I was very blessed to have taken an entire course on Mary in seminary by a Sacred Heart priest, Father Marcello Neri. It was one of my favorite courses in seminary. Father Neri had us write a final paper for the course on a subject of our choosing. However, he told me that he had a suggestion for my paper, since he knew I was very involved in the music program in seminary. He suggested that I wrote my paper on a medieval Gregorian chant dedicated to Mary: Ave Maris Stella (Hail Star of the Sea). Traditionally, this hymn was attributed to St Bernard of Clairvaux (1090 - 1153), a very influential medieval theologian who had a great devotion to Mary. However, it appears that this hymn is older than that, dating back to the 8th or 9th century. Ave Maris Stella was very popular in the Middle Ages, especially for those priests and monks chanting the divine office. Over the ages, many composers have composed music for this hymn. Here are the words in English.
Hail, bright star of ocean, God's own Mother blest, Ever sinless Virgin, Gate of heavenly rest.
Taking that sweet Ave which from Gabriel came, Peace confirm within us, Changing Eva's name.
Break the captives' fetters, Light on blindness pour, All our ills expelling, Every bliss implore.
Show thyself a Mother; May the Word Divine, Born for us thy Infant, Hear our prayers through thine.
Virgin all excelling, Mildest of the mild, Freed from guilt, preserve us, Pure and undefiled.
Keep our life all spotless, Make our way secure, Till we find in Jesus, Joy forevermore.
Through the highest heaven to the Almighty Three, Father, Son and Spirit, One same glory be. Amen.
In the Gospel today, we hear about the shepherds visiting Mary, Joseph, and Jesus at the stable in Bethlehem, of Mary pondering and reflecting upon all these things in her heart. As we celebrate Mary as the Mother of God, there are a few observations I have about the hymn Ave Maris Stella. First, we honor Mary as the Mother of God, but we do not worship her as equal to God. The hymn references her role in relationship to Jesus, her son, of Mary as the mother of the Word Divine. It is mentions Mary as the intercessor to whom so many of the faithful turn in times of need, as we ask her to hear our prayers through her own. Mary, in her role as the Mother of God and our Mother, happily intercedes for us to her Divine Son, for the graces and mercy we need through him. The hymn also references the first Hail Mary, which came from the Angel Gabriel. It as mentions Eve, who brought about humanity’s fall from grace in original sin. Mary is seen as the new Eve, as she gives birth to the Son of God through whom we receive salvation.
Through chants, prayers and hymns dedicated to Mary, the faithful give Mary honor and they grow in their relationship with her. As we honor you today, Mary, we bring you our honor and our prayers.
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