Read this beautiful reflection on Mary’s name

One interpretation of the word mar renders Mary’s name to mean “drop of the sea,” and St. Jerome rendered it in Latin as stillamaris, which was later changed to stella (star) maris.

This accounts for a popular title for Mary, “Star of the Sea.“

Mariners at the time were accustomed to looking at the stars to find guidance and to discern which direction they were going, and so calling Mary stella maris referred to Mary’s ability to guide sinners along the path to Eternal Shores.

Dom Prosper Guéranger provides the following reflection by St. Bernard on Mary’s name in his Liturgical Year. St. Bernard begins by first considering what it means to be a “star”:

And the Virgin’s name was Mary. Let us speak a little about this name, which signifies star of the sea, and which so well befits the Virgin Mother. Rightly is she likened to a star, for as a star emits its ray without being dimmed, so the Virgin brought forth her Son without receiving any injury; the ray takes nought from the brightness of the star, nor the Son from His Mother’s integrity.

He continues his reflection by pointing to her brightness and how we can turn to her for guidance along our journey:

This is the noble star risen out of Jacob, whose ray illumines the whole world, whose splendor shines in the heavens, penetrates the abyss, and traversing the whole earth, gives warmth rather to souls than to bodies, cherishing virtues, withering vices. Mary I say is that bright and incomparable star whom we need to see raised above this vast sea, shining by her merits and giving us light by her example.

Then he turns his reflection into a prayer, highlighting her role in providing solace during the “storms” of life:

Oh whosoever thou art that seest thyself amid the tides of this world, tossed about by storms and tempests rather than walking on the land, turn not thine eyes away from the shining of this star, if thou wouldst not be overwhelmed by the hurricane. If squalls of temptations arise or thou fall upon the rocks of tribulation, look to the star, call upon Mary.

If thou art tossed by the waves of pride or ambition detraction or envy, look to the star, call upon Mary. If anger or avarice or the desires of the flesh dash against the ship of thy soul, turn thine eyes towards Mary. If troubled by the enormity of thy crimes, ashamed of thy guilty conscience, terrified by dread of the judgment, thou beginnest to sink into the gulf of sadness or the abyss of despair, think of Mary. In dangers, in anguish, in doubt, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Let her be ever on thy lips.

St. Bernard’s reflection provides a beautiful exploration of Mary, Star of the Sea, and encourages us to look to Mary in all of our trials in life, clinging to her and following the brightness of her rays.

Read more:How Mary’s name is a “bitter sea” to demons

Read more:The spiritual benefits of invoking the Virgin Mary’s name