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.
.👑 👑 👑
 |
| 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
No comments:
Post a Comment