The Virgin Mary misrepresented by the Roman Church in the traditions of that church, concerning her life and glory, and in the devotions paid to her, as the mother of God ...

SECT. III.

Devotions to the Parents of the blessed Virgin.

A Noted Jesuit f 1.1 exhorts Men,

To worship the most holy Parents of the Virgin with a peculiar Reverence, for this Reason, because they begat such a Daughter for us, that they should give them Joy of her, earnestly praying that they would commend them to the Mother of God. For, says he, we may easily collect that their Intercession with the Virgin must needs avail much, because the Authority of Pa∣rents weighs much with good Children.

Which he seems to have learn'd from the Breviary, which in a Hymn g 1.2 de∣clares the same.

Qui optat S. Virginis juvari piis precibus, Devotus sit Charissimis illius genitoribus: Nam illis, dum impendimus honoris reverentiam, Devotam; ei reddimus & nato ejus gratiam.

That is,

He that would have the Virgin's Ear, And by her Pray'rs be helped out; In Worship of her Parents dear Let him express himself devout: For whilst on them our Honour we bestow, To her and to her Son we Kindness show.

Devotions to S. Joachim.

IN the old Roman Missal, on the Feast of S. Joachim (March▪ 20.) they make this Address to him.

Vers. O Joachim sanctae con∣jux Annae, Pater almae virginis, hinc famulis confer salutis o∣pem.

O Joachim, Husband of S. Anne, and Father of the blessed Virgin, from hence bestow saving Help on thy Servants.

A long Prosa that follows, concludes thus:

Vale, Pater inclyte, Placa Regem gloriae In hac valle miseriae: Clarâ Dei facie Da frui in requie Sanctorum sanctae curiae. O pater Reginae coeli nos ad∣juva. Amen.

Farewel great Father, Heaven's blest King appease, In this sad Vale of Tears and Mi∣sery, Grant God's bright Face hereafter we may see, In Heav'n, where happy Saints have Rest and Ease. O Father of the Queen of Heaven help us. Amen.

In the old Roman Breviary, March 20. They pray thus:

O pater summae Joachim pu∣ellae, Quae Deum clauso genuit pu∣dore,

Promove nostras Domino que∣relas Castaque vota. Scis quot hic saevis agitemur undis, Triste quos mundi mare de∣fatigat: Scis quot adnectat Satanas ca∣roque Praelia nobis. Jam sacris junctus superum ca∣tervis, Imo praecedens, potes omne, si vis; Nil Nepos Jesus merito ne∣gabit, Nil tibi nata.

Joachim, Father of that blessed Maid, Who brought forth God, yet Virgin did remain;

See our chast Vows we make to God, be paid, And all our Prayers promote, when we complain. Tost in this Sea with many a cru∣el Wave, Thou know'st we weak and wea∣ther-beaten are; Thou know'st what combats we are like to have, Which Flesh and Satan, our sworn Foes, prepare. And now thou'rt plac'd among the blest so high, Thou canst do every thing thou art inclin'd to; Thy Nephew Jesus sure will not deny, Much less thy Daughter, what thou hast a mind to.

Devotions to S. Anne, as Mother of the B. Virgin.

Anaph.

Foelix, Anna cella munditiae, * 1.3 Lumen mundi, vena clemen∣tiae, Spes salutis, porta laetitiae, Nos divinae commenda gratiae.

O Blessed Anne, the Cell of Purity, Light of the World, the Vein of Clemency, Our saving Hope and Gate of Consolation, Commend us to God's gracious Acceptation.

Hymn.

Ave mater Anna, Plena melle Canna,

Cui matrem passa, Nulla coequanda. Ergo te rogamus, Rogantes supplicamus, Ut quod potes velis, Prece nos da coelis. Placans nobis natam, Per te mundo datam, Illa natum suum, Tu nepotem tuum.

All hail we wish to thee S. Anne, Who art the B. Virgin's Mother;

Brim full of Honey is thy Cann, There's none can shew me such a∣nother. Therefore still asking we remain, And thy unwearied Suitors are, That what thou canst, thou would'st obtain, And give us Heaven by thy Pray'r. Do thou appease the Daughter thou did'st bear, She her own Son, and thou thy Nephew dear.

Another Hymn speaks thus to her.

Quicquid hic deliquimus Vitae per immunditiam, Abstergas illud petimus Per divinam clementiam.

