Chapter 7 : The Sixth Star or Splendour of the Crown of Goodness of the MOTHER OF GOD
She is a true model of generosity towards her children
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) |
§ 5. The Gratitude of the Mother of God towards certain Kings, Queens and other Rulers
Clovis
1 Let us now honour the Great Clovis, France’s own Constantine, one of the first Christian Kings and a true model for good kings. St Remigius, who was his spiritual father, had a great devotion to the Holy Virgin and he planted this in the heart of the Prince. Amongst other things the Prince did to honour his holy Mother was to build a beautiful Church for her in Strasbourg[1]. She showed her gratitude to him during his reign that he was able on his own to To extend the borders of your state more than all these predecessors together.
Footnotes
[1] Bosius, Lib. IX de Signis Eccles., c. 20.
Dagobert
2 One of his successes, King Dagobert, showed his desire to honour and serve the Holy Virgin in the same Church by making a gift to her of an entire town[1], called Rubiacum[2], along with its appurtenances. In return, the glorious Virgin introduced him to St Aubert, Bishop of Cambrai[3] and one of her most devoted servants. As a result, he founded the Church and the Monastery of Notre-Dame which this holy Prelate governed. At his prompting, Dagobert completed many worthy undertakings which showed forth the love of the Mother of mercy, not only during his life but after his death.
Footnotes
[1] Canisius, lib. V de B. Virg., c. 23.
[2] Modern Rouffach, south of the city of Strasbourg in NE France.
[3] Fulbertus, in Vita S. Autberti.
St Louis
3 There can scarcely be found anyone comparable to St Louis amongst Kings and I am not sure it would be possible to find anyone with a greater devotion to the MOTHER OF GOD.
William of Chartres, his chaplain, wrote of him that he would assist daily at the Office of the Holy Virgin or, if prevented by affairs of state, he would recite the Office privately[1]. Every Saturday he would provide a meal for three poor men after having first washed their feet. He dedicated the Carthusians’ Church to her in Paris along with the Monastery that he had built for them, providing in a most auspicious manner a place of rest for the MOTHER OF GOD in the former Palace of the Kings of France. In 1248 he built the Sainte-Chapelle[2]; he moved forward work on the construction of Notre-Dame Cathedral, the foundations of which had been laid by Philippe-Auguste; and it would be difficult to find a single province in France without a Dominican or Franciscan Church dedicated to the Virgin and built thanks to the munificence of this great King.
I would be doing a disservice to readers if I tried to set out in detail the graces and favours he received as a result of his acts of devotion since there is no one unaware of the flourishing condition of the French monarchy during those years when he wore the Crown, not to mention the spiritual and temporal blessings that Heaven showered upon him.
Footnotes
[1] In Vita ipsius.
[2] Corrozetius, in Antiquit. Paris.
Robert
4 King Robert’s devotion was such that he was inspired to compose several hymns[1] for the principal feasts of the Church and to go in person to present them on the altar of St Peter in Rome, in the presence of the Holy Father. It is accordingly no surprise to learn that he had a particular desire to honour the MOTHER OF GOD. We have striking proof of this in the Churches that he built in various locations. These include[1] Notre-Dame des Champs near Paris, Notre-Dame de Bonnes-Nouvelles near Orléans, Notre-Dame d’Étampes, Notre-Dame de Poissy and several others. In recognition of his love and devotion, the Holy Virgin granted him the graces and favours he needed for a wise and virtuous life as well as enriching him with all that is required of a great Prince. He was pious, magnanimous, moderate, munificent and kind-hearted : in short, he was gifted with every royal quality.
Footnotes
[1] He is said to be the author, for example, of the Veni, Sancte Spiritus, known as the Golden Sequence, for the Mass at Pentecost. It is commonly regarded as one of the greatest masterpieces of sacred Latin poetry ever written.
[2] Gaguinus du Tillet, etc.
Charles V
5 Charles V had a particular love for Notre-Dame de Chartres. He would go there from time to time to ask for help with his undertakings and he gave several beautiful presents to the Church. He granted that all cases involving this noble Church should be taken before the Parliament in Paris at first instance. He was responsible for the foundation of a Mass which was to be said every day at Prime as well as three to be said for the departed, and these are still to day known as the King’s masses, even though there were other Royal foundations in this noble Church. The fact that he was known as Charles the Wise demonstrates how beloved he was of Heaven and how the Protectress of France watched over him carefully. To sum up, it could be said of him that he was diligent in his affairs, thoughtful in the advice he gave, careful in his undertakings, generous with his gifts , restrained in his manner of living and courteous yet regal in his dealings with others. He was loved by his own people and feared by his enemies. Edward III, King of England, said there was no Prince less bellicose and none who gave him more things to think about.
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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
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