Part III : The Crown of Goodness : Chapter 13 : §3.4-6

Chapter 13 : The Twelfth Star or Splendour of the Crown of Goodness of the MOTHER OF GOD

She safeguards her children at the hour of death and provides them with their passport to Heaven

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)

§ 3. How the Holy Virgin prepares her children for the surprise and uncertainty of death 

Musa

 4   St Gregory recounts in his Dialogues[1] that there was once an unmarried girl called Musa, 

to whom the MOTHER OF GOD appeared, accompanied by a retinue of maidens robed in white who seemed to be of the same age as Musa. She asked Musa whether she would like to join their company and to enter into her service along with them. Musa replied that since she was being honoured with this offer, she would be delighted to accept it.

“And I would be delighted to receive thee,” said the Holy Mother, “but on condition that thy way of life becometh more serious than it hath been hitherto and that thou biddest farewell to all frivolities and vanities. I am giving thee thirty days as an opportunity to demonstrate this and I promise thee that – if thou dost what I have asked thee – I shall receive thee into my retinue at the end of this time.”

Musa told her parents all about this and from that moment onwards she impressed them so much by the propriety of her actions and the new seriousness with which she was living her life that they could not but wonder at such a remarkable change in her. On the twenty-fifth day, she was suddenly taken by a slight fever which lasted until the thirtieth day. The thoughts and feelings that she expressed at this time seemed far beyond her tender years, leaving everyone astonished. On  the last day of the trial, the Virgin appeared to her once more with the same maidens as before and invited her to join their number. After a short while, Musa lowered her gaze as a sign of respect and said  

“Dear Lady, I am coming . . . dear Lady, I am coming.”

 With those words she surrendered her soul in order to follow the Virgin as one of her companions 

Footnotes

[1] Lib. IV, c. 17.

St Opportuna

 5   The death of St Opportuna was similar in many ways to what I have just described. She was born in Normandy and became a religious sister in the Benedictine Order, eventually becoming Abbess of the Monastery at Almenêches, some two leagues from Sées. Her feast is celebrated on the 22nd of April. 

Whilst she was lying ill in bed, she was visited by St Cecilia and St Lucia whom she greeted tenderly, saying: 

“My dearest Ladies and sisters, what instructions do you bring from the glorious Virgin to her most humble servant?”

“Dear Bride of the Saviour,” they replied to her, “the Queen of Heaven is waiting to accompany thee with thy lighted lamp to the chamber of her beloved Son, our glorious Spouse, where thou wilt receive the crown of glory and enter into the joyful possession of eternal delight.” 

Shortly afterwards it seemed as though she was approaching her end and the clergy chanted hymns on one side of her bed and the nuns on the other. Suddenly, Opportuna sat up in bed and, looking towards the door, she said: 

“There she is – the Immaculate MOTHER OF GOD. I will commend all of you to her, since I shall not be seeing you again in this life.”

When she had spoken these words, she stretched out her arms and, folded in the gentle embrace of her dear Mother, she passed away. 

Philippa of Guelders

 6   Her most Serene Highness Philippa of Guelders was at one time Queen of Jerusalem and of Sicily, Duchess of Lorraine, of Bar and of Guelders, and later in life joined the Order of Poor Clares. She certainly deserves to be considered amongst those souls whom the MOTHER OF GOD cherished and cared for most dearly at the moment of their death.  

This remarkable Princess spent seventy-eight years in this world, of which her last twenty-seven years were spent in the cloister, as in the Court of her Spouse Jesus Christ. Eventually she came to face the common lot of all mortals as a result of various illnesses which, whilst they caused great affliction to her body, never affected the resilience of her soul. Throughout her life she had pursued two devotions in a most signal manner : one was for the Passion of the Saviour and the other was for the glorious Virgin. When all her strength left her at the beginning of Good Friday, no one was any doubt that this must have been the result of an agreement with her heavenly Spouse, who wanted to take her unto Himself on the very day that He had given up His life for us. In fact her dear sisters were already coming in haste to rejoice with her about such a great favour from Heaven when she made it clear to them that they were in fact mistaken by one day – because the Son had yielded to His Mother’s request in this regard as she then proceeded to explain in a gentle voice: 

“I know well that today is the day I have always loved and honoured ; but in fact I have to tell you that I shall not be dying today. All the moments of great joy in my life have come on a Saturday. It was on a Saturday that I was taken in marriage by the late King René, my good Lord and my husband; it was on a Saturday that I made my entry into Lorraine, welcomed and applauded by all my subjects; it was on another Saturday that I renounced the world and made my solemn profession in the Poor Clares; and tomorrow, which is a Saturday, I shall finally take my leave of the earth to enter the embrace of my dear Spouse Jesus in Paradise.”   

She had spoken the truth and it was just as though God had preserved her soul in the body only so that she could surrender it in peace into the hands of the glorious Virgin.  Accordingly, she was able to hang on until the following day when her soul was released from its mortal prison so that it could soar heavenwards to join in the company of those on high who sing for ever the praises of the Son and the Mother.

