Part III : The Crown of Goodness : Chapter 13 : §5.4-5 > §6.1

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)

§ 5. How the Holy Virgin helps her children during the judgement which takes place after their death

Henry of Heiden

 4  Andrew[1] was in effect a stranger since she came to his rescue only at the request of a Saint, and if she did this for a stranger then what is there that she would not do for those who have loved and honoured her throughout their lives? What obstacles would she not remove? What ways would she not find to free them from the claws of these predatory vultures from hell? 

Here is an example still fresh in the memory showing the loving help she gives to her dear children. 

In the year 1586[2] there was in the German college at Rome a young canon from Trier, called Henry of Heiden. He had received a message from his family asking him to come home and he was making ready for the journey. God had different plans for him and was preparing him for a long journey but he was taken by a sudden fever in less than a week. He was warned there was a risk he would die and so he made a general confession. He also prayed in particular to the MOTHER OF GOD, to St Andrew and to St Apollinaris, Patron Saint of the Germans’ Church. Immediately after these prayers, he fell into a sleep as though in an ecstasy and when he woke up a short while later he summoned his confessor. He spoke to him in the presence of a number of other people as follows: 

“Father, in the name of God:  what have I just seen?”

There was something in the way he asked this question that made all those present draw near, anxious to learn what had happened to him.  

“I have seen things which simply cannot be understood, even less put into words, but here is what I can tell you. At the same moment that I fell asleep, it seemed that my soul left my body and was escorted to face judgement by God. There I found myself alone for quite a period of time and God alone knows how I suffered. For the enemies of my salvation began to make accusations against me in front of the sovereign Judge. They charged me with several sins which seemed so terrible that I felt it was only a question of time before I was delivered into their power; but the Mother of goodness came forward, followed by St Andrew, Saint Apollinaris and several holy martyrs. With a severe look on her face, she asked these imps from hell how they could dare to attack someone who had been a servant for so many years in her Congregation. They were so astonished that they immediately took flight in terror and I could see I was now out of danger.”

He spoke these words with a peaceful look on his face which did not change in any way until death finally took him away some four hours after he had finished speaking.   

Footnotes

[1] See § 5.3 above.

[2] Franciscus Bencius, in Annalibus, anno 1386.

Francis Moricus

 5   Here is another example dating from two hundred and ninety years before the events I just described.

A Franciscan friar called Moricus, having lived a very saintly life, found himself approaching death and he began to utter desperate and frightening cries, saying that he was going to be damned. Hearing his shouts, the other friars came running to his bedside and sought to strengthen his fortitude by speaking of the efficacious power of the Saviour’s precious blood and his Holy Mother’s intercession. This succeeded in bringing him consolation and he remained quiet for some time; but then he started to sing repeatedly the most holy name of Jesus. When he finally ceased, his brothers who were close to his bedside asked him why he had done this. Here is what he replied:

“I was taken before God’s tribunal to be judged and, although my conscience felt clear, I knew just how strictly our lives are examined at this final judgement and I honestly thought I would be damned. But the Holy Virgin, my dear Advocate, came to my side and told me that by way of satisfaction for my sins, I should pronounce one hundred times the most sacred name of Jesus. That is what you heard me singing.”

§ 6. How the Holy Virgin consoles her children amid the flames of Purgatory and the care she takes of their bodies

 1   All that remains for us now is the final step of the five we mentioned[1] as being sources of anxiety for those approaching death and this one will readily alarm anyone who understands it for what it is. I am speaking of the fire which consumes those poor souls who have not provided full satisfaction for their sins whilst they were still united to their bodies. These fires are so fierce and burn so hot that any fires in this world would be as dew when compared to those of Purgatory. If what the Holy Doctors say on this subject is true – that the fires are no different from those burning the wretched who have been damned, except with regard to their duration and the soul’s resignation to the divine will – then we are forced to conclude that all the pains we could ever suffer here on earth are but dim foreshadowings compared to them. Inasmuch, however, as my intention is to console the servants of the MOTHER OF GOD rather than to terrify them by describing these torments, I implore them to take heart and be confident that their dear Mother will never cease to help and console them until that moment finally arrives when they take up their abode in Heaven.  

There would be far too many things for me to say if I wanted to describe in detail how many ways she has of supplying them with refreshment and fortitude. Accordingly, it will suffice to mention a number of examples.

Footnotes

[1] See § 1. 3. above for the five steps.

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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