Ave Maris Stella II — Guided by a Star in the Night

I recently created a second rosary inspired by the Gregorian chant Ave Maris Stella.

The first version was born from the beauty of the sea itself.

Emerald-green water.

Sunlight dancing on the waves.

The gentle guidance of Mary, the Star of the Sea.

This time, however, a different image appeared.

Not the sea.

But the star.

A Different Sea

Ave Maris Stella means “Hail, Star of the Sea.”

When I first created a rosary inspired by this hymn, I found myself drawn to the colours of the sea.

This time, I kept returning to a different scene.

A dark sea at night.

A silent horizon.

And a sky filled with stars.

A Gregorian Chant Memory

This may be a slightly Gregorian-chant-enthusiast confession.

Whenever I sing Ave Maris Stella, I often feel as though I am floating on a calm sea at night.

Everything around me is dark.

I cannot see the shore.

Yet somehow, I never feel afraid.

The stars are reflected on the water.

Above them shines one especially beautiful light.

And despite the darkness, there is a strange sense of peace.

That feeling became the starting point for this rosary.