Our Lady, Star of the Sea: Our Spiritual Compass
- Abby Thomas
- 5 hours ago
- 3 min read
I have countless memories from high school of hosting bonfires that often turned into stargazing extravaganzas. My friends would always ask to end the night up on the hill, lying across the wrapped hay bales and gazing up at the night sky. Many of them lived in town, where their view of the stars was dimmed by streetlights. I never truly realized how fortunate I was to have access to such a view every single night.
There were many nights spent lying on those bales when my friends and I felt safe enough with one another to share what was truly going on in our hearts. Most of the time it was petty high school drama, but there were also moments when the struggles and hardships we carried were very real.
Reflecting on those memories now, I realize how much comfort we found in the night sky. There is a consistency to the placement of the stars. There is always order. The constellations are a compilation of the same stars night after night. So even when there was chaos within us, the stars above us remained steady and unchanged.
This is one reason the night sky and constellations became a roadmap for enslaved people before emancipation in 1863. African American Spirituals were often used as a form of communication. Enslaved people would sing what plantation owners believed were simple spiritual or religious songs while working in the fields, but the songs often carried hidden messages about when, how, and who would be escaping in pursuit of freedom.
One of the most famous Spirituals was Follow the Drinking Gourd, a song that served as a roadmap for those seeking freedom through the Underground Railroad and north toward the free states. “The Drinking Gourd” was a code name for the Big Dipper, the constellation shaped like a ladle. Travelers would use the Big Dipper to locate Polaris, the North Star. Polaris has been a reliable navigation guide for centuries because it sits almost directly above Earth’s North Pole, indicating the direction north. Those who kept their eyes fixed on Polaris were able to find their way north toward freedom.
Where do we look for navigational guidance on our spiritual journey? Where can we fix our eyes in order to achieve a closer and more intimate relationship with Christ?
The answer is Mary.
This quote from St. Thomas Aquinas best describes Mary's role as our spiritual compass, “Mary means Star of the sea, for as mariners are guided to port by the ocean star, so Christians attain to glory through Mary’s maternal intercession.”
The Church recognizes Mary as the Star of the Sea (Stella Maris). This devotion became popular in the Middle Ages, when sailors depended on the stars for reliable navigation across dangerous waters. During that time, sailors often used Polaris, the North Star, to stay oriented while crossing the ocean. It provided a fixed point of reference in the night sky, helping them remain on course even in unpredictable waters.
In a similar way, Mary is honored as our steady spiritual guide. As the Star of the Sea and the Star of Hope, Mary orients our spiritual compass toward Christ. She does not take the place of her Son, nor does she walk the journey for us. Instead, she gently takes our hand, encourages us, and intercedes for us. She knows that our earthly journey in pursuit of Jesus is a lifelong one and sometimes tiresome or hard. Yet she does not tire of being our guide, and her guiding light never dims.
Our Lady, Star of the Sea, pray for us!
Until next time, your sister in Christ,
Abby
