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HERE ARE TOLD CERTAIN FAIR MIRACLES THAT OUR LADY SAINT MARY DID UPON THE SEA
HE that would know and understand how God's Mother doth keep and defend her loving children, let him consider in his heart the great mercies she hath done for them that adventure in ships upon the sea. For verily, as the Psalmist saith, "Qui descendunt mare in navibus, facientes operationem in aquis multis, ipsi viderunt opera Domini, et mirabilia ejus in profundo."
It is told that on a time an abbot and certain other folk were in a ship upon the British seas, making voyage from England unto France; and when they were a great way from land, a tempest arose exceeding fierce and put them in great peril, so that they feared their ship must break in two and they be drowned. And night came upon them very dark and full of dread, for there was no moon; neither did the storm abate with the darkness, but rather grew in power. Then, because they knew not what should befall, for that they were altogether at the mercy of the wind that blew them whither it would, all
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that company set themselves to call upon the Saints of Paradise; for indeed there was nothing else that they could do. And each, according to his devotion, made his prayer to them; one crying, "Surely Saint Nicholas will help us, that did great things for mariners in their distress," and another, "Let us call on Saint Clare, that she may give us light." And many said, "Nay, pray rather to Saint Christopher, that is right powerful upon the waters; for did he not bear God in safety through the floods?" And one and all they promised many fair gifts and candles to their patrons, if that they would bring them safely to shore; yet still the tempest raged exceeding fierce and decreased not, so that all these poor people were tossed most cruelly upon the waves, and were in much misery and dread.
Then said that abbot their fellow traveller, the which was a discreet and holy man: "My fair friends, I marvel much that you should make your orisons to these Saints that are so little powerful, and that you forget to call first upon our Blessed Lady Saint Mary, for no other Saint hath so great a power to help us, and no tempest can long endure in that place where her name is heard. I say not that you do ill to entreat the other Saints, for they, no doubt, will aid you if they can; but certainly you would do better still to confide your business to that glorious Virgin, for she is the help of the helpless and Star of the Sea."
When they heard the good abbot speak thus, all, both men and women, set themselves to
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pray to the Mother of Mercy with great fervour of supplication; crying aloud and saying, "Most noble Lady, fair Queen of Heaven, have mercy on your poor children, we beseech you! Dear Mother of our gentle Saviour that did walk in safety on the waves, will you not succour us in our extremity ? Verily, if you help us not, we must be drowned; and we know that you can save us if you will."
And the abbot himself, though he was so sick and feeble that no more could he bear, in that during two whole days he had eaten only an apple, began to sing that respond of the Blessed Virgin which begins, "Felix namque es, Virgo Maria ut omni laude!" And all they that were in the ship sang with him, so that the sound of their voices was greater than the cry of the wind.
And lo! when this song was partly done, all saw a great marvel, to wit, a fair candle or waxen taper, in the manner of those that are set before the altars of the Saints, descending full quickly out of heaven. And this taper shone with a bright light exceeding wondrous, and it came and rested upon the mast and there did stay, lighting all the ship most sweetly, as the sun might do, and chasing away the shades of night from round it. And when that fair celestial light did shine upon the sea, lo ! of a sudden the tempest was altogether stilled, so that the waves, which had been so great that it seemed as if each one might drown the world, rose not, neither did the wind buffet them to and fro;
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but the ship lay full quietly upon the waters, and by that blessed taper, the which left them not till day came, it was kept and guided till it came safely to the haven where it would be.
Then had all those voyagers great joy because of the fair miracle Our Lady had done for them; and they gave her thanks most heartily, and offered many candles at her altar in remembrance of that torch which had lit them in the darkness and driven the tempest from their path. And the good abbot had this history put in writing, for the comfort of all mariners and pilgrims; that they might know how that Madame Saint Mary is truly Stella Maris, and day and night doth lead and keep her children that voyage upon the waters of the world.