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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 2025

Part III : The Crown of Goodness : Chapter 13 : §2.30-31 > §3.1-3

Chapter 13 : The Twelfth Star or Splendour of the Crown of Goodness of the MOTHER OF GOD

She safeguards her children at the hour of death and provides them with their passport to Heaven

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)

§ 2. How the Holy Virgin fortifies her children against their natural fear of death 

Fr Francisco Suarez, Fr Francis Coster and Fr Alphonsus Rodriguez

 30   I cannot pass over in silence the wonderful memory of Fathers Francisco Suarez, Francis Coster and Alphonsus Rodriguez – whom I earlier numbered amongst the most devoted servants of the Blessed Virgin that our little Society[1] had sent to Heaven. The Mother of fair Love did not fail to show them at the moment of death how pleasing their good and faithful services had been to her.  

In the case of Father Suarez, it is said that he surrendered his soul with such great and extraordinary feelings of tenderness and joy that he could not stop saying how he had never thought death would be so gentle and easy as he was finding it. This caused him to repeat frequently the words of the Royal Prophet : I am waiting for thee with a holy impatience, my Lord and my God. O God of virtues! How my soul fainteth from love of thy tabernacles[2], as well as similar yearnings which bore witness to the love of his languishing heart.

With regard to Father Coster, whilst the last Rites were being administered to him he was frequently heard to call out: 

“Oh joy! Oh rapture!”

After he had received the last Rites, he asked for the Psalm Qui habitat[3] to be read to him. This Psalm sets forth the wondrous signs of God’s adorable Providence towards those who know what it is to place their trust entirely in him. At the end of each verse, Fr Coster declared that what he had just heard had been fulfilled in him. When he heard the words at the beginning of the last verse : I will fill him with length of days, he said: 

“How true this is, for through God’s mercy I have lived for eighty-eight years free from illnesses and injuries.”

On hearing the closing words of the Psalm : I will shew him my salvation, he said: 

“This is what I am wanting, and what I await with trust and devotion.” 

When someone assured him that God would grant him this favour to crown all the others, Fr Coster was heard to say:

“In truth I have no doubts about that.”

With those words, this blessed servant of the Virgin surrendered his soul, comforted by these sweet thoughts and by the invisible caresses of the Mother of Goodness.

Alphonsus Rodriguez had suffered throughout his whole life from pain and suffering, especially in his last seven years. He finally received by way of a gift from his beloved Mothe three days of respite after such a long period of penance. During those three days, he experienced the rapture of a most sweet ecstasy which changed him so much that he became almost like an Angel in his beautiful appearance and demeanour. At the end of the three days, he opened for the last time those eyes of his which were now as clear and bright as two stars and, after placing a loving kiss upon the Crucifix, the only words he uttered were: “Ah! Jesus.” With that, he surrendered himself to Jesus and Mary (whom he was wont to call his dearest beloved), and his blessed soul was suffused with the sweet joys of Paradise.

 

Footnotes

[1] i.e., the Society of Jesus to which the author belonged.

[2] Cf. How lovely are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts!  My soul longeth and fainteth for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh have rejoiced in the living God. Psal. XXV. 2-3

[3] Qui habitat : He that dwelleth. From verse 1 of Psalm XC: He that dwelleth in the aid of the most High, shall abide under the protection of the God of Jacob.

 31   By way of summing up, I will say once again (because it cannot be said too often), that here we see a favour which cannot be fully understood in this world :

    • to be able to accept with equanimity death and all that accompanies it when other people become distressed and troubled with worries and fears; 

    • to retain a cheerful disposition whilst they are trembling with dread;

    • to sing confidently whilst they rail against their fate, 

    • to have a light heart and a serene countenance whilst others experience fear and their faces are disfigured by terrible anxieties. 

Soon these blessed and beautiful souls will have other lights enabling them to see clearly the infinite obligations they have to the Queen of Heaven and they will have other feelings enabling them to express their gratitude to her throughout eternity.  

§ 3. How the Holy Virgin prepares her children for the surprise and uncertainty of death 

 1   Dying is inevitable and has a diamond-hard irrevocability. It is, if you like, the beginning of man’s happiness and his escape from the miseries of this life – but if only he knew the day of his departure, this knowledge could serve to give him time to take leave of all his other cares and concerns, so that having settled his accounts he could be ready for the moment when his last hour arrived. After all, how does God benefit in taking us by surprise, and coming as a thief in the night when we are least prepared? What advantage does He derive from our loss and from our misfortune in being caught unawares?