All those Impurities of Sin, We heretofore have lived in, Thorow the Grace of God we pray Cleanse and wipe them quite away.

Another Hymn calls her Happy.

Quae medelam vitiorum ma∣trem gessit gratiae.

Who bore the Mother of Grace, the Medicine of our Vices.

The Second Lesson says thus of her;

Haec est illa supernae bene∣dictionis terra, de qua coelestis figulus ollam spei nostrae com∣posuit, quae ex divini roris imbre conceptum verbum, hu∣mano generi protulit incarna∣tum.

This she is that Earth blest from above, out of which the hea∣venly Potter formed that Vessel of our Hope, who when the Word was conceived by a Showre of di∣vine Dew, brought him forth to Mankind incarnate.

In the Sixth Lesson thus;

O quàm gloriosa est mater ista, & quàm digna solenni at∣toilenda

praeconio, quae nobis Matrem nostrae redemptionis at∣tulit, & in illa Testamentum haereditatis supernae inclusit.

O how glorious is that Mo∣ther, and how worthy to be ad∣vanced

by solemn Praises, who brought to us the Mother of our Redemption, and inclosed in her the Testament of the Inheritance above.

Hymn.

O vas coelestis gratiae, Mater reginae virginum, Per te precamur anxiè Remissionem criminum. Memento Mater inclyta Quàm potens es per filiam, Et nobis prece solità Procura Dei gratiam.

O Vessel of celestial Grace, Blest Mother to the Virgin's Queen, By thee we beg in the first place Forgiveness of all former Sin. Great Mother always keep in mind The Power thou hast by thy sweet Daughter, And by thy wonted Pray'r let's find Gods Grace procur'd to us here∣after.

The Missal of Sarum speaks in the same Strain.

Tua proles est regina In coelesti patria; Ipsa cunctis jam praelata Nostra fiat advocata In Dei praesentia.

Thine Off-spring is a Queen I'th' Regions unseen; May she that's thus advanced prove Our Advocate with God above.

Postcommunio. Beatae Annae Matris Mariae gloriosâ intercessione nos pro∣tege, de qua virgo puerpera ad salutem humanae Nativi∣tatis prodiit.

Protect us by the glorious In∣tercession of S. Anne, the Mother of Mary, out of whom the Vir∣gin Mother came forth for the Salvation of humane Birth.

These Expressions of her being the Medicine of our Vices, the Mother of our Redemption, and being born for the Salvation of Mankind; if they be not of blasphemous, yet I am sure they are of doubtful Signification, and such as ought not to be in any

Prayer. I find like Expressions to these in the old Roman Bre∣viary, on July 26. Lesson 1. which says thus of S. Anne:

Ex hac clavis David (Sc. Maria) est fabricata, per quam paradisi porta cunctis iterum est patefacta. Ex hac est plenitudo gratiae nata glo∣riosa semper Virgo Maria, quae dedit coelis gloriam, terris contulit Deum & pacem refu∣dit, fidem Gentibus dilatavit, sinem vitiis posuit, vitae ordi∣nem, moribus disciplinam do∣navit.

Out of her the Key of David (viz. Mary) was framed, by which the Gate of Paradise is a∣gain opened to all. Of her was born the fulness of Grace the e∣ver-Virgin Mary, who gave to the Heavens Glory, bestowed God on Earth and poured out Peace, spread the Faith among the Gen∣tiles, put an end to Vices, gave Order to our Life, and discipline to our Manners.

It is a strange hard Figure, that can make these many things, which the Scripture attributes to Christ, and by which it sets forth his glorious Power in the Work of our Redemption and Salvation, become fit to be applied to the blessed Virgin. One might conclude these Men think it no dangerous Error, if a Man in Devotion should mistake Mary for Christ, whatsoever it is in Belief.

