The final two paragraphs of Pope Benedict’s encyclical on Christian Hope, Spe salvi, fittingly turn our attention to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Star of Hope. He references an early hymn which greets Mary, the Mother of God as “Star of the Sea”: Ave maris stella. (SS 49) This is a beautiful title for Mary as we consider the topic of Christian hope. The Holy Father writes:
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 guide us along our way. Who more than Mary could be a star of 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). (ibid.)
As I read these words, I recall a particularly important point in my life in which Mary indeed served as a star of hope for me. Perhaps I have shared previously that I was not always an intentional disciple of Christ. Sometime during my college years, I had drifted from practicing my Catholic faith. I was not angry with God, nor was I upset with the Church. I just took my focus off of Him and followed my own pursuits. As I was in the early years of my career, I began noticing a restlessness in my heart, a feeling of emptiness and hopelessness. Something was missing in my life, which in reality, that something was actually a someone. I recall vividly going to bed early on New Year’s Eve in 2004 with a heaviness of heart. The next morning, the first of 2005, still feeling burdened, I looked next to my bed and saw a Rosary sitting there. Prompted no doubt by the Holy Spirit and the intercession of Mary, I decided to reacquaint myself with how to pray the Rosary, and then I did. Though there was nothing mystical or spectacular that happened, what had seemed so dark in my heart now seemed to not be so overwhelming. It is as though there was a dim light the promised hope.
I continued to pray the Rosary each day and that light of hope continued to grow and I began to be intentional about getting to know Jesus on a personal level. As I look back on that time, I know that Mary played such an important role in leading me back to her Son. Even though I have read this paragraph from Pope Benedict before now, this image of Mary as a “Star of Hope” resonates deeply now, and my heart is renewed with gratitude for Mary’s assistance in guiding me through the shadows into the bright light of Christ’s love for me. Regardless of how confusing, difficult, or dark the journey may be for me, I know that I can always turn to Mary who always reflects the light of hope which invites me to trust in her Son.
The final paragraph of Spe salvi is a beautiful prayer to Mary, and it is well worth your read. In the interest of space, I offer the final line as a prayerful plea to her to continue to show herself our Mother and our Star of Hope:
Thus you remain in the midst of the disciples as their Mother, as the Mother of hope. 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! (SS 50)