Our Lady, Star of the Sea
Our Lady, Star of the Sea is an ancient
The title has been in use since at least the
Etymology and history
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The name Stella Maris is first applied to the Virgin Mary in the Liber de Nominibus Hebraicis, a translation by
Another opinion[clarification needed] states that Jerome himself interpreted the name as meaning "star of the sea" or Stella Maris, by relating it to a Hebrew word for star, מאור (ma'or), from the verb אור ('or), to be light or shine.[4]
The etymologization of the name of Mary as "star of the sea" was widespread by the early medieval period. It is referenced in
In the medieval period, stella maris came to be used as a name of Polaris in its role as lodestar (guiding star, north star); it may have been used as such since Late Antiquity, as it is referred to as ἀειφανής "always visible" by Stobaeus in the 5th century, even though it was still some eight degrees removed from the celestial pole at that time.[citation needed]
In the twelfth century, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux wrote: "If the winds of temptation arise; if you are driven upon the rocks of tribulation look to the star, call on Mary. If you are tossed upon the waves of pride, of ambition, of envy, of rivalry, look to the star, call on Mary. Should anger, or avarice, or fleshly desire violently assail the frail vessel of your soul, look at the star, call upon Mary."[5]
Anthony of Padua also wrote of Mary as Star of the Sea.[6]
Pope Pius XII, in his encyclical Doctor Mellifluus, also quoted Bernard of Clairvaux in saying: "Mary… is interpreted to mean 'Star of the Sea'. This admirably befits the Virgin Mother… (for) as the ray does not diminish the brightness of the star, so neither did the Child born of her tarnish the beauty of Mary's virginity."[7]
Stella maris was occasionally also used in reference to Christ. Robert Bellarmine (writing c. 1600) deprecated this use of the title, preferring the allegory of Christ as the morning star as the "brightest star of all", classing the less-bright polar star as "paltry" (exigua).[8]
Devotional application
The idea of Mary as a guiding star for seafarers has led to devotion to Our Lady, Star of the Sea in many Catholic coastal and fishing communities. Numerous churches, schools and colleges are dedicated to "Stella Maris, Our Lady Star of the Sea," or "Mary, Star of the Sea."
Stella Maris Monastery, the foundation house of the Carmelite order, was established on Mount Carmel in Haifa in the early thirteenth century. The abbey was destroyed several times, but a refounded Stella Maris monastery is still considered the headquarters of the order.[9]
Devotions to this title of Mary are found in the popular Catholic hymn, also reflects this devotion.
Patronage
Our Lady, Star of the Sea is the patroness of the Netherlands,[13] as well as the American state of Hawaii.[14] The Roman Catholic Church honors Our Lady, Star of the Sea, with a feast day assigned to 27 September.[15]
Seafarers
The
The
Gallery
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A nineteenth-century painting of Mary, Star of the Sea.
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The star on Mary's robe alludes to her epithet of Stella Maris, the Star of the Sea. The Walters Art Museum.
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Early Medieval Stella Maris icon at the Santa Maria in Via Lata basilica, Rome.
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Stained glass window by Jo Tinney, Alpha Stained Glass Studio Derry, depicting Our Lady, Star of the Sea with the Donegal Bay as seen from Bundoran in the background.
See also
- Apostleship of the Sea
- Star of the Sea Church (disambiguation)
- Miriam (given name)
Notes
- ^ Isaiah 40:15 is the only instance in the Hebrew Bible where it takes this meaning; Strong's Concordance H4752, from the root מרר "trickle" (H4843).
References
- ^ S. Eusebius Hieronymus. Liber de Nominibus Hebraicis (PDF). pp. 10, 32. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-01-31.
- OL 529444M – via Internet Archive.
- ^ Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "The Name of Mary". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
- ^ a b Arie Uittenbogaard. "Etymology and meaning of the name Miriam". Abarim Publications (in English and Hebrew). Archived from the original on 2022-04-08. Retrieved 2015-10-20.
- ^ Hom. II super "Missus est," 17; Migne, P. L., CLXXXIII, 70-b, c, d, 71-a. Quoted in Doctor Mellifluus 31
- OL 25898032M – via Internet Archive.
- ^ Bernard of Clairvaux quoted in Doctor Mellifluus 31
- OL 9084050M.
Hæc appellatio stelle maris tribui solet Beate Virgini. Fortasse melius de Christo diceretur 'stella splendida et matutina'… [N]am stella maris est stella polaris, quae exigua est. Stella splendida et matutina est stella omnium fulgentissima, quae ab astrologis dicitur stella Veneris
- ^ "Stella Maris Church – Carmel Holy Land".
- ISBN 9780814682937
- European Magazine and London Review. 22 (5): 385–386. Retrieved 2016-10-18.
- ^ Herder, Johann Gottfried (1807). "An die Jungfrau Maria: Ein sizilianisches Schifferlied". Stimmen der Völker in Liedern (in German and Latin). pp. 175–176. Retrieved 2016-10-18.
- ^ "Patronage of Nations : University of Dayton, Ohio". University of Dayton. Archived from the original on 2021-10-19. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
- ^ Ryan, George (2019-06-12). "Did You Know? The Patron Saints for All 50 States". uCatholic. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
- ^ "Stella Maris Feast Day Celebration Masses | AoS". Stella Maris. Archived from the original on 2020-06-10. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
- ^ "Stella Maris : University of Dayton, Ohio". University of Dayton. Archived from the original on 2021-10-19. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
- ^ "Cardinal Nichols: Caring for seafarers 'profoundly Christian'". Caritas Social Action Network. 2016-10-11. Archived from the original on 2021-03-04. Retrieved 2022-04-08.