Women in the Catholic Church In AD 431, the Council of Ephesus granted Mary the title of Mother of God. In 553, the Council of Constantinople, proclaimed that she was perpetually a virgin. In 863 AD, the pope pronounced the Feast of Our Lady to be equal to the feasts of Easter and Christmas. By the 12th Century, the Hail Mary prayer had become popular, which in turn led to the widespread use of the rosary. According to historian Geoffrey Blainey, Mary had become the "favoured intermediary through whom the ear of God could be reached". She had become an important subject for theologians and
Our Lady, Star of the Sea the early thirteenth century. The abbey was destroyed several times, but a refounded Stella Maris monastery is still considered the headquarters of the order. Devotions to this title of Mary are found in the popular Catholic hymn, "Hail Queen of Heaven, the Ocean Star" and the ancient prayer "Ave Maris Stella". The widely sung "Sicilian Mariners Hymn", O Sanctissima, also reflects this devotion. Our Lady, Star of the Sea is the patroness of the Netherlands. The Roman Catholic Church honors Our Lady, Star of the Sea, with a feast day assigned to September 27. The Apostleship of the Sea (AOS)