Non-Catholics tend to accuse Catholics of "superstitious" practices. Among them are the use of sacramentals, used as magical talismans used to ward off evil.
Are sacramentals mere superstitious charms — or are they powerful portals of grace given to us as gifts from God to help us through life?
Shaun McAfee joins me in this episode to give a crash course on what Catholics actually believe.
Check out his book Compendium of Sacramentals.
The name Stella Maris has its roots in a 5th-century translation by St. Jerome of the Hebrew name for Mary, Miryam. Originally written as Stilla Maris, it meant "Drop of the Sea." Through what likely stemmed from a transcription error, this evolved into Stella Maris, which means "Star of the Sea."
This title has been cherished in Catholic tradition, especially among seafarers before modern navigation, as they relied on the stars to guide them. Notably, the North Star, Polaris, was also known as Stella Maris.
Beyond just seafarers, Stella Maris serves as a beacon for all of life’s travelers, illuminating the darkness and offering hope as it cuts through the fog, guiding us toward the bright shores of eternity.
"Bringing hope to a world in need."
Christine Niles has worked in broadcast media for more than a decade, first founding her Forward Boldly radio network in 2012 before working as a reporter, investigative journalist, senior producer and anchor at St. Michael's Media. In 2023, Christine founded Stella Maris Media, a nonprofit devoted to truth-telling and reporting with integrity.
Christine has been a member of Investigative Reporters and Editors, and the Society of Professional Journalists.
Christine Niles was born in Saigon, Vietnam. Her family left the country shortly after the collapse of Saigon to the Communists, spending several years in France before arriving to the United States.
Christine has degrees from Oxford University and Notre Dame Law School.