Star of the Sea

[magnificat]

Why is Our Lady sometimes referred as "Star of the Sea?"

Thanks

[cappie]

Star symbolisms on behalf of Mary refer to two types of stars:

a) six-pointed stars indicate Mary's Davidic origins and Jewish character;
b) stars with eight radiating points highlight Mary's role in salvation as helper in the "restitutio perfectionis" (8=perfection) or "reparatrix parentum et totius orbis."

More generally (independently from the number of radiating points), the star symbolism may be used to articulate one or all of the following characteristics of Mary:

a) Her privileges, in particular, her mission as Mother of the Redeemer, or her holiness (full of grace);
b) Her anticipatory or demonstrative role (forerunner, announcer ...) with regard to Christ ["she is the dawn, Christ the Rising Sun"] and the Trinity;
c) Her role as luminous and enlightening.

The biblical and/or theological foundation of this title (Mary, Star of the Sea) may be based on 1 Kings 18:41-45. This text refers to a little cloud appearing above the sea as a sign of hope, implying that rain will come and free the land from drought. The little cloud (small as a man's hand) seen from Mt. Carmel is believed to be the "Star of the Sea" and Mary, thus, the sign of hope which announces freedom and renewal. The Carmelites built a church on Mt. Carmel and gave it the title "Stella Maris."

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):

[i] 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. [/i]

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 Hermann of Reichenau, 11th century).

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

I[i]f 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. [/i]

[cappie]

P.S

Many of Mary's titles are the fruit of pious tradition linked to geography, human activities, human needs, events of salvation history, theological titles, botany, etc. Few of these titles have been officialized by ecclesiastical decree. We have on our site 6000 of them. The following could be considered as official categories listed here according to their decreasing official character and importance.
1) Titles that refer to biblical designations of Mary (e.g. servant of the Lord, daughter of Zion)
2) Titles which refer to dogmatic definitions such as virgin, Mother of God (Theotokos)
3) Titles which reflect long-standing theological topics, (e.g. New Eve or mediatrix)
4) Titles which are part of the liturgical patrimony of the Church, (e.g. the Feast of the Annunciation)
5) Titles originally proper to religious congregations and as such object of special votive masses, (e.g. Feast of Our Lady of Mercy)
6) Titles related to devotional practices approved and promoted by the Church. One of the best examples in this category is the Litany of Loreto which is specifically a series on invocations or titles.
7) Titles connected with miraculous images, shrines and apparitions and recognized directly or indirectly by the Church, (e.g. Our Lady of Lourdes)
8) Finally, titles that are the result of a long and well established tradition but have not been the object of a special attention or decision by the Church (e.g. the designation Our Lady)