Part II : The Crown of Power : Chapter 14 : § 1.1

Chapter 14 : How all these reasons oblige us to love, to honour and to serve 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).

Notre Dame des Grâces, Cotignac (Poggi, 2020)

Even when people have been summing up the content of each page, once they come to the end and want to produce a final account with a grand total (so to speak), they will reduce these individual summaries and compile a final summing up. In the same way, even though whilst discussing the great splendours of the power of the MOTHER OF GOD I have been showing how each of them considered individually obliges us to love her, to honour her and to serve her – I think I still owe readers a short compilation and a summary of the obligations that we have to the Holy Virgin.

§ 1. The reasons we have for loving her

 1    Before we could doubt that we are obliged to love the MOTHER OF GOD, we would have to deny that the Sun is a source of light and heat, that trees have leaves, that there are grains of sand on the seashore and water in the sea; we would have to be completely unaware that there was a MOTHER OF GOD or to have no love for ourselves: because whichever way we turn we find so many reasons for loving her that even an ill will could not hide them from us. Let us go straight to the source of all the good things that we possess:

If we have an Emmanuel, that is to say a God with us: then she was the magnet who attracted Him and the bridge over which He passed and came down to us, says the blessed Proclus, Archbishop of Constantinople[1], and in her this wondrous union of God with man was fashioned. 

If we have a High Priest offering the propitiatory sacrifice to God: then it was in the temple of her sacred body that He robed Himself in pontifical vestments before appearing in front of His Father, as this same Virgin explained one day to St Bridget[2].

If we have here a Victim of reconciliation who is acceptable to Him whom we have angered through our iniquities: then we owe this to the Holy Virgin, says the blessed St Epiphanius[3], since she is the innocent ewe and the Mother of this divine lamb.

If beautiful souls have a Spouse chosen from amongst millions: then she is the nuptial couch where their marriage is celebrated, says the Archbishop of Candia[4]. 

If we have a King taken from amongst ourselves and dwelling amongst us: then she was the holy oil of unction poured on His head and she was the throne on which He seated Himself, says the same Doctor[5]; she placed the crown upon His head, says St Ambrose[6].

If we have a Master to teach us the way to Heaven and to give us knowledge of eternal salvation: then it is in her bosom that the Holy Spirit has placed the mastery, says the same archbishop of Candia[7].

If we have a faithful Shepherd who walks before us and leads us to the pleasant pastures of eternal life: then it is she who made it possible for Him to look like one of us, said the Wise Emperor Leo[8]. 

If we have a military Commander full of courage and determined to cast down our enemies: then she is His Second-in-command, and the shadow alone of her protection fills us with reassurance, says the venerable Cosmas of Jerusalem[9].

Are we now enjoying the happiness of a golden age in comparison with those which came before us? Then she was the beautiful dawn of this age, sings the devout poet Prudentius.

Are the Angels now starting to get to know men and finding pleasure in our company? Then it is since she won them over, says St Epiphanius[10]; for previously their attention was focused entirely upon their Prince in heaven, but since she drew Him down to Earth, they have ceased being remote to those whom their King recognises as His brethren.

Are we experiencing the sweet fruits of peace come down on earth with His horn of plenty? Then she is the chaste dove, says Saint Bonaventure[11], who carried the olive branch in her beak. 

Have the tears and anguish of our first parents been changed into canticles of joy? Then we owe this delight to her who is the source of happiness for all the world, says St Germanus of Constantinople[12].

Has life now taken the place of the death which threatened them? Then it is a benefit attributable to this Lady who is the tree of life planted in the midst of the Church, says St Ephrem[13].

Has liberty been restored to poor Adam in place of the terrible yoke of his enslavement? Then this is thanks to the Holy Virgin, says St John Chrysostom[14]. 

Has he been rescued from his cell so that now he can look upon the sweet light of Heaven? Then let him boldly proclaim his indebtedness to Mary, who is the source of this beautiful light, which enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world, says Saint Ephrem[15].

Is it now permitted unto us to harvest at leisure the fruits of God’s grace? Then we find them hanging from the branches of this fruitful vine, says St Ildephonsus[16], whose flowers produce the fruits of honour and of grace.

Do we now have more means than ever of tasting the sweet delights which God prepares for chosen souls? Then immense gratitude is due to her who is the fountain thereof, says Saint Epiphanius[17]; who is the cup filled with divine wisdom, says Andrew of Candia[18]; who is the golden pot in which the manna from heaven is reserved, says Saint Ephrem[19].

Do we now have greater confidence than ever in presenting ourselves before God? Then it is through the mediation of her to whom nothing can be denied, says Saint Epiphanius[20].

Are the blessings of God today changed, so that instead of the abundance of bread and wine, oil and other fruits of the earth, we now hear only of the bread of Angels, the provisions for the Blessed and those goods which bring joy to God? Then it is to Mary, after God Himself, that we owe this happy transformation, say St Basil of Selucia[21]; to Mary, I say, who is the true Paradise of these eternal riches.

Hear the words cried out to her by the pious Archbishop of Nicomedia[22]:

O Mary! Who could ever begin to understand the inestimable obligations that we have towards thee? Through thee, entry into heaven hath been granted unto us; through thee, we have been recalled from our banishment; through thee, the flaming sword hath been withdrawn from the entry into Paradise, the gates have been opened to indescribable joys, the hopes of the Prophets have been realised, their prophecies have been fulfilled, we have received assurances of our redemption and restoration; finally, through thee we look forward to the enjoyment of delights that will never end.

Footnotes

[1] Homil. de Christi natali.

[2] Lib. III Revelat., c. 29.

[3] Serm. de S. Deipara.

[4] Andr. Cretensis, Orat. in Annuntiat. [Candia: official name of Crete during the island’s period as a colony of the Republic of Venice, from 1212-1669] 

[5] Ibid.

[6] Lib. de Institut. Virg., c. 16.

[7] Ibid.

[8] Orat. in Obdormitione sanctiss. Deiparæ.

[9] Hymnus 6.

[10] Serm. de S. Deipara.

[11] Speculi B. Virg., c. 8.

[12] Serm. in Adoratione venerandæ Zonæ Deiparæ.

[13] Orat. de Laudibus sanctissimæ Dei Matris.

[14] Serm. de Genesi et interdictione arboris.

[15] Orat. de Laudibus sanctissimæ Dei Matris.

[16] Serm. in Assumpt.

[17] Serm. de S. Maria Deipara.

[18] Orat. 2 de Dormit. Deiparæ.

[19] Orat. de Laudibus sanctissimæ Mariæ Deiparæ. For the pot of gold that had manna, see Hebr. ix. 4.

[20] Serm. de Laudibus S. Deiparæ.

[21] Orat. de Annuntiat.

[22] Georgius Nicomediens., Orat. de Oblat. Deiparæ.

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The Virgin of Tenderness. >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