To the same intent hear this history. A company of pilgrims there was that took ship at Venice to go to the Holy Sepulchre of Jesu Christ our Lord. And when they were on the high seas far from land, a mighty and an evil wind arose, by the which they were driven from their path and much hurt was done to the ship they were in; so that presently, when the tempest was gone, they found that there was a great breach made in the hull of it, by which the sea entered in full quickly, and it was like to founder and be lost. Then the master, that was a very prudent man, seeing that nought he could do might save the ship, the which was indeed near foundering, let launch a little boat; and he took therein a bishop that was of his company, and
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several other pilgrims, men of substance and consideration. But he said nothing of the danger they were in, inviting them only that they should take a little row upon the sea whilst they tarried for a favourable wind.
And because the ship rolled somewhat with the motion of the waves, it happened that one of the said pilgrims missed his footing as he descended into the little boat, and fell into the abyss of the sea; and for nothing that they could do might they save him, for he sank straitway into the deeps. And they grieved greatly for it, for they had loved him well; nevertheless the master waited not, but when he saw that this poor man indeed was lost, full hastily he pushed off from the great ship. And when he had gone a little way, being yet within earshot, he stayed and cried to those pilgrims and mariners he had left behind, and told them how that they were very near to death; for the ship must sink, and nothing could he do for them, in that there was no more room in the little boat. And he exhorted them that they should think each upon his conscience, imploring the mercy of Almighty God.
Ah! how piteous a thing it was to hear the cries and lamentations of those unfortunates when they knew the danger they were in! Nevertheless, being pious folk and well advised, full swiftly they stilled their complaints, and set themselves to confess their sins one to another very humbly: and when so they had done, they
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commended themselves to the care of Our Lord and Our Lady with great fervour of love. But little time did they have wherein to make their orisons, for very soon they that were in the little boat saw the great ship break asunder with rending sounds exceeding grievous and go down suddenly into the deep, and all those pilgrims with it; at the which sight they that were saved had great sorrow and dole in their hearts. And the bishop, that was a very good and compassionate man, wept exceeding sore, seeing his comrades thus destroyed; and he prayed most heartily to Jesu Christ the sweet and merciful, and to His Blessed Mother Lady Mary, that they would have pity on these pilgrims that were drowned whilst seeking the Holy Sepulchre for their souls' health. And he watched the sea a long while, lest any floated upon it that yet lived; for he desired to save them if he could.
And lo! whilst so he did, presently by the grace of the Holy Spirit that bishop saw a sight most fair and wondrous; to wit, great company of white doves, that came up out of the midst of the waters, here two, here three, there five, there ten ; and all these having come together in a great cloud, they flew up to heaven. Then he gave thanks rejoicing, for well he knew that these were the souls of the good pilgrims, the which, while they sought the earthly Jerusalem, had found the straight way to Heavenly Syon; and he grieved also, repenting and reproaching himself in that he had not remained with them
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in the ship that had brought them to so sweet an haven. "Ah, Jesu Christ!" said he, "Fair and dear God! It is plain that my life is but little pleasing unto you; for were it so, very surely you would not have left me to toss thus upon the perilous waters whilst my companions are taken to yourself." And he said, “Quis dabit mihi pennas sicut columbae, et volabo, et requiescam? For little need man desire to be left here below, where all is as unstable as the ocean; but he who flies above shall come to the port of Heaven there to dwell for ever in tranquillity."
And after this, that bishop and his companions floated fifteen days upon the waters, in great misery and wretchedness; but at last by Our Lady's help they came to land. And behold! when they were come out of the boat and stood upon the shore, there they found that pilgrim their comrade that had fallen into the sea as he descended from the great ship to join them. Then all marvelled exceedingly to see him thus safe and sound upon the beach, for they made sure he had been drowned. And many thought it was a spirit, so that they adjured him in God's Name to tell them if indeed it were he, laying hold upon his garments and entreating him that he would speak: but when that he answered them, and they were assured that he lived, then were they altogether amazed, and they did kiss and embrace him with much joy and thanksgiving.
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And the bishop said, "Verily it is meet and just that we should give thanks to that Lady, the Star of the Sea, in whose keeping all pilgrims do stand; for this is her handiwork."
