[ANSTHRLD] Re: Stars

[C. L. Ward]

>I don't know of any mythological story
>concerning a rising star in particular.

I'd say we could make a case for it in the religious order name patternm
based on either the Star of Bethlehem (which rose in the east) or to the
Ascension of the Virgin, who was known as "stella maris"...

(1a) Matthew 2:1-2
cum ergo natus esset Iesus in Bethleem Iudaeae in diebus Herodis regis ecce
magi ab oriente venerunt Hierosolymam dicentes ubi est qui natus est rex
Iudaeorum vidimus enim stellam eius in oriente et venimus adorare eum

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod,
Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has
been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to
worship him."

(1b) The Golden Legend (Aurea Legenda) Compiled by Jacobus de Voragine, 1275
Englished by William Caxton, 1483 has:

"When Jesu Christ was in the age of thirteen days the three kings came to
him the way like as the star led them, and therefore this day is called
Epiphany, or the thiephanye in common language. And is said of this term
epi, which is as much as to say as above, and of this term phanes which is
as much to say as apparition. For then the star appeared above them in the
air, where the same Jesus by the star that was seen above them showed him to
the kings." (see
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/goldenlegend/GL-vol1-epiphany.html)

This emphasizes the star being *above*.

(2) Stella Maris
Since St. Jerome, a common misinterpretation of the origin of the name of
the Virgin Mary was "stella maris" or "star of the sea".  (St. Jerome, De
nomin. hebraic., de Exod., de Matth., P.L., XXIII, col, 789, 842).

A hymn, Ave Maris Stella, can be dated back to at least the 9th century
Codex Sangallensis, a manuscript now in the Swiss Monastery of St. Gallen.
Its appearance in the Codex points to a composition in possibly the 8th
century.

Ave maris stella,
Dei Mater alma,
atque semper Virgo,
felix caeli porta.

Sumens illud Ave
Gabrielis ore,
funda nos in pace,
mutans Hevae nomen.

Solve vincula reis,
profer lumen caecis
mala nostra pelle,
bona cuncta posce.

Monstra te esse matrem:
sumat per te preces,
qui pro nobis natus,
tulit esse tuus.

Virgo singularis,
inter omnes mites,
nos culpis solutos,
mites fac et castos.

Vitam praesta puram,
iter para tuum:
ut videntes Iesum
semper collaetemur.

Sit laus Deo Patri,
summo Christo decus,
Spiritui Sancto,
tribus honor unus. Amen.

[Hail, O Star of the ocean,
God's own Mother blest,
ever sinless Virgin,
gate of heav'nly rest.

Taking that sweet Ave,
which from Gabriel came,
peace confirm within us,
changing Eve's name.

Break the sinners' fetters,
make our blindness day,
Chase all evils from us,
for all blessings pray.

Show thyself a Mother,
may the Word divine
born for us thine Infant
hear our prayers through thine.

Virgin all excelling,
mildest of the mild,
free from guilt preserve us
meek and undefiled.

Keep our life all spotless,
make our way secure
till we find in Jesus,
joy for evermore.

Praise to God the Father,
honor to the Son,
in the Holy Spirit,
be the glory one. Amen.]

(3) The French Order of the Star
Following his coronation on 26 September 1350, King John of France announced
the creation of a new chivalric order the Order of the Star, which was to be
housed in the Valois village of St.-Ouen, near St. Denis. This new
institution was not primarily for common worship by noblemen, but for honor,
camaraderie, and the glorification of French knighthood.  (see
http://www.luc.edu/publications/medieval/vol3/bessen.html)

(4) Miscellaneous

Annales Cambriae for 650 has "an. Ortus stellae." or "The Rising of a Star".

The Bayeaux Tapestry has "isti mirant stella" or "here they see a star".

::GUNNORA::