 2   This is how the short-sighted human mind reasons, without taking its thinking any further forward than that. God, however, whose infinite wisdom and adorable Providence opens up other perspectives for Him uses this uncertainty not to take us by surprise (for that would be repugnant to his unlimited goodness), but to keep us always within the limits of our duty and of the respect that we own to His Majesty. This restraint is altogether necessary for sinful souls who would never put an end to their wickedness if they knew the time limit of their life since the knowledge of their last hour would only produce in them an unbridled licence to indulge in every sort of sin with a vain hope of turning to God in conversion at the last moment. As for good souls, it is enough for them to know that their Father has ordained things in this way; they are always ready to depart this world when it pleases the will of their Father; they make their own the words spoken by the holy man Job[1]: Thou shalt call me, and I will answer thee …  thou shalt reach out thy right hand like a good father and I shall fulfil my duty to follow thee like a most obedient son. Being submissive in this way to God’s will can only be wondrously pleasing to Him and highly beneficial to those who put it into practice.

Footnotes

[1] Job xiv. 15.

 3   Be that as it may, the Mother of fair love so disposes the hearts and minds of her children that they are never taken by surprise. Early on she imprints in their souls the fundamental maxim of this spiritual state : that never in their lives should they reach a point at which they would not be prepared to die. She provides them with a certain sensitivity of conscience which prevents them from being able to tolerate being in sin for very long. Since she has undertaken to guide them on the path to their end by means tailored to their nature and needs, the closer they draw unto her the more she multiplies her favours. She increases the interior light within them, arousing their fervour and giving them secret warnings about any changes they need to make within themselves. Concerning those who are hers through a special affection on her part and by a heartfelt love and total trust on theirs, I firmly believe there will be very few amongst them whom she does not warn before the time comes for them to depart this world, or at the very least to whom she does not grant suitable thoughts and feelings concerning their last moments on earth. You will find several examples in previous chapters where I have compiled the various favours and graces they received from her. I could add a great many more here but let us consider just a small selection for the consolation of faithful servants of this Princess so deserving of our love.

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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 2025

Part III : The Crown of Goodness : Chapter 13 : §2.26-29

Chapter 13 : The Twelfth Star or Splendour of the Crown of Goodness of the MOTHER OF GOD

She safeguards her children at the hour of death and provides them with their passport to Heaven

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)

§ 2. How the Holy Virgin fortifies her children against their natural fear of death 

Blessed Dorothea von Montau

 26   Let us know move on from the Virgins we have been considering to a number of widows whose lives were characterised by extraordinary virtue. The first of these is Dorothea von Montau[1] who was a German born in Prussia and who died on the 11th of September in the year 1399[2]. 

This saintly soul displayed throughout her entire life an incredible devotion towards the glorious Virgin and one example of this was that from the age of seven onwards she used to fast every Saturday on bread and water, a practice she continued into her old age. The Mother of fair Love appeared to her one day and encouraged her to continue in the practice of virtue and Dorothea profited so greatly from this visit that henceforth she made wondrous progress in the spiritual life. Even though, for example, she lived in a country known for extremely cold weather, she never wore anything other than a simple dress with a small shawl. The warmth glowing within her heart, however, was such that she could frequently be seen perspiring even in the middle of winter. This same fire blazing within her also meant she did not suffer even during the hottest days of summer.

One day, on the feast of St Agatha, the Saviour came to visit her accompanied by His glorious Mother at a time when she was extremely ill with problems of her heart. By way of treatment, the Saviour took five extremely sharp arrows which he then placed in her heart, whilst He spoke to her as follows: “Dorothea, my dear daughter, it is my wish that just as I suffered for thee, so too thou art to endure suffering for me.” During her final illness, they came to pay her another visit and the Saviour honoured her by giving her Holy Communion with his own sacred and divine hands.  

Footnotes

[1] Groß Montau, formerly in Prussia, is now known as Mątowy Wielkie and is in Poland.

[2] Most authorities give her dates as 1347-94.

St Bridget

 27   Blessed St Bridget had been troubled for an entire year by a fever and pains in her stomach. She was visited by the Saviour of the world and His most holy Mother. 

The Saviour came expressly to bring an end to her troubles and to fulfil the promise he had made that she would die as a Religious and Mother Superior of the Monastery in Vadstena, which she had founded. He himself received her vows and clothed her invisibly with the habit which she had ordained was to be worn by her daughters in the Order. He told her that her body was to be taken from Rome to the Monastery in Vadstena. The previous day, which was the sixth[1] before her death, the Holy Virgin had visited her and had told her not to follow the advice of her physicians who were assuring her she was in no danger of death from this illness. She was not to put herself to the trouble of prolonging her life any longer with these medications for the body, forasmuch as her life would soon be ending and she would be able to enter into possession of a better life for all eternity.  

 

Footnotes

[1] Revel. Extravagant., c. 78.

Sister Mary of the Incarnation

 28   Mary of the Incarnation was a lay sister of Mount Carmel and Foundress of the Carmelites in France who died in Pontoise on the 18th of April in the year 1618. During her life she demonstrated such devotion to the glorious Virgin that it is not surprising that she should have received heavenly favours before death.

