Stella Maris

Our Lady, Star of the Sea

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Stunning sterling-capped lampwork captures sparkling ocean bubbles dancing in the sunshine!  The Aves are 8mm Swarovski, in Indian Sapphire AB --- the infinite clear blue of a tranquil sea --- separated by 4mm spacers of Aqua Rosaline.

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Aquatic colors abound in this one-of-a-kind rosary dedicated to Our Lady, Stella Maris.  And exquisitely detailed 2" bronze medal (cast from an antique) bears her image, and a bonze lily centerpiece evokes the Flower of Carmel. 

The vermeil-capped Pater beads are handmade lampwork, and the Aves are 8mm Swarovski, combining the colors of Aqua Champagne, Indicolite AB, and Crystal Bermuda.

Thank you, Judy!

Prayers

Chaplet of Our Lady, Stella Maris (Star of the Sea)

Our Lady Star of the Sea is the patroness of those who sail the seas. According to Saint Bonaventure she is also the one who guides to a landfall in heaven those who navigate the sea of this world in the "ship of innocence or penance." Our Lady aids not only sailors, she assists those who sail the stormy seas of life.

On the medal, pray:
Most beautiful Flower of Mount Carmel, Fruitful Vine, Splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in this my necessity.
O Star of the Sea, help me and show me herein that you are my Mother.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart, to succor me in this necessity;
there are none that can withstand your power.

This is followed by three beads leading to a circle of twelve beads.
On each of the first three beads, say one Our Father, one Hail Mary and one Glory Be.

On each of the twelve beads of the circle, pray the following:
Our Lady, Star of the Sea, help and protect us!
Sweet mother I place this cause in your hands.

Confraternity of Our Lady Star of The Sea, Morgan City, Louisiana

Rosary of Our Lady, Stella Maris

Hail bright star of ocean,
God's own Mother blest,
Ever sinless Virgin,
Gate of heavenly rest

Taking that sweet Ave
Which from Gabriel came,
Peace confirm within us,
Changing Eva's name.

Break the captives' fetters,
Light on blindness pour,
All our ills expelling,
Every bliss implore.

Show thyself a Mother;
May the Word Divine,
Born for us thy Infant,
Hear our prayers through thine

Virgin all excelling,
Mildest of the mild,
Freed from guilt, preserve us,
Pure and undefiled.

Keep our life all spotless,
Make our way secure,
Till we find in Jesus
Joy for evermore

Through the highest heaven
To the Almighty Three
Father, Son, and Sprit
One same glory be, Amen.

History/Background

The origin of the expression "Stella maris" is commonly attributed to St. Jerome (d. 420). However, Jerome called Mary "stilla maris", meaning a drop of the sea. Perhaps a copyist transcribed this as "Stella maris". Other authors recording the same Marian symbol include: Isidore of Seville (d. 636); Alcuin (d. 804); and Rhabanus Maurus (d. 856).

An explicit reference occurs in Paschasius Radbertus (d. 865):

Mary Star of the Sea must be followed in faith and morals lest we capsize amidst the storm-tossed waves of the sea. She will illumine us to believe in Christ born of her for the salvation of the world.

Hincmar of Reims (d. 882) spoke of Mary as "a star of the sea assumed into the heavens."

There are also some ancient Marian hymns related to the title: "Ave Maria Stella" (8th-9th century); and "Alma Redemptoris Mater" (by Herman of Reschenau, 11th century).

Very important for this title is the following twelfth-century prayer from St Bernard of Clairvaux:

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.

from the Marian Library

Ave Maris Stella

St. Bridget was born in Sweden in 1303. Her father and mother were pious Catholics. The family would discuss the stories of the martyrs who died for the faith in Sweden. The castle the family lived in contained a chapel in which little child would attend Holy Mass daily. When she was ten a sermon about Our Lord's sufferings pierced her to the heart. She was so distraught that night that Jesus appeared to her on the Cross. She asked Him who has done this. He replied, "Those who despise Me and forget My love." For this time forward Christ crucified was imprinted on her soul.

She married a wealthy man named Ulf who later was to occupy a high office of the State. Saint Bridget became the mother of eight children. Also she was in charge of running their vast estate. This was no small task in the 1300's. There were spinning wheels and looms, orchards and fields, brewing, storing fruit, baking, dovecots, poultry yards, and beehives to contend with. Every day, before sitting down to eat St. Bridget would serve a meal to twelve poor people. On Thursdays she would even wash their feet in imitation of Our Blessed Lord. St. Bridget would always take her children along on works of mercy to the poor to train them in doing good works for others.

