Mother, Mom, Momma, Ma. There are so many ways to name that most dear one, who loves us like no other. Similarly there are so many ways for us to call upon Jesus’ Blessed Mother who he gave us to be our own.
Some of my favorite titles for Mary are Our Mother of Perpetual Help, Our Lady of Prompt Secours, and Mary, Undoer of Knots. Some years ago I discovered the title Stella Maris, Star of the Sea. St. Bernard of Clairvaux, famous reformer of monasteries, had written a prayer to Mary under this appellation back in the 15th century, and the image itself goes back even further in Eastern Christianity, perhaps to the 5th century A.D.:
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.
I was immediately struck by this heartfelt, lovely prayer and recognized that all the situations Bernard listed are ones I find myself in far too often. Mary, who helps me out in so many ways already, can also be my beacon in the stormy sea of this human/divine life. Her beam of love shining out of the threatening darkness can give me hope when my own humanness capsizes my boat and leaves me flailing yet again.
Pope Francis in his document Spes non confundit, proclaimed a Jubilee Year of Hope for 2025, urging all of us to look to Stella Maris on our pilgrimage of faith.
Stella Maris is also the name of a Catholic Apostleship of the Sea that serves mariners at 311 ports around the world. This ministry was especially important during the pandemic when seafarers were not allowed to leave their ships to visit family or to end their assigned tours. Stella Maris chaplains and lay volunteers were instrumental in providing virtual masses, spiritual support, and the delivery of care packages to ships that were not allowed to dock their crew.
There is no end to the dimensions of our Heavenly Mother’s love for us! We come to her out of our different life situations and call to her for help. Blessed are we that there are so many ways to say her name, so many facets of her holy being that she shares in relationship with us.
There is always something new to learn about her and about how through every storm-tossed experience, she calls us closer to her Son.
