Part IV : How to give thanks to the Mother of God : Chapter 7 : § 3.1-5

Chapter 7 : Acts of thanksgiving – a sixth 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)

§ 3.  The third characteristic of Thankfulness : To give her all the glory for the successes she has overseen

 1   Glory is like the tithe payable to Heaven on the good works we perform with Heaven’s help; it is something sacrosanct which we are no more permitted to touch than the fruit of the forbidden tree. It is the Lord's right which must not be infringed for fear of being punished with the confiscation of all our goods. It is in fact wonderful to see how the Saints were most scrupulous in this regard and the fear they had of being even suspected of claiming the portion which is especially reserved for God alone. I shall speak now only of the servants of the Holy Virgin, since that is our theme.

 

 2   Blessed St Francis of Paula had such a great fear that the miracles he worked would be attributed to him that he would always immediately offer up honour to God and to the Queen of Heaven.

This was in fact his normal practice but on one particular occasion, when he had cured a person suffering from a cerebral disorder, he gathered all the Friars[1] together so that they could go and sing the Salve Regina in front of the altar of the MOTHER OF GOD, by way of thanksgiving to her who had worked this miracle through him.

 

Footnotes

[1] St. Francis of Paula (1416-1507) was founder of the Order of Minims.

 3   Abbot Leontius[1] held the title of Chaplain and Almoner of the Holy Virgin for the space of forty years and more. What was said of him in this connection is worthy of eternal memory:

He never distributed arms with his own hands except to those who were blind or to those who were unable to use their own hands. In the case of everyone else, he would place the alms on the steps in front of the altar or at the base of a pillar, so that they could easily be seen. When someone asked him one day why he did this, he replied: 

“I do this so that everyone will understand that I am not the one who is giving the alms but the MOTHER OF GOD, whom I serve.”

Footnotes

[1] Prati spiritualis, c. 62.

 

 4   In the year 971[1], the Russians, the Bulgars, the Scythians and the Turks joined forces and, numbering more than 330,000 men under arms, they set off with the plan of making themselves masters of the Byzantine Empire. The Emperor John Tzimiskes could not have wished for more favourable assistance than what he was to receive from the MOTHER OF GOD. He addressed his prayers to her and earnestly implored her to come to his help. Having done this, he led his men towards the enemy, marching under the banners of the Holy Virgin with such courage that he put their foes to flight. His piety was such that it immediately made him think of how he might show his gratitude in a way no less worthy of her greatness than her generosity. He prepared a magnificent victory procession where the image of the MOTHER OF GOD was seated over the enemy's spoils in the triumphal chariot. As for himself, he followed wearing simple attire and mounted on a white horse, accompanied by his senior officers.

Footnotes

[1] Baron., eo anno.

 5   The Emperor John Komnenos, aware of this fine example set by his predecessor, wished to go even further:

In the year 1123, having gained a glorious victory over his foes with the help of the blessed Virgin, he organised a triumphal procession with her image borne upon a silver chariot studded with precious gemstones.The senior officers in his court walked barefoot and bare-headed, accompanying the chariot and leading the four white horses which were pulling it. The Emperor was dressed in the same manner and walked immediately in front of them, carrying in his hands the Cross which had been shown to the Emperor Constantine as a sign promising him victory. 

 

© Peter Bloor 2025 

👑   👑   👑

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.