Part III : The Crown of Goodness : Chapter 7 : § 4.10-11

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).

Notre Dame des Grâces, Cotignac (Poggi, 2020)

§ 4. The gratitude of the MOTHER OF GOD towards certain Emperors and Empresses 

Charlemagne : origin of the custom of crowning Roman Kings 

 10   Charlemagne, the living image of a perfect Emperor, was singularly devoted to the Holy Virgin. He dedicated several Churches to her which may be found, for example[1], in Sicambria, Munich and Aix-la-Chapelle[2], where he wished to be buried. Because he had a particular affection for this place, which he called his Royal Chapel, he was keen to make it as magnificent as he could.     

He ordered a great quantity of costly pillars of marble and porphyry for the embellishment of his Chapel[3]. The doors and metal work were of solid bronze and the roof was covered with lead. He made a gift to the Chapel of several precious relics that came from Palestine, including the robe of the Holy Virgin which was housed in a specially constructed chest of silver gilt. In order to make the church even more illustrious, the Holy Father Leo III agreed to his request to come and consecrate the church in person. This ceremony took place in the year 804 on the Feast of the Epiphany in the presence of a great number of Princes, Lords, Archbishops and Bishops – the total being three hundred and sixty-five, one for each day of the year. God showed how pleased he was by all this when he raised two men from the dead who were alive when they received the invitation but had died afterwards. It was in this Church that Charlemagne would spend hours in prayer by night and by day, finding no greater contentment than conversing with God and with His Holy Mother. This is the Church where he would normally go to keep the main feasts of the liturgical year. It was his custom to adorn this Church with the most precious gifts that were made to him. 

It was Charlemagne who instituted the custom which has been followed to this day of crowning the Kings of the Romans and placing the Imperial Diadem on their heads in this very Chapel. This most pious of Princes wished to demonstrate to his successors that they could only take charge over the empire under the guidance and favour of the MOTHER OF GOD. He wanted them to realise that the true way to succeed against their enemies, to avoid the dangers of pride resulting from any successes they might have, and of ruling the Empire effectively was a desire to love and serve wisely the glorious MOTHER OF GOD.  

A few years after his death, the body of this invincible monarch was found preserved in his tomb in the same condition as if he were still alive. He was seated on his royal throne and had three small reliquaries around his neck. In the first, which was in the form of a cross, was a piece of the true Cross; in the second, which was attached to a small golden necklace, was a lock of the Holy Virgin’s hair; and in the third was a small image of the Virgin said to have been painted by St Luke. The Holy Emperor used to take them with him when he went to war and this showed the extraordinary devotion that he had towards the Holy Virgin in whom, after God Himself, he placed all his trust. She it was who, in a miraculous way, made him what he was : namely famous for his piety, his justice, his charity, his magnanimity, his conquests and for every sort of royal and heroic virtue. In a word, it was she who made him great amongst the great.

Footnotes

[1] Canis., lib. V de B. Virg., c. 23.

[2] Aachen.

[3] Petrus Beck in Aquisgrano.

 

Louis the Pious

 11   His son Louis the Pious felt the presence of the Virgin helping him wherever he went (as I shall explain more fully later[1]). This was so much the case that without her guidance he would not contemplate any undertaking. In whatever position he found himself, you would always see him  inspired by heavenly graces and breathing the sweet air of the MOTHER OF GOD after the manner of all her children. 

He was moderate in his eating habits, sober in the clothes he wore, generous in his gifts, invincible in combat, constant in adversity, quick to forgive, always ready to seek reconciliation, devout towards God, respectful towards the Holy See, charitable towards the poor and fair-minded towards everybody. Even though he was gifted with patience like all children of Heaven, God and his dear Mother rescued Pius from many difficulties and always helped him to triumph over his enemies, just as he did over himself.  

 

Footnotes

[1] Part IV, ch. 8.

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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