Part IV : How to give thanks to the Mother of God : Chapter 11 : § 6.1-4

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).

Notre Dame des Grâces, Cotignac (Poggi, 2020)

§ 6. On her wondrous devotion and how it should be imitated by everyone

 1   Devotion, which according to Saint Ambrose[1] is the foundation of the moral virtues and the path of the soul to God, was in the Holy Virgin most eminent, most pure and most recollected. 

Footnotes

[1] Lib. I de Abraham.

The devotion of the Holy Virgin was most eminent 

 2   Most eminent in that she was the mystic Eagle who, supported by the firm wings of her contemplation, soared high above all creatures and with her clear-sighted eyes could withstand the rays of the Sun of Justice. She was most eminent in that she was not lacking in help to guide her devotion to the greatest height, for she was endowed with a wondrously keen and pure intelligence, with a will focused on every sort of good and with a powerful memory. She had received the benefit of excellent, prevenient grace which she reinforced by her continual exercises of holiness. She had a most perfect knowledge of herself, of God and of all the mysteries of our redemption. She spent a good part of her days in the company of the Word incarnate and uncreated Wisdom. She was honoured in a most singular manner by having as teacher her Spouse, the glorious Holy Spirit. She received to a most high degree the gifts of wisdom, knowledge, understanding and counsel, the four mainstays which enable the soul to comprehend the most elevated truths and those which are most distant from our own senses. Her devotion was most eminent in that she did not suffer from those difficulties which cause such trouble to our own devotion. The weakening or loss of the use of reason, not unknown to our age and making us behave like animals, never had any place in her. The body, which can become corrupt and weigh down the soul, never caused her any difficulty whatsoever. The passions of the sensitive appetite which lead to disordered affections within us, troubling our spiritual calm and recollection in prayer, were in her more gentle and manageable than little lambs. Imagination, which blessed Teresa of Jesus called the craziness of the soul[1], never went beyond its due limits to cause her trouble since it was in all things and everywhere subject and obedient to reason. Ignorance had no place in her understanding, any more than frivolity or inconstancy in her will. In short, sin which is like a wall we build between God and ourselves, blocking off our sight of Him, was never able to come near her. This being the case, who would be surprised to learn that she surpassed the Cherubim in knowledge and the Seraphim in love?  

Footnotes

[1] Translating the French text which is is slightly different to the Spanish expression attributed to the Saint: la loca de la casa / the crazy woman of the house.

The devotion of the Holy Virgin was most pure

 3   Her devotion was most pure in that she had no other aim than to apply herself to the utmost of her powers in divine worship and service. It was most pure in that she never served God for some interest or satisfaction of her own, nor for any reason outside of Him but only to be as pleasing as possible to His sovereign Majesty. It was most pure in that never was it stained by any mixture of sorrow, weariness, heaviness or cowardice; on the contrary, it was always accompanied by courage, fervour, happiness and delight.

The devotion of the Holy Virgin was most recollected 

 4   Her devotion was most recollected as she lived continually in the presence of Heaven and for most of her life in the presence of the Word Incarnate. She was most recollected in all things, keeping watchful guard over her exterior senses, her words, her conversation and every aspect of her behaviour. She was most meticulous, taking care to do nothing which could be offensive in any way in the eyes of God, understanding very well that devotion is the pearl of great price spoken of in the Gospel[1], for the sake of which a man would sell all he had to obtain it; But it is the precious balm which evaporates as soon as it is exposed to the air; but it is the deep well  Treat is not possible to draw without effort the mysterious waters of Heavenly sweetness; that it is peace for the soul , which can be acquired only through victory over enemies; in short, it needs only one case of misplaced laughter, one superfluous word, one indiscreet glance, one over-inquisitive question, one vain word or act, one impatient or hasty reaction, one desultory word or act, To cause the partial or total disappearance of grace from devotion. She would withdraw herself whenever she could from the unnecessary company of men in order to enjoy that of Patriarchs, Prophets, Angels and of God Himself. Finally, even though she was aware of the prevenient graces she had received and the very special protection given to her by Heaven which turned away from her everything (however slight) that might trouble her spiritual calm, this notwithstanding, she set a wondrous example by living with as much restraint and circumspection as if the maintenance of her devotion had depended upon her alone and upon her care.

Footnotes

[1] Matt. xiii. 46.

© 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.