  

During her final illness, she asked for a painting of Our Lady to be placed at the foot of her bed and this proved for her a source of a thousand sweet consolations. She could frequently be seen with tears of devotion in her eyes as she gazed upon the image. The power of the heavenly thoughts and feelings showed on her own countenance which looked as though it were on fire and her eyes shone with a celestial brightness. When she was at the highest point in her ecstasies, she would speak so sublimely and effectively about the great qualities and splendours of this Divine Princess, that it was simple enough to know what the source of her inspiration was. In the midst of her extreme suffering, the mere sight of this image brought such joy into her heart that she pleaded earnestly with the Prioress at Pontoise that no sister should be allowed to die without being shown this image 

Prince Ferdinand of Portugal

 29   Amongst so many beautiful and holy souls, we must find a place for Ferdinand, Prince of Portugal, one of the finest jewels to adorn the holy Court. He died on the 5th day of June in the year 1443, showing throughout his life and also in his death that nothing was dearer to his heart than serving the Holy Virgin. 

He fasted on bread and water on every Saturday throughout the year and on all the vigils of the feasts of Our Lady. He also did this on the vigils of the solemnities of our Lord and of eleven Saints for whom he had a special devotion. 

Some time before dying, he saw a glorious Virgin seated on an elevated throne, surrounded by a great number of Saints and Blessed Spirits. St Michael the Archangel, for whom he had a special devotion, was foremost amongst them and he prostrated himself before the Holy Virgin, humbly pleading with her to free this servant of hers from the miseries of this life and to bring him into their company. Scarcely had he finished speaking than St John the Evangelist made the same prayer to her, adding that he was deserving of admission to the marriage of the Lamb[1] since the robe of his soul had never been soiled by any sin and that if he were to be left any longer amongst the evils of the world, he might well fall away from that state in which she had so carefully preserved him hitherto. The Holy Virgin could not refuse this just request that two of the greatest Princes in Heaven had made in favour of her child. At the same moment, she cast upon him a glance more than maternal and promised solemnly to all the company that Ferdinand would be with them before the end of the day. From that moment on, this Prince uniquely dear to God and worthy of admiration by all men did not cease to plead for help not only from the glorious Virgin but also from his other patron saints until finally he surrendered his spirit into the hands of her whom he had loved from the depths of his heart.  

Footnotes

[1] Let us be glad and rejoice, and give glory to him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath prepared herself. And it is granted to her that she should clothe herself with fine linen, glittering and white. For the fine linen are the justifications of saints. Apoc. xix. 7-8.

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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 2025

Part III : The Crown of Goodness : Chapter 13 : §2.19-25

Chapter 13 : The Twelfth Star or Splendour of the Crown of Goodness of the MOTHER OF GOD

She safeguards her children at the hour of death and provides them with their passport to Heaven

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)

§ 2. How the Holy Virgin fortifies her children against their natural fear of death 

Blessed Giacomo Bianconi

 19   Our sixth example concerns Blessed Giacomo Bianconi from Tuscany who died in the year 1301.

It is said of him that on the night of his birth three Moons could be seen in the sky and in the middle of each one was a Dominican Friar. When daybreak came, an unknown boy could be seen running through the city, calling upon the little children to go to school. When he was asked why he was doing this, he replied: 

“Because last night were born into the world three Masters who are making ready to begin teaching.”

Giacomo had a truly remarkable devotion to the Holy Virgin who, to show him how pleased she was with his service, appeared to him eight days before his death. She promised that he would depart this world eight days thence and that she would come to help him in his final struggle – which is what she did. 

St Margaret of Hungary 

 20   The seventh example relates to Blessed St Margaret, daughter of Béla, King of Hungary. I have spoken of her devotion elsewhere[1]. 

This most remarkable Princess had fallen seriously ill and was near to death when the Holy Virgin came to her, accompanied by a host of countless Saints and Blessed Spirits. After greeting Margaret, she placed a crown upon her head. At the same time, Margaret could see a ladder reaching up into the heavens and it seemed that the holy Virgin started to ascend the ladder. Margaret followed her one step at a time, feeling a sense of indescribable happiness by reason of the crown of glory she wore upon her head.

 

Footnotes

[1] Chap. 7, § 5.

St Aldegund

 21   We follow this Princess who became a nun with a companion who was also of royal blood. This is blessed St Aldegund, Abbess of Maubeuge in Hainault. After her we shall consider several other virgins of similar merit, all having a special devotion towards the glorious Virgin. 

Throughout her life, this saintly soul had  shown a heart filled with tenderness and love towards the Queen of Angels. About five days before her death, she received proof of the Holy Mother’s affection for her. Blessed St Waltrude (her sister), whilst elevated at a high level of contemplation, saw the glorious Virgin in a vision entering Aldegund’s room accompanied by a group of Saints. After tenderly caressing her for a while she called upon Aldegund to go with her and led her to Heaven amidst unparalleled rejoicing. The grace and serenity which Waltrude later saw on her dear sister’s face was a sure confirmation of the truth of her vision. 

