Chapter 4 : The Third Star or Splendour of the Crown of Goodness of the MOTHER OF GOD
She is a source of Favour for her children
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) |
§ 4. The tenderness with which the MOTHER OF GOD caresses her Favoured children : the third effect of her Favour
St Hyacinth
16 What words can be found to describe how the soul of the Blessed St Hyacinth[1] was set on fire with celestial love on the eve of the feast of the Assumption :
Whilst he was praying in front of the Virgin’s altar, he saw her surrounded by a light more dazzling than the Sun, and he heard her saying that he would through her intercession obtain everything that he was asking from her Son. As if in confirmation of this, Angels sang a melody so enchanting and with such incredible harmonies that it truly sounded like music from heaven.
Footnotes
[1] Ferdin. Castellanus, part. I Chron. S. Dominici., c. 47.
17 It seems that at this point I can hear the worldly wise mocking what I have just been saying, claiming it is nothing more than a series of well crafted fables, or the work of someone with a lively imagination. We should not expect anything else from people such as these who pride themselves on not believing anything that they cannot see with their own eyes. To hear them talk, you would think they feel able to lay down the law to God, setting limits to His favours; and because they are so far from enjoying a familiar relationship with Him, they allow themselves the satisfaction of believing that there can be nothing higher in the practice of virtue than what they themselves experience. In my humble estimation, this shows that they are no less ignorant than they are presumptuous.
On the one hand, it is a sure sign of pride for them to consider that they alone are wise; to think that so many learned men who have studied these instances of grace and privilege have all been mistaken; to dismantle the writings of theologians (possibly without understanding a single word of what they have said); to make decisions on matters of which they have no knowledge and even less experience; to make judgments about interior, spiritual matters as though they were discussing a meadow or a garden; and to reject out of hand any similar accounts in the history of Saints.
On the other hand, it shows an inability to conceive that God is limited to what He does with souls in the ordinary course of events; or that He might not have additional favours for those who love Him with their whole heart, and who do and suffer great things for Him, compared with the generality of men who are satisfied with simply trying to avoid sins. Anyone who thinks along those lines has too limited an idea of God’s goodness and is far from understanding the infinite depths of the gentleness and sweetness within Him which He shares with those who, for the love of Him, deny themselves other consolations, who sigh only for Him and after Him, who not only obey His commandments but also practise His counsels, and are quick to do His will at the slightest signal.
Footnotes
[1] Revelat., lib. VI, c. 88.
18 It is of course true that these favours do not cease to be simply because such detractors do not believe in them. God is no less good for being regarded askance by them, and those who find pleasure in arguing like this take little trouble to find approval for their position amongst the learned Doctors. On the contrary, they say along with the Spouse: My secret to myself, my secret to myself[1]. If the charity and glory of God did not require them, they would take care not to vent such views. I have a word for such people : They should have a better opinion of God and of those whom it pleases Him to honour ; for by being overly scrupulous in this matter, they greatly derogate from the law of the plenitude of God’s grace. Either they need to accept what is said concerning God’s familiarity with Abraham, with Moses and with others, or they will have to claim that God has closed His hand and withdrawn his favours – and no true son of the Catholic Church would ever agree to that.
I am not saying it is essential to believe and receive everything we hear. I know well enough that Solomon[2] condemns the levity of the man who believes things too readily, and that St John[3] instructs us to try the spirits to see if they be of God. I believe in the first place, however, that expertise is not everyone’s calling : consider how lawyers are needed to resolve a dispute over a piece of land or a vine; or how people buying leather might ask a tanner or cordwainer to confirm its quality. Now, if people have recourse to experts even in matters of of everyday life – is it really being suggested that in a question so transcendental and so full of difficulties specialists are not needed, since everyone has liberty of conscience? Is this deep and demanding science going to be left open to the uninstructed so that everyone is free to chip in with his opinion? In the second place, I am saying that when things are supported by a weight of authorities, the safest course of action is not to presume to go against them. Solomon[4] teaches that when it comes to judging the things of God, we should always incline towards the good, seeking it in the simplicity of our hearts. Our Lord[5] Himself glorified His Eternal Father one day for hiding such secrets from the Wise ones of the world and revealing them to the humble and those seemingly of little account.
Footnotes
[1] Isaiah xxiv. 16.
[2] Eccli. xix. 16.
[3] Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits if they be of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 1 John iv. 1.
[4] Think of the Lord in goodness, and seek him in simplicity of heart. Wisdom i. 1.
[5] I confess to thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to the little ones. Matt. xi. 25.
.👑 👑 👑
 |
| 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
No comments:
Post a Comment