Part III : The Crown of Goodness : Chapter 5 : § 5.11-15

Chapter 5 : The Fourth Star or Splendour of the Crown of Goodness of the MOTHER OF GOD

The Wondrous Care she takes of 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)

§ 5. Continuing our discussion of the Holy Mother’s care for her children : the Society of Jesus

Fr Balthazar Alvarez

 11   If anyone says that Father Balthazar Alvarez was not led by the Holy Virgin into the Society, I would beg to differ, especially having seen what was written about his incomparable devotion towards her[1].

  

Putting to one side his devotion to her before he joined the Society, there is no doubt that during the time he spent in the Novitiate no one could ever recite the Office of the Blessed Virgin with him or hear him speak of her great qualities without experiencing an increase in love for her. During the same time, he was so assailed by temptations that he was at a loss as to what he could do. After the Devil had brought him to a particularly low point, he promised Balthazar that he would give him respite from his torments if only he would ease off on his side, especially on his devotion towards that Woman (as he called the Virgin).

 

He never knew a greater joy than when, travelling from Spain to Rome he had the opportunity to pour out his heart to his dear Mother in the Chapel of Loretto. Whilst he was speaking of his wonderment with her, she for her part gave him advice which would prove extremely valuable, not only for his own spiritual advancement but also for that of other people. Nothing helped him so much in leading to perfection the Novices under his charge in the city of Medina than setting their hearts on fire with devotion to the Virgin. It would, however, need a whole book to set out in detail the feelings he had for the wondrous perfections of this peerless Princess, and the ways in which he was affected by her.

 

Footnotes

[1] Vitæ ipsius, c. 16.

Gaspar Sanchez

 12   Gaspar Sanchez has come to be known not only through his learned writings but even more so through his virtuous life. Here is how the Holy Virgin helped him join the Society[1]. 

Whilst he was still a young student at Córdoba, he felt a burning desire to enter the Society but he suffered from a speech impediment which made it very difficult to hear what he was saying. This seemed to shut off any possibility of joining the Jesuit Order but, in the midst of the painful frustration this caused him, he suddenly felt one day an extraordinary confidence in the MOTHER OF GOD, whom he loved with his whole heart.  

Following this experience, he made his way to a Chapel which is dedicated to her in Córdoba and which is associated with many miracles. It is called the Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de la Fuensanta and here he knelt down to open his heart to Our Lady, telling her he would not leave until she had taken from him this imperfection of nature which was preventing his entry into the Society. A wondrous thing then happened, for his tongue was immediately loosened and he was left only with a slight stammer, to serve perhaps as a reminder of the great benefit he had received. He was so grateful that, without mentioning all the other things he did by way of thanks for this miracle, whenever he came to Cordoba thereafter, before going to the Society’s college he would always go to offer thanks to his dear Mother in the Fuensanta Chapel. He would offer Holy Mass devoutly in her honour and then spend the whole of the rest of the day in prayer.

Footnotes

[1] Histor. Societ., part. II, an. Societ. 28.

Bento de Goës

 13    Bento de Goës is especially famous for his valiant efforts in seeking out the Kingdom of Cathay.

He was once with the Portuguese fleet off the coast of Travancore, leading the true life of a soldier, when he was inspired by Heaven to go into the Church of a certain village with a friend of his. No sooner had he knelt down in front of an image of the MOTHER OF GOD than he felt urged by biting remorse in his conscience to plead with the Holy Virgin to obtain for him the forgiveness of his sins. At this point a miracle happened, for the holy Infant Jesus who was being cradled in his Mother's arms began to weep tears of milk so copiously that both Bento and his companion, as well as several others whom they called to witness this extraordinary event, were able to mop up this heavenly liquid with their handkerchiefs. 

The news of this miracle soon spread everywhere and the soldiers, as an act of thanksgiving and as a sign of rejoicing, made the whole coast resound with gunfire from their muskets and cannon, announcing the news of this wonder to all in the vicinity. From that moment onwards, Bento resolved to wage war for a different Prince than the one for whom he had hitherto been bearing arms and he joined the ranks of the Society, where he would live and die in holiness.

Alfonso Rodriguez

 14  It would be easier to say that the Virgin had no interest in advancing anyone into the service of her beloved Son than to deny that in Alfonso Rodriguez she had one of the dearest of all children. When (as we fervently hope) his biography sees the light of day soon, there is no doubt we shall be able to read of the favours accorded him through the intercession of the Queen of Angels. These will be so remarkable that few are those saints who have received anything like them. He felt so confident in his heart that he loved the Mother of fair love, as I shall explain elsewhere, that he occasionally made so bold as to say he loved her more than she did him. In fact, there is abundant testimony to the more than maternal love this same Virgin showed towards him in life and death.

Juan Jimenez

 15   Juan Jimenez is the third of the Temporal Coadjutors[1] to be spoken of here[2].

Our gentle Mother revealed clearly enough that it was she and none other who had guided Juan into the Society of her Son, showing particular care in encouraging and advancing him in the study of virtue. Such was his trust in her that one day he made so bold as to ask her to assure him of his salvation. To which the holy Virgin replied that he should continue to follow the path of complete obedience as he had been doing up until now and in this way she would not fail to lead him to his safe haven in eternity. He said that after the Holy Virgin, his dear Mother, gave him this reply, he felt such a sense of courage that nothing could daunt him. One day he was working in the society's church in the city of Salagosa . He and another brother were rolling a large stone up a wooden ramp when suddenly the Angelus bell was rung and as soon as he heard this, in accordance with his holy custom, he dropped everything to pray the Ave Maria to the Holy Virgin. His companion followed his example and even though the stone which was at an angle on the ramp should have fallen straight down to the ground, it nevertheless did not move and seemed as though it was held in suspension until they had finished their prayer. When they turned to complete their task they were greatly astonished to see the stone in this position, and even more when continuing with the task they had begun earlier, they found that the heavy stone was just as easy to manage as if it had been a little piece of wood. 

Footnotes

[1] Coadiutores temporales [temporal coadjutors] were established as lay religious called Fratres, or brother coadjutors. With the exception of governance roles, they could hold all positions that did not pertain to the priesthood. From the Jesuit Glossary (1992).

[2] In Vita P. Baltazaris Alvarez.

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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