Part IV : How to give thanks to the Mother of God : Chapter 8 : § 2.9-11

Chapter 8 : Honour – a seventh feature of the gratitude we owe the Mother of God

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. Second sign of honour : singing her praises

 9   Others have been moved by their love to come up with ever new ways of rendering honour to their Holy Mother. I am grateful to the writer who recently produced a small volume which focuses on this single line of verse: 

Tot tibi sunt dotes, Virgo, quot sidera cælo[1];

but he rearranges the words in as many ways as the rules of Latin hexameter allow and comes up with the total number of stars astronomers had by that time counted in the firmament, namely 1,022[2]. Truth to tell, it is entirely in accord with reason that everything the human mind can discover which partakes of truth and goodness should serve to honour the beautiful splendours of her who will never be honoured by men as much as she deserves.

 

Footnotes

[1] “Thou hast as many gifts, O Virgin, as there are stars in the heavens.”

[2] The line has been attributed to the Flemish Jesuit poet Bernard Bauhusius and was famously analyzed for its permutations by Erycius Puteanus in his 1617 work Pietatis Thaumata.

 10   Many have dedicated their pens and other instruments of their profession to her, along with their vigils and their labours, in recognition of the favours they have reserved from her and of the honour they wish to render her.  

Justus Lipsius is a writer to whom the world of letters is greatly indebted. He placed his pen for many years at the service of his studies in history and classical texts. In this he was greatly helped by the graces and favours of the MOTHER OF GOD, as he himself made clear. He finally dedicated his pen[1] to her and his last work was in fact a compilation of the miracles of Notre Dame de Haut and Notre Dame de Montaigu. 

St Ignatius, bidding a final farewell to his military career in the world in order to do battle in the spiritual domain, passed his vigil of arms in the Monastery of Santa Maria de Montserrat before the statue of the Holy Virgin. He hung his sword and his dagger at her side as if to offer her the honour his arms had won and at the same time promising her all the honour that his new life was to acquire. 

Footnotes

[1] In Fine B. Virg. Hal.

 11   It seems to me, however, that they are the most blessed to whom Heaven has granted the favour of making known, either in speech or in writing, the excellent qualities of the Queen of Heaven and of encouraging the world to love her, to honour her and to serve her. Their position is in fact a thousand times more privileged than that of all the courtiers and favourites on earth. Happier still are those whom God, by a most special grace, has destined to perform on high as Cantors in the Chapel Royal of this peerless Virgin and as Panegyrists singing of her great qualities. What joy to be included amongst those so esteemed by the Queen of Angels! Personally, I would be happy to exchange all I have earned in this life  for just a little place amongst their number. May those whose happy lot this is offer up their thanks and blessings forever. As for ourselves, we pray that our mouths shall be ever be filled with her praises and that in this way, as a Prophet once said[1], she will bridle us lest we should perish.

For, as St Bonaventure says[2], blessed is he who never wearies of singing thy praises and making known thy virtues, since his heart will perforce be flooded with Heavenly light and the Holy Spirit will not fail to dissipate all darkness from his mind.

Footnotes

[1] For my name's sake I will remove my wrath far off: and for my praise I will bridle thee, lest thou shouldst perish. Isai. xlviii.9.

[2] In Psalterio B. Virg.

 

© Peter Bloor 2025 

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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.

He that hearkeneth to me, shall not be confounded: and they that work by me, shall not sin. They that explain me shall have life everlasting. Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) xxiv. 30-31.