Part IV : How to give thanks to the Mother of God : Chapter 9 : § 3.4-5

Chapter 9 : Devotion – an eighth 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. Third sign of devotion : to offer the Ave Maria frequently to the Blessed Virgin

 4   When it comes to the feelings in our hearts when we recite the Ave Maria, I think you should learn these from Heaven itself, where it originated. Blessed St Mechtilde[1] found herself carried into ecstasy one Saturday during the Mass of the Glorious Virgin and she could not help speaking to her as follows: 

“Dear Mother beyond compare, I would so love to pray a salutation to thee in the most pleasing way that the human heart could ever discover...”

At that very moment, she saw the most sacred Virgin appear bearing a sign on her breast with the Ave Maria written in letters of gold. Then she heard the following words uttered by her sacred lips : 

“My dearest daughter, it would be foolish for a mere creature to try and exceed her Creator and think she could find a salutation comparable to the one sent me from Heaven. For what could be more wondrous than the word Hail, which showed the Eternal Father had fortified me with His omnipotence and gave me to understand that He had completely preserved me from the curse of sin? What could be more beautiful than the name of Mary which was given to me because of the Son who was to become incarnate in my womb, for through this name I learned that I was destined, like a star of pre-eminent brightness, to bring forth light to Heaven and earth? What could stir the heart more than this visit by the glorious Holy Spirit, my Spouse, who by describing me as full of grace put into effect at that same instant the very meaning of those words? When I hear the words the Lord is with me, I am reminded of the wondrous union of the Eternal Word with my flesh and of the joy that filled me when this incomprehensible mystery was accomplished within my womb. When I hear that I am blessed among women, I am reminded that the mercy of God hath raised me above all creatures. When to these words are added blessed is the fruit of my womb, all Heaven rejoiceth with me because my beloved Son hath brought to life and blessed for ever all in creation.” 

St Mechtilde wanted to see this through to its conclusion and she prayed that the Virgin Mother would come to her assistance now and at the hour of her death: 

“Thou hast my promise,” Mary continued, “but I want thee to pray three Ave Maria’s to me every day as follows. Just as the Eternal Father in the magnificence of His infinite power hath placed me so high in Heaven that He hath willed there should be no power beneath Him like unto mine, in the first Ave thou wilt pray for me to come to help thee and fortify thee at this dangerous hour, protecting thee from the wicked enemy powers. 

“My Son out of His infinite wisdom hath so filled my soul with knowledge and understanding of things Divine that there is no person so advanced in the incomprehensible mysteries of the most holy Trinity. Accordingly, in the second Ave thou wilt pray that I will come to thee at this important time and increase the light of the Faith within thee so that it will not be darkened by any cloud of ignorance or error. 

“Finally, since the Holy Spirit hath so filled my soul with the sweetness of His divine love that He hath made my heart the most gentle and compassionate there hath ever been, in the third Ave thou wilt earnestly pray for me to infuse thy soul with such sweet charity as to prevail over thy sufferings and all the fears thou might have of death.”

Where could we find a gentler and more pleasing way than this to help foster our devotion while we say this holy prayer?

  

Footnotes

[1] Lib. Gratiæ spiritualis, c. 53.

 5   The Blessed Virgin also spoke about the Ave Maria to St Gertrude, as may be seen in the book of her Revelations. 

She told her that when she said the words Hail Mary she should pray for the relief of those in suffering, whether this be physical or spiritual. At the words full of grace, she should pray for Mary to soften the hearts of those who do not have the necessary desire to receive divine grace. Then at the words the Lord is with thee, she should ask her as Mother of mercy to obtain pardon for sinners. When she says Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, she should pray for her to take special care of the spiritual advancement of predestined souls. At the sacred name of Jesus, she should pray for a perfect knowledge and a heartfelt love of her beloved Son. Finally, she should always add these words : Jesus splendor paternæ claritatis, figura substantiæ ejus[1], which mean : Jesus, the brightness of His Father’s glory, and the figure[2] of His substance.

   

Footnotes

[1] splendor gloriae, et figura substantiae ejus / the brightness of his glory, and the figure of his substance: Hebr. i. 3.

[2] figura in Hebr. i. 3  has been variously translated as figure, stamp, expression and imprint.

© Peter Bloor 2026 

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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.