Part IV : How to give thanks to the Mother of God : Chapter 12 : § 1.4-8

Chapter 12 : Association – eleventh 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)

§ 1. How Association is a form of gratitude most pleasing to the MOTHER OF GOD

 4   The other comparison is with the priestly ointment[1] which was poured onto the head of Aaron and it is a comparison which is very revealing for the purposes of this discussion. First of all, this ointment was not profane but sacred, destined to anoint and sanctify the High Priest Aaron and his successors, to anoint the Ark of the Covenant, the Altar of incense and the Altar of holocaust, the Candlestick, the table of the loaves of proposition along with all the other vessels used in the Sanctuary. Apart from this, it was not permitted to use the ointment for other purposes – in fact it was expressly prohibited on pain of death to use it for profane purposes. This means that this mystical ointment of God’s benediction is reserved for sacred vessels and for those consecrated to the service of His Majesty in a holy association, for only the latter are capable of receiving the sweet grace of this celestial ointment; those with carnal feelings and profane minds are lacking in unnecessary disposition to share the blessing. 

Footnotes

[1] Like the precious ointment on the head, that ran down upon the beard, the beard of Aaron, which ran down to the skirt of his garment : Ps. CXXXII. 2.

 5   Secondly, this precious oil of unction was a mysterious mixture of four ingredients specially chosen by God[1]: one was the first myrrh, namely that which oozes from the tree without any cuts or incisions being made; next was the juice of the same myrrh, melted and distilled, called stact; the third was aromatic calamus; and the fourth was cassia. These four ingredients would be soaked and boiled in oil which then permeated them, causing them to infuse into each other so as to make a liquid which could be poured. The process had the effect of communicating to each ingredient the properties of all the others and to all of them the properties of each one. What can this mean for our purposes except that all those making up a holy congregation are like the ingredients, so to speak, of a divine ointment; they are like so many aromatic substances chosen by God and His Holy Mother so that from their different natures and ways of living might be formed one sacred perfume causing God and the Angels delight and joy? This is the thinking underlying the wise words of the great St Antony who said, according to Abbot Cassian[2]:

It should not be expected that all sorts of virtues can be found in one individual. In reality, one person may be commendable for knowledge, another admirable for his discernment of spirits, another may be gifted with marvellous patience, another may be peerless in his humility – in short, virtues such as simplicity, continence, magnanimity and diligence, may be distributed amongst different individuals, some here and some there. Accordingly, the spiritual man should be like a busy bee gathering sometimes here and sometimes there, trying to profit from the good examples offered by everyone. 

St Leo[3] and St Augustine[4] actually go further than this and say something which is very relevant to our discussion, namely that :

Even though these virtues seem to be shown by particular individuals, it is nevertheless the case that the oil of charity and the holy association they all share render the good qualities of each individual available to all. In order to acquire them, all that is required is to look upon them without envy, bless each person for their virtues and then lay claim to them by right of the spiritual union resulting from their association.

This was the feeling David[5] had when from the depths of his soul he spoke the following words : I am a partaker with all them that fear thee, and that keep thy commandments. 

All ye of a miserly spirit, how can you fail to make use of such a wonderful opportunity for multiplying your spiritual goods and gaining ten thousand for one? All ye souls tied to the earth, when will you cease to be forgetful of Heaven? All ye foolish men, how long will you remain immersed in the things of this world? How long will you neglect the business of your own salvation which can be gained so cheaply? Ye men so thoughtless and unseeing, for how long will you remain blind? 

Footnotes

[1] Cf. Exod. xxx. 23-25.

[2] Lib. V, c. 4.

[3] Serm. 10.

[4] Homil. 15.

[5] Psal. CXVIII. 63.

 6   Thirdly, this precious ointment ran down from the head of Aaron[1]  and onto his beard and collar. The fact that the latter are adjacent to the head signifies the dependence owed to those whom God has chosen to govern religious associations and the close connection that their members should have between themselves and with their head; if this is missing, the precious ointment is dissipated and lost. 

Footnotes

[1] Psal. CXXXII. 2.

 7    Fourthly, this fragrance is so pleasing that it fills the Sanctuary in that part of the Temple where incense was offered, as well as the Court of the Priests, the Court of Israel and the Court of the Gentiles, even spreading outside the Temple and filling the air around with a sweet scent. In this we can see an image of the fragrant odour of virtues and good deeds given off by religious congregations and confraternities, bringing joy not only to those who have the honour of belonging to them but also affecting others who are not members and frequently inspiring them to desire a share in such good things.

 8   Finally, the Royal Prophet[1] concludes that all these privileges come from the blessing which Heaven generously confers upon such associations and which is not communicated so easily to those who are strangers. God is indeed the Master of His graces and He distributes them according to His good pleasure and since there are normally several individuals within these holy associations who attract His graces and favours, He confers them generously – particularly when they are under the protection of His most Holy Mother and have been instituted in her honour. In cases such as these, in order to please her and in gratitude for all the wondrous services she has rendered Him, He gives all that is asked of Him without being able to refuse anything. We shall form a better idea of the blessed state of those enrolled in such associations in the pages which follow.  

Footnotes

[1] For there the Lord hath commandeth blessing, and life for evermore : Psal. CXXXII. 3.

© 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.