Our Lady of the Star

https://www.roman-catholic-saints.com/our-lady-of-the-star.html

June 1: Our Lady of the Star, at Aquileia, in Italy
 
Aquileia was Roman city that was founded as a stronghold along Natissa River on frontier of growing Roman Empire in about year 180 BC.
It soon became an important trade center, & there were many roads that were soon built leading to this city.
In time, peoples of all nations & races began to settle there & produce goods for trade.

The city maintained its importance, & centuries later Emperor Constantine was known to have visited Aquileia on several occasions, as it had become recognized as one of greatest cities in world.

Such prominence attracted Attila the Hun, who attacked city twice.
In year 452 he took city, demolishing it to point that none of structures still stood after his passing.

The city was promptly rebuilt, however, as residents returned from hiding.
Charlemagne made priest at Aquileia a new patriarch, though eventually that Patriarchate was passed to Republic of Venice, a city that was founded by people of Aquileia during time of Attila’s second invasion.

The present Cathedral at Aquileia, location of miracle of Our Lady of the Star, was built by Patriarch Poppo in 11th century, & rebuilt in beautiful Gothic style in 14th century.
As cathedral was built over remains of previous church, floor has magnificent mosaic paves dating from 4th century, as well as ancient frescos.


This feast day, Our Lady of the Star, is so called because of a miracle that occurred at Aquileia when Saint Bernardine arrived & began to preach.

It is affirmed that a bright light similar to a star was seen on head of St Bernardine, a star that was easily visible even during hours of daylight when he preached at Aquileia, applying to Blessed Virgin that passage of Apocalypse where it is said that there were 12 stars on her head.

From book of Revelation:

"A great sign appeared in sky, a woman clothed with sun, with moon under her feet, & on her head a crown of 12 stars.
She was with child & wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth.

Then another sign appeared in sky; it was a huge red dragon, with 7 heads & 10 horns, & on its heads were 7 diadems.
Its tail swept away a third of stars in sky & hurled them down to earth.

Then dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, to devour her child when she gave birth.
She gave birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule all nations with an iron rod.
Her child was caught up to God and his throne.

The woman herself fled into desert where she had a place prepared by God, that there she might be taken care of for 1260 days.
Then war broke out in heaven; Michael & his angels battled against the dragon.

The dragon & its angels fought back, but they didn't prevail & there was no longer any place for them in heaven.

The huge dragon, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil & Satan, who deceived whole world, was thrown down to earth, & its angels were thrown down with it.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have salvation & power come, & kingdom of our God & the authority of his Anointed.

For the accuser of our brothers is cast out, who accuses them before our God day & night.
They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb & by the word of their testimony; love for life didn't deter them from death.

Therefore, rejoice you heavens, & you who dwell in them.
But woe to you, earth & sea, for Devil has come down to you in great fury, for he knows he has but a short time.”

Saint Bernardine preached that this glorious woman is the Blessed Virgin Mary, who was in the mind of God before the time of creation, & who is Mother of God & of the Church, as well as Queen of Heaven.

The miracle of Our Lady of the Star seems to confirm Saint Bernadine's teaching that Pope Saint Pius X & other popes later affirmed.