If squalls of temptations arise, or thou fall upon the rocks of tribulation, look to the star, call upon Mary.

If thou art tossed by the waves of pride or ambition, detraction or envy, look to the star, call upon Mary.

If anger or avarice or the desires of the flesh dash against the ship of thy soul, turn thine eyes towards Mary.

 If, troubled by the enormity of thy crimes, ashamed of thy guilty conscience, terrified by dread of the judgment, thou beginnest to sink into sink into the gulf of sadness or the abyss of despair, think of Mary.

In dangers, in anguish, in doubt, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Let her be ever on thy lips, ever in thy heart; and the better to obtain the help of her prayers, imitate the example of her life.

Following her, thou strayest not; invoking her, thou despairest not; thinking of her, thou wanderest not; upheld by her, thou fallest not; shielded by her, thou fearest not; guided by her, thou growest not weary; favored by her, thou reachest the goal. And thus dost thou experience in thyself how good is that saying: And the Virgin’s name was Mary’

 [from a homily of St. Bernard of Clairvaux]

The post O Stella Maris! first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Ave Maria!

Listen to this inspirational talk by Fr. Thomas Haan from the Diocese of Lafayette as he gives the first talk for our Fall Marian Day of Reflection on the power of the intercession of the Virgin Mary to guide us through the battles and strife of our day whether they be the storms of bad weather or scandals and difficulties in the Church. He advocates remaining calm and ignoring those who stir up trouble.

Fr Haan gracefully intertwines personal adventures with the historical and spiritual significance of the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary and the Battle of Lepanto. Through the lens of a challenging seafaring experience, he draws parallels to the Christian forces overcoming adversities at Lepanto, emphasizing the power of prayer and Mary’s intercession. His story invites contemplation on faith’s role in navigating life’s tumultuous waters, encouraging a deeper engagement with the Rosary as a source of spiritual fortification. These reflections point to the enduring legacy of faith amidst worldly trials, inspiring hope and resilience as we commemorate this sacred feast and reflect on the broader voyage of humanity toward divine union.

00:00 – Introduction
00:50 – Context of Being a Priest
01:36 – Boat Trip Adventure Story
05:05 – Historical Context of Our Lady of the Rosary
06:38 – Power of Mary’s Intercession
08:09 – Mary Gives Us the Rosary
09:39 – Mary as Star of the Sea
11:56 – Mary Calms the Storms in Our Souls
13:39 – Caution About Consuming Content
15:19 – Rosary Turns Our Gaze to Christ
16:30 – World is a Ship, Heaven Our Home
17:10 – Mary Intercedes Because Souls Are at Stake

Also on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ObNhTedIdRk

+++ – CONF 607

The post Marian Day, Fall 2023 – Mary’s Powerful Intercession – Fr. Thomas Haan first appeared on AirMaria.com.