As for S. Anne, all these Encomiums already mentioned are not thought enough to set her out; but many of their Authors h 1.4 go so far as to affirm, that both She and Joachim were ho∣ly from the Womb and sanctified in it; thinking it not fit to deny this to them, which is affirmed of John the Baptist. The venturous Poza i 1.5 goes a Step or Two further, who besides this early cleansing in their mothers Womb from original Sin, will have them also, never to have committed any mortal Sin, and, if any among mankind, no venial ones neither. There was also a kind Motion made heretofore by Fulbertus Carnotensis k 1.6 to make S. Anne the Mother only of this Child, and to have had no more, as the blessed Virgin bare no other but our Saviour. For, says he, it was not fitting, that the most holy Parents of this singular Virgin, should be defiled with the Propagation of more Chil∣dren, who were to provide for and eduoate her, that was to be the alone Mother of our Lord. Yet here I observe a strange Over∣sight (and the only one, I think, that can be named, wherein

they seem to have forgot a Privilege to grace the Virgin with∣al) that even in their Devotions, S. Anne is made to be a Mo∣ther of more Children: For thus in the Breviary of Bruges l 1.7 they sing,

Anna radix uberrima, Arborque salutifera Virgas producens triplices.

Health springs from thee, Thou blessed Tree: From thy fair Root Three Rods did sprout.

So also Mantuan m 1.8,

Anna puerperio fortunatissima Sancto, Tres habuisse viros, & tres genuisse puellas Dicitur—

That is,

None had more lucky Births than she, Nor holier, for it's said, She did Three Husbands wed; By whom she brought forth Daughters Three.

The Revelations of S. Coleta n 1.9 explain this, telling us the Names of her Three Daughters, viz. The Virgin Mary, Mary the Mother of James, and Maria Salome. They also bring in S. Anne speaking to Coleta thus, Though I was married to Three Husbands, yet both the triumphant and militant Church was wonder∣fully beautified by my Off-spring, &c.

But perhaps they have made some Amends for this Over∣sight, by their devout Addresses to these Sisters, which I find thus o 1.10,

De sororibus B. Virginis.

O nobile ternarium Sanctarum sororum trium, Quibus nomen est Maria; Vestrum sacrum collegium Imploro ad praesidium In omni angustia.

Quae erit Christo gratior, Aut quae sit acceptior, Quam vestra sit oratio? Nulla sibi conjunctior, Nulla sibi proximior Quam sit vestra cognatio. Tu virgo silii mater es, Inde sibi quod imperes Naturae donat ratio; p 1.11 Vos vero duae caeterae, Estis ejus materterae, O quam ingens acceptio!

O sacred Ternary Of holy Sisters Three, Call'd by the Name of Mary. In all my Misery To your joynt Aid I fly, That I may not miscarry.

Who can pretend their Prayer With Christ can stand so fair As yours for Acceptation? None may with you compare, Or say so near they are Akin, as your Relation. Virgin, to thee alone, The pow'r to rule thy Son As Mother, Nature grants. You Two that are behind, Will great Acceptance find, Because you are his Aunts.

One would hope that the ordinary Reason of every Man that will make use of it, should prevent his falling into such gross Imaginations, and such childish Conceits as these Strains of De∣votion do betray: But after our blessed Saviour discovered, more than once q 1.12 whilst he was here upon Earth, That in Matters that related to the Exercise of his Office, when he was about his Fathers Business, the Interposing of Mother and Brethren was unseasonable and unacceptable, and rather repressed by him than incouraged; * 1.13 to think by these Con∣siderations to move him in Heaven, seems to ar∣gue such Men forsaken of Reason, and to have too little Regard to the Honour of God.

Notes

• f 1.1

  Spinellus Deip. thronus Dei, c. 18. p. 241.
• g 1.2

  Breviar. Rom. antiq. ad 20 Martii.
• * 1.3

  Portifor. Sec. uf. Sarum ad Jul 26.
• h 1.4

  Cited by Raynaudus ib. p. 19.
• i 1.5

  Elucidar. l. 2. trac. 8. c. 3.
• k 1.6

  Serm. 3. de Nativitat. Virg.
• l 1.7

  V. Baling∣hem parnass. Marian. p. 396.
• m 1.8

  〈…〉〈…〉. l. 7. 〈…〉〈…〉.
• n 1.9

  Ap••d Ray∣naud. ib. p. 27.
• o 1.10

  Balinghem ubi supra p. 406. ex horis Sec. usum Ro∣man. antiq.
• p 1.11

  This every whit as bad as Jure Matris impera Re∣demptori.
• q 1.12

  See Luc. ii. 49. Luc. viii. 21. John ii. 4.
• * 1.13

  Christus non agnoscit viscera humana, operaturus facta divina. S. Augustin. Tract. 8. in Johan.