St Mary of Oignies

 22   Throughout the course of a long illness suffered by Blessed Mary of Oignies before her death,  

the Saviour and His most Holy Mother paid her frequent visits. Angels used to stand ready at the patient’s side, raising her when necessary and then placing her back in bed. A short while before her death she became filled with an indescribable sense of joy and began to sing the Magnificat in honour of the Queen of Angels. The Blessed Spirits who were present accompanied her with their heavenly harmonies. As the time for her departure from this world drew nearer, the Saviour warned her to make herself ready to receive Extreme Unction, during which He himself was present along with His Blessed Mother and His Holy Apostles. He also showed her His favour by placing with His own hands a beautiful Cross at the foot of her bed so that she could fix her dying gaze upon it. Finally, accompanied by those present, He led her to Heaven where she was received with triumphant celebrations and placed in the ranks of His spouses.

St Clare

 23   St Clare was a dear follower of Blessed St Francis and the foundress of the Order of Poor Ladies or Clares, from which so many saintly souls were to be taken and transplanted into Heaven. Following the example of St Francis, she loved the glorious Virgin with a tender devotion and her life of service was rewarded by seeing her and being consoled by her as death approached. 

She saw her coming accompanied by a great retinue of virgins, all clad in white robes and wearing crowns of solid gold. The glorious Virgin stood in their midst like their Empress, wearing an Imperial diadem with dazzling precious gemstones. Her countenance was radiant with a splendour surpassing that of the sun. She drew near to the lowly handmaid of the Lord, embraced her and gave her the kiss of peace, filling her heart with a feeling of vitality and consolation altogether celestial. All the virgins in the retinue then gathered around her bed and covered it with cloth of gold as though it were the nuptial couch for the Spouse who would soon be arriving to see His Bride and escort her into heaven.

St Lutgardis

 24   Blessed St Lutgardis died on the first of July in the year 1246 and she too was rewarded with the same grace before her glorious departure from this world.

The Holy Virgin, accompanied by the Blessed Precursor Saint John the Baptist, invited her to the joys of Paradise , saying: 

“Thou hast dwelt long enough on earth , for now the Blessed Spirits are awaiting thee and have already begun rejoicing to see thee on high with them.”

Saint Clare of Montefalco

 25   Saint Clare of Montefalco died sixty-two years later and also received the same favour – although in a different manner. 

 An Angel had come to visit her during her final illness, having been sent by the Queen of Heaven herself. Clare found the courage in her humility to ask the Angel to inform her Mother most Amiable that she was still languishing in this vale of tears, praying he would take her to Heaven so that she would have more opportunity to praise and bless her forever, along with her beloved Son. The Mother of Mercy heard this prayer but before Clare departed this world she saw the heavens open and the Holy Virgin waiting to bring her without more ado to rejoice in her nuptials with the celestial Spouse.

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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 2025

Part III : The Crown of Goodness : Chapter 13 : §2.14-18

Chapter 13 : The Twelfth Star or Splendour of the Crown of Goodness of the MOTHER OF GOD

She safeguards her children at the hour of death and provides them with their passport to Heaven

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)

§ 2. How the Holy Virgin fortifies her children against their natural fear of death 

St Antoninus

 14   After speaking of this great Father, it is natural that we should consider some of his children. Let us start with Antoninus, the Holy Archbishop of Florence whom I have just mentioned.

It is recounted in his biography that whilst he was struggling against the onset of death, the Holy Virgin appeared to him and brought encouragement to him. When he saw her, he spoke to her lovingly, uttering those beautiful and gentle words which the Church uses to greet her : Holy and Immaculate Virginity, with what praises I shall extol thee, I know not[1].

Footnotes

[1] Sancta et immaculata Virginitas, quibus te laudibus efferam nescio: See Christmas Matins in The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

St Hyacinth

 15   Second comes blessed St Hyacinth, whom Pope Clement VIII canonised on the 17th of April in the year 1599.

He was so advanced in holy virtue that one day the Holy Mother solemnly declared to him, as I have mentioned elsewhere[1], that there was nothing he could ask of her beloved Son that he would not obtain through her intercession. She called him from this world on the very day of her Assumption so that he might share in the honour she receives in Heaven on that day and she consoled him with her presence before he died. At the same time that he was departing this world, a holy Religious sister had a vision of a large procession of Virgins in the midst of which she saw one who seemed to be their Queen holding a Dominican friar by the hand, singing the following words in a truly sublime manner: I will go to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense[2]. When she asked one of the Angels who this grand Lady and the friar were, She received the following reply  

“That is the Mother of Mercy and she is leading blessed Hyacinth into heaven.” 

Footnotes

[1] Cap. 4, § 4.

[2] Cant.iv. 6.

Blessed Albertus Magnus 

 16   Thirdly, we come to blessed Albertus Magnus whose peaceful departure from this world we covered  in chapter two above[1] when we were discussing those who had received favours from the Blessed Virgin. 

Footnotes

[1] Part III ch. 2.

Blessed Dominic of Portugal 

 17   Fourthly we come to the death of Blessed Dominic of Portugal who showed remarkable virtue in the religious life and who died in the year 1300.  