Said the pilgrim, " Messire, you speak truth; for Saint Mary it is that hath upheld me in the waters and brought me safely to this shore."
Then said the bishop, "Tell us, I pray you, my brother, what befell you when you were cast into the sea? For you went down straitway into the abyss, so that we thought you dead, for we could not see you any more."
Answered the pilgrim, "Small marvel is therein; for verily we know that Our Lady can save her servants from the very pains of Hell. Therefore most easily can she succour them from the perils of the sea."
The bishop replied, "I doubt it not, for I am assured that the Mother of God can do all things. Nevertheless, we are greatly impatient to know by what road and in what manner she brought you here; for fifteen days have passed since that you fell into the waters, in the which you can have had neither meat nor drink. "
Said the pilgrim, "I have neither hunger nor thirst."
"By the Rood!” said the bishop; "great favour have you had! I pray you tell us, if you can, how it has chanced."
Said the pilgrim, "When I fell from the ship, and saw below me the great gulf of the sea, I called upon Our Lady, Stella Maris, and did entreat her help with all my heart. But so
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quickly I fell, that no other saint could I invoke; neither did I pray to her Son, for there was no time. Nevertheless, so soon as I was in the waters, Madame Saint Mary came to me exceeding swiftly, and very gently she did wrap me in her mantle, so that the waves touched me not at all. And when that I felt those folds around me, I had no more fear. And that sweet and glorious Virgin carried me under her cloak through the midst of the waters; and she brought me in safety to this shore where now I am, in the same moment wherein your boat did come to land."
Then the bishop, being full of awe, knelt down upon the beach and gave thanks to the Blessed Virgin, saying, "Sweet Lady, Saint Mary, most piteous Maiden, verily, neither in Heaven nor earth is there any that shall call on you in vain! For so soon as you hear the cry of your children, very speedily you come to their help, and wrap the mantle of your mercy around them, by the which they are preserved from every grief."
Of a surety, Our Lady's mantle hath great virtue for the protection of them that are sheltered therein; no peril shall come near to that traveller about whom it is cast. Thus did it happen on a time that certain clerks were in a galley on the sea, making passage to a shrine where they would go; and a great tempest arose, by the which they were put in much danger, for so high was the wind that they could not row at all, but were compelled to let drift
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the galley whither it led them. Now these were lettered men, expert in Latin; therefore, being in much need of Our Lady's protection, they began to sing her hymn, that is called "Ave, Maris Stella," with a very great devotion. And they were in much dread, for the waves were exceeding great; yet had they trust in Saint Mary's power.
Then was their faith justified unto them, for when they were come to the words, "Monstra te esse Matrem!" behold! they saw our compassionate Mother, that is the Queen of Heaven and Earth, who came to them upon the waters; and whilst they gazed upon her beauty, she took from her fair shoulders the Mantle of Mercy, and spread it as a veil about the galley that was in such distress. And at once there was a great calm, for no tempests nor foul winds may come therein.
Then said the master of the ship, " Row, brothers, row, lest the storm come on us again! "And so did they do, and that Lady conducting them, and keeping them ever under the shelter of her love, they came quickly to land in great peace and joy, praising and lauding that Blessed Virgin, the Star of the Sea, and the Helper of Christian folk.
Verily, there is no sinner so great that Saint Mary will not shelter him in the mantle of her mercy if he ask it; nor is there any so virtuous that he may do without its aid. Let us fly quickly, oh my brother ! beneath the cloak of that compassionate Lady, that there we
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may be safe from every peril, and sheltered against the righteous anger of the Judge. And let us make our humble petition to that glorious Virgin, saying devoutly:
”Dear Lady, Star of the Sea, without thee our ship wanders helpless upon the troublous waters of the world! Send, we beseech thee, fair winds to fill our sails, that swiftly we may achieve that comfortable haven that thy Son hath prepared for them that adventure on the seas: even the joyous port of Heavenly Syon, where no storms nor tempests ever come.
"Placa mare, Maris Stella, Ne involvet nos procella, Vel tempestas obvia!"
