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).
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| Notre Dame des Grâces, Cotignac (Poggi, 2020) |
§ 2. The duty we have to honour her
2 In the second place, she has been honoured more than the human mind could ever comprehend. Here is what St Anselm says in his book entitled The Excellence of the Holy Virgin[1]:
If we have the honour of belonging to such a Father and to have for our Brother the Redeemer of the world, let us boldly proclaim our acknowledgement that we owe this inestimable favour to the most sacred Virgin and to her most blessed fruitfulness; for this dignity was granted her in such a way that without her fruitful Virginity our nature would never have been raised up in this manner.
If from out of the depths into which our race had plunged we have been so ennobled so as to be accepted into a union with God, and if we now realize this blessing to be so great that it surpasses infinitely anything we might ever have attained – then how are we going to be able to contain ourselves when we see our Brother crowned in glory and seated on the throne of honour? What joy will fill our heart when we realise the love that He has for us and the means He has to render us all blessed, as He has been given absolute power over all that is in heaven, on earth, and in hell?
Footnotes
[1] Cap. 9.
3 We have a duty to honour her, moreover, since all creatures, whether animate or inanimate, vie with each other to see who can honour her in the best way.
In this respect, the sea and the land are like rivals, says the Blessed Proclus[1]; the former calms its waves, making itself more compliant and docile to the commandments of the MOTHER OF GOD; the latter displays the joy it experiences when trodden under the feet of pilgrims making their way to offer her prayers and praise.
Take note of the crowds flocking from all over to pay homage to her, says St John Damascene[2]. Look how some of the most visible and the most honourable amongst the Christian people set a fine example in being the first to offer their service unto her. Can you see after them a great number of foreigners, even including some enemy Princes, who are laden with gifts and want to be numbered amongst her vassals?
Amidst this public rejoicing, can you imagine the comportment of the Blessed Spirits who come closer to the person of the King her Son and who have a greater knowledge by far than we have of her merits?
Footnotes
[1] Homil. de Christi Nativit.
[2] Orat. 1 de Nativit. B. Virg.
4 There is even more reason for us to honour her if we reflect upon how God Himself has honoured her. Could He go further than to choose her so as to be drawn by her from heaven down to earth and to want her for His Mother, His Nursemaid, His Queen Regnant, His Coadjutrix in the work of our Redemption, as Governess of his state, as Advocate for his dear children, as Mediatrix with Him, as Protectress of His Church, as Superintendent of His resources and Commander of His armies, as Companion[1] in His greatness, as Sovereign Lady and Mistress with Him of all that is beneath Him?
Ye Blessed Intellects, try to conceive if you can, anything greater and more August; and if you cannot, confess with us that God has derived infinite pleasure in honouring her, and that the most Holy Trinity has delighted in the work of elevating the Daughter, the Mother and the Spouse beyond compare!
Footnotes
[1] Originally: a spouse. See OED I.3.a. Etym. from Latin com "with, together" + panis "bread" (from PIE root *pa- "to feed").
5 Finally, according to Leontios[1] (Bishop of Neapolis in Cyprus), we owe her this honour
Because it pleases God to receive as His own the honour which is offered to this Lady.
Properly understood, Heaven resounds to the echoes of praises – praises which are often addressed directly to the Saints, but which ultimately are rendered unto God as to their final end; and the more excellent the praise, the more He is honoured and glorified. Amongst all the others, however, those addressed to the Holy Virgin are more pleasing to Him then all the rest that He receives from His creatures.
Heaven may be likened unto a great display-case filled with exceptional riches which we cannot value or wonder at too highly : May all honour be returned to Him who is not only the Master but the Craftsman thereof. Heaven is like an arrangement of living mirrors whose wondrous reflections return straight to God everything that they themselves receive. Heaven is like a concert of praise where all voices sing in harmony to bless their sovereign God and to offer unto Him all the honour of Holy Sion. It is true that the Virgin, far exceeding all those who are on high, receives a great tribute of glory; but she makes use of them only to satisfy her own debts which she repays continually to God. She receives with one hand love, honour and gratitude; and with the other she offers all these to Him to whom she owes everything. Consequently, let us never be troubled by any question of excess, since in the end everything is offered up to His Majesty, to whom gratitude, glory and adoration without limit, be forever and ever.
Footnotes
[1] Originally: a spouse. See OED I.3.a. Etym. from Latin com "with, together" + panis "bread" (from PIE root *pa- "to feed").
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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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