After twenty-five years of marriage St. Bridget and her husband received an inspiration to voluntarily separate and become religious. For three years Ulf lived as a guest in a Cistercian abbey where he died. Later St. Bridget was given permission to live as a guest of this same monastery. She now began a life of intensive penance, prayer, and mortification. She had frequent visions of Our Lord's Passion along with representations of Heaven, hell and purgatory. She would often see souls she had prayed for who were dying or in purgatory ascending to Heaven.

Saint Bridget received the gift of prophecy. She administered strong rebukes by Heaven's command to those leading evil lives. Many denounced her and some even threatened to burn her. She advised many high people in office, even the king himself.

Saint Bridget was entrusted with two main missions from Heaven both of which she labored at diligently but were to be completed by others. Our Lord revealed to her that He wished her to found a new contemplative religious order based on a rule which He was to give her. This new order, now known as the Brigittines, were to have a great impact on the Church under the guidance of her daughter, Saint Katherine, who became the first Superior. Today there are still a number of houses in Europe, such as Syon Abbey in Devon, England.

The second mission was to try to persuade the Holy Father to return to Rome from France. Though she sent many messages to him she would not live to see him return. But she paved the way for another great mystic, St. Catherine of Siena who would succeed in bringing the Pope back to Rome.

St. Bridget lived in Rome with her daughter Katherine. They helped the poor, the afflicted, and the sinners. The miraculous began to be publicly observed in the life of St. Bridget. She healed the sick, was raised off the ground during prayer, and had many visions. Long before she had joined the third order of Saint Francis and had pleasure of seeing him in a vision when visiting his shrine. Before her life came to a close she was commanded by Our Lord to visit the Holy Land. During this visit she had many visions of the life of Jesus and Mary.

Now as her life came to a close St. Bridget was to suffer the martyrdom of faith. All visions and heavenly consolations ceased. She was plagued with the temptation that her life was a failure. However towards her last days on earth the Blessed Mother appeared to her and exhorted her to practice patience in the expiation of the negligences and defects of her life through her illnesses. She ended her life as a lesson to us all with the words, "Lord into Thy hands I commend my spirit."

After her death innumerable cures were reported through her intercession. So great was the effect of this great saint that even today the largely Lutheran Swedish nation honors her considering her one of their great women of Sweden.

During a riot at Rome, a mob came to the house where St. Bridget lived. One of the leaders talked of burning St. Bridget alive. She prayed to Our Lord to know if she should escape to safety. Jesus advised her to stay saying, "It doesn't matter if they plot your death. My power will break the malice of your enemies. I was crucified only because I permitted it." Our Blessed Mother added, "Sing as a group the Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea) and I'll guard you from every danger."

July 19th, 1992 Monks of Adoration

Plegaria Stella Maris

(Versión Oficial de la Armada Argentina)

Oh María,
estrella esplendorosa de los mares,
que derramas el fulgor inagotable de tu gracia
sobre la inmensa soledad marina
que dominas el viento y el oleaje
y señalas su ruta al navegante,
protégenos piadosa,
en las tempestades del alma
y en los embates del mar.
 
Bendice a la Armada de la Nación Argentina
haciéndola fuerte en la paz,
valerosa en la guerra y generosa en la victoria.
Concede que sea siempre la suya
misión de amistad y de concordia
en todas las latitudes del mundo.

Bendice a quienes desde las férreas naves y desde el aire
custodian sobre el mar el honor de nustra Patria y de nuestra bandera
Bendice a quienes defienden nuestras costas
y a todos los que por su trabajo
componen la gran familia naval argentina

Bendice a los seres amados del hogar
sobre los que imploramos tu protección celestial
Danos fortaleza en las ausencias, aliento en la esperanza,
alivio en los pesares, constancia en la virtud,
valor para los sacrificios que nos exige
el cumplimiento integral de nuestro deber.

Oh Madre y Señora Nuestra, Stella Maris,
escucha las plegarias de nuestros corazones.
Te suplicamos que nos orientes y nos conduzcas
al puerto de la bienaventuranza eterna
concediéndonos en la vida y en la muerte
la misericordiosa dulzura de la paz. Amén