The Fathers of the Order had gathered for a meeting of the Provincial Chapter and Dominic deployed every argument he could to persuade them he should be released from the office of Prior. The esteem they had for his virtue, however, made them resolve to stand firm and urge him most strongly not to refuse the yoke that God wished him to take upon himself[1]. 

“This seems to be their wish,” said Dominic, “and they are not willing to show compassion upon me. Well, I am letting them know that before many days have passed, the Prince of Pastors will have pity upon me and will release me from life as well as from the burdens of this office.”

Things fell out just as he had predicted, for a short while after this he became ill and died within a few days. The Holy Virgin appeared to him before his death holding her Son in her arms and, having given courage and strength to him before he took the final step, she blessed him and then disappeared. After his death, he came back to visit one of his religious brethren and confirmed that he was living in God and with God. 

Footnotes

[1] Take up my yoke upon you, and learn of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart: and you shall find rest to your souls. [Matthew xi. 29] 

Franz von Retz

 18   Our fifth example concerns Franz von Retz, Rector of the University of Vienna in Austria. Johannes Nider was to write of him that he could not recall having ever known anyone more devoted to the service of the Holy Virgin. 

He could never hear the sweet name of Mary spoken or walk past an image of the Virgin without saying an Ave Maria. He employed all the revenue he received not only from his office of Rector but from other sources to the restoration of Monasteries or Churches dedicated to the most sacred Virgin. Whenever he taught on a Saturday he never failed to devote at least half of his lesson to praises of the same Virgin, and his fervent feelings often moved him to tears. He dedicated twelve whole years to explaining in his sermons the Sapiential writings of Solomon. During these, he would frequently be heard to say the following words : the fruit of wisdom is better than the chiefest and purest gold[1]. Whenever he had occasion to speak about the Holy Virgin (which he found a very easy thing to do), he would never miss the opportunity to praise the great qualities and splendours of this incomparable Princess. He has left three large volumes on the Salve Regina. Each and every time that he finished one book and began another, or that he moved from one place to another, he would recite an Ave Maria.

What might you expect from a life such as his and such a heartfelt love for the Holy Virgin other than an end altogether worthy of the Mother’s affection and the son’s devotion? Such was indeed the case for, having spent eighty-four years with thoughts and feelings about his dear Mother almost continually in his mind and heart, he finally surrendered his soul into her arms on the very day that she was born on earth, whilst he sang the Salve Regina so poignantly and so joyfully as to call to mind a dying swan. All those present at his death were quite overcome with joy and consolation at seeing him blessed at the end of his life with this foretaste of Paradise.

Footnotes

[1] Blessed is the man that findeth wisdom and is rich in prudence: The purchasing thereof is better than the merchandise of silver, and her fruit than the chiefest and purest gold. Proverbs iii. 13-14. 

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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 2025

Part III : The Crown of Goodness : Chapter 13 : §2.11-13

Chapter 13 : The Twelfth Star or Splendour of the Crown of Goodness of the MOTHER OF GOD

She safeguards her children at the hour of death and provides them with their passport to Heaven

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)

§ 2. How the Holy Virgin fortifies her children against their natural fear of death 

Blessed Marinus

 11   I shall be dealing later[1]  with the wonderful practice of consecrating oneself in perpetual service to the Holy Virgin. This idea had suggested itself to blessed Marinus, arising from his devotion to the Virgin. He was the brother of Cardinal Peter Damian and here is the account of his glorious decease which is reported by Peter Damian himself[2] and confirmed by the authority of several irreproachable witnesses.     

This outstanding servant of the Virgin was suffering from a hectic[3]  fever which was slowly bringing him closer to the moment of death. He was surrounded by his relatives and friends and, shortly before he died, he began firstly to smile and then he adopted a posture of one showing honour and respect. He turned towards those who were in his room and said to them: 

“Why have you not stood up and bowed to the MOTHER OF GOD, my Queen and my dear Mother?”

Then he spoke to the Blessed Virgin, saying : 

“Princess of earth and Heaven, wherefore dost thou stoop to honouring thy poor servant by visiting him with such kindness and majesty? But since thou hast been pleased to favour me with this visit, I beg thee most humbly not to leave before imparting thy holy blessing and promising me that the radiance of thy holy countenance which I have been blessed to see before my death will preserve me from eternal darkness.”

As he was speaking these words, the Archpriest Damian arrived. He was the dying man’s elder brother and had just finished saying Mass. He asked his brother how he was keeping but Marinus, instead of replying to his inquiry, complained to him about the lack of devotion shown by those around him who had not even bothered to stand up upon the arrival of the Empress of Heaven. He made particular mention of a certain wealthy merchant called Bonizo who remained seated all the time that she had honoured the room with her celestial presence. Bonizo said that his fever was making him have hallucinations. 

“Far from,” it replied Marinus. “You could not be more mistaken. Is it not well known that those who suffer from the illness of which I am dying do not become delirious? You’re just trying to cover your obduracy when you should rather try to be more tender-hearted. Let me repeat what I have said as best I can, since it is for your own good that I make known these wonders of Heaven : my dear Mother and the Queen of Angels deigned to bring joy to my heart by allowing me a glimpse of her divine countenance; and after giving me her blessing and inviting me to follow her, she has now departed.”    

