Here is how he speaks in a sermon he composed on the Virgin whom he called the Channel of Grace[1]:
Perhaps you feel nervous about approaching the Eternal Father, whose word alone causes you to tremble, and then just like poor Adam you want to cover yourself with fig leaves and hide amidst the trees[2]. For this reason, He has provided us with a Mediator who is none other than His beloved Son. Is there anything at all that such a Son might not obtain from such a Father? There is no doubt that His own merits and the dignity of His person will come into consideration here – but perhaps you are dazzled by the brightness of His divine majesty and do not feel confident about approaching Him, because although He may have become man, He has not ceased being God. You would like to have some Advocate who would not cause you any fear or hesitancy and who would serve as your Spokesperson and Mediatrix when you need to speak to God. Have no fear, but rather take courage and run to Mary who is also human like you, but in a totally pure manner; I say pure not only because she is free from the stain of sin but from any stain or flaw whatsoever. Rest assured that her qualities are such that nothing will be refused to her. The Mother cannot be ignored or rejected by her Son and even less can the Father refuse His own Son’s requests. My dear children : here is the ladder enabling sinners to climb up to heaven, and here is the unique support in whom I may for confidently place my trust. How could the Son rebuff His Mother or how could He fail to be heard by His father? As for me, I hold fast to the words of the Angel who tells me that she found favour with God[3] and convinces me that she is the only favour that we need.
Footnotes
[1] Serm. de Aquæ ductu, seu de Nativit. B. Virg. St Bernard likens Mary’s role to an aqueduct but also uses the word dēlĭcĭa [or dēlĭquĭa] ae, f., a flowing or running off, as in a channel.
[2] Gen. ii. 6-8.
[3] Luke i. 30.
3 In another place (in his excellent Commentary on the vision in the 12th Book of the Apocalypse of St John), he writes as follows:
It is true that we have received from the hands of the Father a powerful and faithful Mediator; but the Majesty of God that shows in Him can make afraid. It seems as though His holy humanity has been absorbed into his Divinity – not that the substance has been modified or changed, but His affections have been all divinized. His mercy is spoken of everywhere, but His justice is also stressed; and even though we might know that the experience He has of our difficulties has filled His heart with compassion for us in our tribulations, people never tire of saying that the Father has constituted Him our Judge, with all sorts of powers. In the end, since our God is like an all-consuming fire, why would a sinner not fear lest he is made to melt away in the divine presence, just like wax in front of a flames?
Our anxieties will accordingly be assuaged by means of a Mediatrix. Truth to tell, I know of no one more desirable for men and easier of access for sinners than Mary. For what could ever be found in her to frighten humans in their weakness? You will discover no strictness and severity in her, for she is all sweetness and gentleness. Run through your mind the Gospel accounts, and if you were to find therein the least sign of harshness or anger then I think you would have reservations about her and you would only approach her in fear and trembling. If, on the other hand, you find there nothing that does not show her kind heart and sweet nature, then remember that you are indebted for this to Him who procured such a Mediatrix. In short: look how she is clothed with the sun, showing that she is (through union and imitation) the daughter of God Almighty, who casts His light upon those who are totally undeserving as well as on the deserving[1]. Consider how she has the moon under her feet, meaning that she holds the Church under her protection – the Church which borrows all her light from her Spouse, as the Moon takes light from the Sun. Accordingly, let us kneel before her, embracing her sacred feet; and let us not leave until we have received her holy blessing. All power in Heaven has been given to her, since she is the true fleece[2] which is found between the dew and the earth; she is the woman who is between the Sun and the Moon, meaning between the Saviour and the Church.
There we have the words of one of the most devoted servants of the MOTHER OF GOD. These are complemented in a wondrous manner by what was said by Hugh of St Victor[3], albeit in a more succinct manner:
If thou art anxious about appearing before God, fear not to address thyself to Mary; for there wilt thou find nothing to frighten thee. Go up to her as thou wouldst to thine own Mother, for remember that she hath the same nature as thee.
To be a perfect Mediatrix, however, clemency alone will not be enough and she will have to request the Power to help her. Let us now consider how generously God has provided for her in this respect.
Footnotes
[1] That you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven, who maketh his sun to rise upon the good, and bad, and raineth upon the just and the unjust. Matt. v. 45.
[2] Judges vi.
[3] In Sententiis.
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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 Virgin of Tenderness. >12th century.
Totus tuus ego sum
Et omnia mea tua sunt;
Tecum semper tutus sum:
Ad Jesum per Mariam.
© Peter Bloor 2025
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