Our Church Patron: St. Mary Star of the Sea

Back in the 5th century, the holy and famed translator Saint Jerome was producing a new Latin translation of the Onomasticon, a work originally written by Eusebius of Caesarea. In his text, Eusebius interpreted "Maryam," the the Hebrew name used for Mary, as Mar-yam, a pairing that he took to mean "drop of the sea." It was this interpretation that Saint Jerome would use, translating the phrase into the Latin stilla maris. This would have been fine except for a mistake by a scribe who accidentally copied the phrase not as stilla maris but as stella maris, or "star of the sea," a transcription error that quickly spread far and wide.

Though originally based in error, Our Lady's title as Star of the Sea has found great connection with faithful men and women across the world. The notion of Mary as a guiding star for sailors and those attracted to the waters of our earth has led to devotion to Our Lady, Star of the Sea in many places, including seaside towns, coastal countries, ports, and fishing communities. This title also recognizes Mary's role as a guiding star and a true sign of hope for all, one who can intercede for us as protector of those who travel and who face the stormy seas of life.


With such devotion to Mary under this beautiful title, the Catholic Church honors Mary as Our Lady, Star of the Sea with a feast day celebrated each year on September 27.

Stella Maris, pray for us.

That's a good question! And one that doesn't have a perfectly clear answer.

One of the strongest thoughts on the matter leads through a connection to St. Bernard. For the first few years of its existence, St. Mary's functioned as a Mission Church, serviced by Father Bernard O'Reilly Sheridan, then the Pastor in Collinsville, who helped guide the community toward becoming its own Catholic community. With the first name "Bernard," Fr. Sheriden seems to have had a connection and devotion to St. Bernard of Clairvaux, who wrote the following prayer that very well may have inspired the name of the newly formed parish:
 

O whoever you are who, in the sea of this world, feel yourself rather tossed about between storms and tempests than walking on the earth, do not look away from the bright ness of this Star if you do not want to be submerged by the waves.
 
 If the winds of temptation blow, if you stumble against the reefs of tribulations, look at the Star, call Mary. If you are agitated by waves of pride, of ambition, of murmuring, of envy, look at the Star, call Mary. If anger or avarice or seduction of the flesh agitates the fragile ship of the soul, look at the Star, call Mary. If disturbed by the enormity of crimes, confused by the guilt of soul, terrified by the severity of the judgment, you feel yourself pulled into the vortex of melancholy, into the abyss of despair, think of Mary.
 
 "In dangers, in troubles, in doubts think of Mary, call Mary. Let her not depart from your bps, let her not depart from your heart; and to obtain the help of her prayers, do not lose sight of the examples of her life. Following her you do not go astray; by praying to her you do not despair; thinking of her you do not err. If she upholds you, you do not fall; if she protects you, you have nothing to fear; if she accompanies you, you do not tire; if she is propitious to you, you will arrive at the goal and thus experience, in yourself, how rightly it was said: 'and the virgin's name was Mary.
 
 St. Bernard of Clairvaux