With these few words, Marinus gave up the ghost, leaving those present overwhelmed with astonishment and joy. 

Footnotes

[1] Part IV, ch. 4.

[2] Opusc. 33, c. 4.

[3] hectic: applied to that kind of fever which accompanies consumption or other wasting diseases, and is attended with flushed cheeks and hot dry skin.

Israel, brother of St Bridget

 12   It would be remiss of me to pass over in silence the touching way in which Israel departed this world. He was a member of the Swedish royal family and brother of Blessed St Bridget.   

This great man had been chosen by the MOTHER OF GOD to be General of the army which the King of Sweden had assembled to fight against the Infidels. He received heavenly reinforcements through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin who promised Saint Bridget, his sister, that she would guide her brother and ensure that his name would be honoured in Heaven and on earth. All would be obliged to acknowledge how well he had led the campaigns and how faithfully he had served God. The Holy Virgin added that she would take great care of him and that she would lead him to herself by a path which he would never have imagined but which would be most suited to his salvation. She was no less faithful in the fulfilment than she was in the making of this promise.

He duly set off at the head of his army on their campaign against the Infidels, enemies of God and of His holy name. A few years later, he arrived in a German city called Riga and there he was taken ill. Through an inner revelation, he realised he would not recover and he went into a Church along with some of his companions. He prostrated himself humbly in front of a statue of the Blessed Virgin, famous by reason of various miracles that had been worked there. He was wearing an ornate ring which he removed and placed on the statue, saying:

“Thou art my sovereign Lady and my Protectress; thou hast in a thousand ways given me unmistakable tokens of thy love, of which I am content to have no other witness than thyself. For this reason, I surrender myself body and soul into the protective embrace of thy loving Providence and I implore thee in this my hour of need to take a special care of the lowliest but most loving of thy servants.”  

With that, he made his way back to his lodgings where he received the Holy Sacraments of the Church before departing this life with such extraordinary feelings of devotion that all those present were enlightened and inspired.  

At about the same time, the glorious Virgin appeared to St Bridget and gave her the news of her dear brother’s death. She told her that he had not been one of those who loved half-heartedly but that he had been completely devoted to her – in token of which she had accepted the ring he had offered. She went on to explain it it was in fact through a most special Providence that he had died outside his own country for she had arranged it in this way so that the tears and blandishments of family and friends would not prevent him from leaving the world with all the generosity befitting a Christian knight.  

St Dominic

 13   Who could ever dare to hope for some loving intervention by the Holy Virgin at the moment of dying if she had left Blessed Dominic, one of her most devoted servants, without causing him to feel the effects of her peerless goodness? The following account was written by St Antoninus[1].  

The Blessed Virgin was present at his death along with her beloved Son. The Prior of the Convent of Brescia was called Guala, (who for his merits was later made Bishop of the same city), and he was a man known for his spiritual and devout life. After prayers of the divine Office had concluded, he suddenly fell into a gentle slumber during which he saw an opening in the sky, and through this two ladders as white as snow were lowered. The Saviour of the world was holding one and the Blessed Virgin the other; the Prior saw Blessed Spirits without number ascending and descending the ladders. He also saw a Religious clad in the habit of St Dominic seated in a beautiful chair but he was unable to recognise him because his face was veiled. The Saviour and His holy Mother then drew the two ladders back up through the opening, along with the Religious whom he had seen seated between them. Later, it was discovered that the Prior had seen this vision at the same time that the Blessed Patriarch Dominic had departed this world for a better life.

Footnotes

[1] Part. III, tit. IV, XXIII, cap. 4, § 14.

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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 2025

Part III : The Crown of Goodness : Chapter 13 : §2.7-10

Chapter 13 : The Twelfth Star or Splendour of the Crown of Goodness of the MOTHER OF GOD

She safeguards her children at the hour of death and provides them with their passport to Heaven

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)

§ 2. How the Holy Virgin fortifies her children against their natural fear of death 

Blessed John Buonagiunta

 7   Some years before this, Blessed John Buonagiunta departed this world in the year 1257 and his death was no less remarkable in the eyes of God than the two we have just mentioned.  

When he was General of the Order, he had just finished celebrating the holy sacrifice of the Mass one day and, whilst still clad in his priestly vestments, he summoned his dear children, the Servites in the monastery of Monte Senario. Turning to look upon them like another Jacob (the Patriarch), he delivered a long and wonderful sermon to them on the charity which should always shine forth from their souls, the future growth of the Order of the most sacred Virgin and the assurance he had received regarding his approaching death. After that, he began to preach to them concerning the passion of his dear Master, as though he wanted this to be the unique inheritance he would leave them. When he eventually came to the crucifixion, his eyes filled with tears and sighs and groans could be heard, as though coming from the depths of his heart. He was no longer able to speak and it seemed he would join his Saviour on the Cross, for he stretched out his arms and in this position he surrendered his holy soul to God and to his loving Mother whom he had served so worthily. 

