Mary, Star of Hope, Star of the Sea
Our Parish,
Mary Star of the Sea
Key West, Florida
July 2007-2008
Pilgrim Mother Statue in our home
February 2008 for one week
Stained Glass Window in Front of Church

From Pope Benedict's Encyclical "Salvi spe"

49. With a hymn composed in the eighth or ninth century
thus for over a thousand years,
the Church has greeted Mary, the Mother of God,
as "Star of the Sea": Ave Maris Stella.
Human life is a journey.
Towards what destination?
How do we find the way?
Life is like a voyage on the sea of history,
often dark and stormy, a voyage in which
we watch for the stars that indicate the route.
The true stars of our life are the people
who have lived good lives.
They are lights of hope.
Certainly, Jesus Christ is the true light,
the sun that has risen above all the shadows of history.
But to reach him we also need lights close by~
people who shine with His light and so hope for us?
With her "yes" she opened the door of our world
to God himself;
she became the living Ark of the Covenant,
in whom God took flesh, became one of us,
and pitched His tent among us (cf. Jn 1:14)

50. So we cry to her: Holy Mary, you belonged to the
humble and great souls of Israel who, like Simeon,
were "looking for the consolation of Israel" (Lk 2:25)
and hoping, like Anna, "for the redemption of Jerusalem"
(Lk 2:38).
Through you, through your "yes", the hope of the ages
became reality, entering this world and its history.
You bowed low before the greatness of this task and
gave consent:"Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord;
let it be to me according to your word" (Lk 1:38).
When you hastened with holy joy across
the mountains of Judea to see your cousin Elizabeth,
you became the image of the Church to come,
which carries the hope of the world in her womb
across the mountains of history.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, our Mother,
teach us to believe, to hope, to love with you.
Show us the way to his Kingdom!
Star of the Sea,
shine upon us and guide us on our way!

March 3, 2008
Sharon