Chapter 11 : Imitation – tenth 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).
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| Notre Dame des Grâces, Cotignac (Poggi, 2020) |
§ 4. Her exceptional confidence and how it should be imitated by everyone
1 Following St Paul[1], St Augustine[2] places the beatitude or happiness of this life’s in hope or confidence, and in the most sacred Virgin this confidence was most high, most firm and most faithful.
Footnotes
[1] Rom. viii. 24.
[2] Lib. XIX Civit. Dei, c. 4.
The confidence of the Virgin was most high
2 I say most high forasmuch as if ever there were a creature to whom might be applied the words David once uttered to a beautiful soul[1]: Thou hast made thy hope and thy refuge the most High, then this would be the MOTHER OF GOD. If the height of hope depends upon the firmness of faith, we have just seen that there never was a faith like unto hers. If confidence rises in proportion to the knowledge we have of God's faithfulness, in whom would this be more clearly discernible or be possessed to a more excellent degree than in her? If in proportion to the extent a heart becomes more detached from all earthly affections, it raises itself willingly and attaches itself directly to its sovereign good – then what heart was ever more free and more pure than hers? If when a soul is entirely distrustful of itself and plunges more deeply into a consideration of its own nothingness, it is better disposed to trust in God and to throw itself into the bosom of His loving Providence – then who ever had more knowledge of herself and distrusted her own abilities more than the Mother of humility? If St John[2] was right when he said that if our heart do not reprehend us, we have confidence towards God and whatsoever we shall ask, we shall receive of Him, – then where shall we find a soul in which that applies more than in the case of the Blessed Virgin, whose heart was never moved to reproach her in the slightest way? In short, if the more hope is pure the more highly it rises, what confidence could ever equal in purity that of the Daughter, the Mother and the Spouse of God?
Footnotes
[1] Epist. 77.
[2] Ildefons., Serm. 4 de Assumpt.
[3] Orat. 2 de Annuntiat.
The confidence of the Virgin was most firm
3 Her confidence was, moreover, most firm, forasmuch as once she had attached herself to God, there was never anything that would be able to separate her from Him. Please take a moment to consider the following examples which demonstrate her firmness. Did Heaven order her to marry? Then she immediately agreed, notwithstanding the unbreakable vow she had taken to preserve her virginity, comfident as she was that fire would turn into ice before God would permit Joseph her spouse to be anything other than the guardian of her purity. Did Joseph form a resolution to put her away privately? This did not cause her any more trouble than if it were a matter which did not affect her ; once her firm belief was established, then rocks would speak before God would abandon his project. Did her Son seem to reproach her during the wedding at Cana and give the impression that her request would go no further? Notwithstanding this, she went on to tell the servants what they were to do and to prepare them for the miracle to come, about which she had no doubt whatsoever. Did others lose hope with the death of her Son? Well, her own lived on among the shadows of death, and already she sees in her mind the glorious Saviour and all His enemies at His feet.
The confidence of the Virgin was most faithful
4 Her confidence was most faithful insofar as she placed her reliance so completely on God that she never failed to do whatever she could for her part. When the Angel spoke of how she was to conceive in her womb, she raised certain difficulties with him in a totally respectful manner and she did not give her consent until she had received clarification. If she sees her Holy Spouse in distress, she cast herself into God’s embrace with complete peace of mind; but she takes great care to give no reason for mistrust or suspicion. If it becomes necessary to go to Bethlehem in the last month of her pregnancy, she goes without a murmur, but making sure that she has everything she will need to care for the baby she is carrying. In short, picture her behaving like this for the rest of her life and try to imagine someone who has so much trust in God’s Providence as to consider everything she herself does as quite insignificant but on the other hand ensuring she is most diligent in all her tasks, as though their successful outcome depends entirely upon the care she takes.
5 It is in this that the dear children of the Holy Virgin try to imitate their dear Mother and to soar high above all created things so as to attach their hope to the sovereign good. It is in this that, after long experience of the infinite faithfulness of God, they cry out with Saint Paul[1]: I know whom I have believed, and I am certain that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him. It is in this that, after carefully considering the happiness of all those who have wanted no other source of support than God, they say along with David[2]: Let them trust in thee who know thy name: for thou hast not forsaken them that seek thee, O Lord. It is in this that they proclaim a thousand times over that they want to surrender themselves completely to God and to abandon themselves in the bosom of His loving providence. It is in this that their hearts will melt in gratitude, giving thanks to the Saviour of the world for opening to them the door leading to such heights of confidence and offering Him all the fruits they have gathered and continue to gather every day.
Footnotes
[1] 2 Tim. i. 12.
[2] Psal. IX. 11.
6 From this, they go further and make the effort to increase their confidence to such an extent that it can overcome whatever terrible trials they may encounter. It is the shield they use to fend off difficulties and to make headway against their enemies. It anchors them to Heaven and holds them secure in the middle of storms and tempests. It is the heavenly dew which preserves them from weakening of the heart. It is the citadel where they can withdraw when they come under a sustained attack and from which they can mock the threats and scheming manoeuvres of the wicked spirits. What more can I say? Confidence makes triumphant progress in their souls, little by little chasing out all fear and all apprehension. It is just like Jesus being seated in the middle of men’s hearts, no more nor less than a heavenly Halcyon[1], calming the winds of vain fears, overcoming the emotions of disordered appetites, vanquishing temptations, disposing everyone spiritually to receive everything from the hand of God from which indescribable peace and wondrous tranquillity proceed.
Footnotes
[1] In classical mythology: a bird, usually identified as a kingfisher, which brooded around the time of the winter solstice in a nest floating on the sea, charming the wind and waves into calm. See Pliny Nat. Hist. Bk. X, Ch. 47.
7 What we have been describing should not be regarded as a form of appeasement or a shameful life of laziness; on the contrary, the very confidence in God which leads to this profound peace fills all the faculties of their souls and keeps all things in order. Peace and war make them equally watchful, and just as times of trouble and temptation make them turn to God and put their hands to good use, so too do calm and tranquillity make them anticipate surprises and compel them to consider nothing as certain as long as they are surrounded by their enemies. Accordingly, they never failed to render to God the homage of their care and attention, no more nor less than as if everything depended upon this. They are as diligent in small things as they are in important matters and they never omit anything which might help to bring the divine goodness to their help, even though they never overestimate what they themselves contribute but place their trust only in the faithfulness of the Saviour's loving heart and in the help they hope to receive from on high.
© Peter Bloor 2026
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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.
The Virgin of Tenderness. >12th century.
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.
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