Blessed Manettus, Blessed Alexis , Blessed Sostene and Hugh

 8   The deaths of the four remaining founders were in no ways any different. Blessed Manettus, the fourth of the seven and the third General of the Order, departed this world with indescribable spiritual joy in the year 1268. The same may be said of  blessed Alexis who lived for one hundred and ten years and spent seventy of these in the religious life. It is reported that:

As he was dying, the Saviour was seen in the form of a little child placing a strikingly beautiful and precious crown on his head; Angels in the form of birds with feathers as white as snow were seen flying around his body.

The last two of the seven founders, namely blessed Sustene and Hugh, were like the disciples on the road to Emmaus : 

They were making a journey and discussing with each other the wonderful progress Our Lady's Order had been making, the help they had been receiving from her and the glorious deaths of the dear father and companions ; whilst they were imploring their dear Mother to grant them a happy outcome to this life, they heard a voice which seemed to be coming from a great distance, calling to them: 

“Hey, ye men of God! Cease with your lamentations, for soon there will come an end to your labours and you will come to share in the requiescence of your companions.”

These words filled them with a holy terror mixed with joy and astonishment, making them continue on their journey with certain feelings of elation in their hearts. No sooner had they arrived at the monastery in Monte Senario than they were both seized by a fever and, after a few hours, they were called to Heaven where they joined the company of their departed brethren and received the reward for their labours.

This was in the year 1271 and on the very day of their death blessed Philip Benizi had a vision of the Holy Virgin receiving two freshly picked lilies; he understood this as a symbol representing the two aforementioned Fathers, according to the vision which I described in Part I[1]. The following morning he informed his brethren about their death which was later confirmed as taking place at the same time as his vision of the lilies.   

 

Footnotes

[1] Chap. 12, § 7.

Blessed Philip Benizi

 9   I should not omit to mention Philip Benizi[1] since, although he was not one of the seven Founders of the Order, he nevertheless deserves the title of Founder (as I have explained elsewhere[2]) because of the great things he did to establish and advance the same Order.

This saintly man, having learned from the Holy Virgin that he was to die on the very day of her triumphant Assumption, set off towards Todi[3] which is where she had revealed his life would end. The devote residents of Todi, having heard the rumour of his arrival, formed a triumphal procession as though to welcome a Prophet, carrying palms and singing paeans of praise. The humble servant of God, however, carefully avoided the crowds by choosing an alternative route. Providentially, this led him to encounter two prostitutes and God granted him the grace of so touching their hearts that they experienced a conversion after seeing the beauty of chastity which he revealed to them. 

On the eve of the Assumption, he moved the hearts of all those who had come to see him by reason of the feelings of devotion and contrition they experienced at seeing such a holy man shedding penitential tears – as though he had been the greatest sinner in the world. On that same day he received the sacred Viaticum with such devotion that it seemed that he was already partaking of the happiness of the blessed; he predicted several things which were to come and then, having given his blessing to all those present, he asked them to withdraw. The following morning, which was the day of the glorious Assumption of his most gentle Mother, the Servite brethren gathered around him and recited various prayers befitting his condition. There then was heard a voice calling on Philip to leave:  

“My good and faithful servant, since thou hast been faithful in the little that I have entrusted to thee, I am going to grant great things to thee; prithee enter now into the joy of thy Lord.”[4] 

No sooner had these words been spoken, than he surrendered his blessed spirit to God.

Footnotes

[1] The French text refers to him here as Philippe de Tudert. Philip's family name was Benizi, and Tudert may be a reference to Todi where he died. See [3].

[2] Cap. 12, § 7.

[3] The French text has “Tudert, a town near Ancona in the Marche region”; all other authorities consulted locate his death at Todi in Umbria. See e.g., St. Philip Benizi (1233-1285). 

[4] Cf. And he said to him: Well done, thou good servant, because thou hast been faithful in a little, thou shalt have power over ten cities. Luke xix. 17.

Blessed Joachim of Siena

 10   We can add to these Blessed Joachim who was a native of the city of Siena in Tuscany and had always been very devoted to the MOTHER OF GOD. From a very early age he was in the habit of going every day to pray in front of her image depicting the Annunciation and honouring her every Saturday by fasting on bread and water. 

Having been advised by her to give up all that she possessed in the world, and to enter into the Order of Servites; having been favoured on four different occasions by her apparition and having bequeathed to his whole order can't this examples of virtues which he practised over the period of thirty-three years that he was with the order, finally we see him in the Church of Sienna on Good Friday. They were singing the account of the Passion and came to the words : Et inclinato capite tradidit spiritum[1]. At that moment, he received a warning that the hour of his death was approaching. Shortly afterwards the whole church was suffused with radiant light and when it eventually faded, Blessed Joachim's life on earth had come to an end so that he might ascend into Heaven to rejoice in the sight of his beloved Saviour and his most blessed Mother.  

Footnotes

[1] And bowing his head, he gave up the ghost. John xix. 30.

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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 2025