Stars

In this apparition Our Blessed Mother appeared with a crown of seven stars placed horizontally on her head just as a queen would wear her crown signifying her place as queen among her people. A queen’s crown represents the best of her kingdom. Our Mother’s crown of seven stars represents the best and most the church has to offer which are the seven Sacraments. In her crown there is one star which is at the center and much larger than the others. This star represents the Eucharist or Body and Blood of Christ. Our Mother gives particular importance to the Eucharist because it is literally the Body and Blood of Christ. Each star also corresponds to a specific virtue associated with each Sacrament and the corresponding capitol sin. Through the living of the Virtue is how we grow closer to God. It’s important to note that the process of spiritual growth is twofold. First, we need the Grace received through the Sacraments and second our effort in living the Virtue. Only in living the virtue is how we grow spiritually. We cannot do this on our own. We need God’s special Grace received through the Sacraments, prayer and other means. This is what provides the gasoline for us to live the virtue. Only through living the virtue is how we grow spiritually.

1st Star

• Represents the Sacrament of Baptism. This Sacrament makes us sons and daughters of Christ opening us up to God’s Grace. This Sacrament is usually received as an infant however can be received as an adult. It can only be received once as it wipes away all sin and pain of sin. There are different types of baptism for those of different beliefs. This is mainly because Salvation is not exclusive to Catholics or Christians.
• The first and most important virtue is that of Humility. In Humility we realize are nothingness before God. All that we have and receive is given to us by God for the exclusive purpose of fulfilling our mission of returning to our Creator. In this Virtue we realize that only through God’s Grace and obedience to His will can we be successful in our purpose and mission which ultimately is our return to God Our Father.
• Each Virtue of Our Blessed Mother has its corresponding capitol sin. The capitol sin that corresponds to humility is pride. Pride is the root of all sin. This capitol sin is a disordered love of ourselves. Pride is mainly manifested through disobedience to God’s teachings and law. Here we pick and choose what we obey giving a variety of excuses. The bottom line is its pride rearing its ugly head. We must remember always that God is the same yesterday as He is today. Sin is sin and can never be justified.

2nd Star

• Represents the Sacrament of Confirmation. In this Sacrament we receive the Holy Spirit, the third person of the trinity. This supercharges us to spread Christs Gospel of Love to all the corners of the earth. Through this Sacrament as well as the Sacrament of Baptism we are called and ordered to spread Gods love to all.
• The corresponding virtue is that of generosity. Generosity is not giving of what we have in abundance but rather of giving what we don’t have. When people think of generosity they think of money. Nevertheless, the most precious gift we can give is our time. Time serving others in the capacity and time that God calls us to do. All things belong to God to include our time. In living the Virtue God will always call us to give until it hurts sacrificing that which is precious to us. Living the Virtues is a continual denial of ourselves for God. Sacrifice is something we all tend to avoid because of the pain it causes nevertheless when done out of love it will always bring peace.
• The corresponding capitol sin for the virtue of Generosity is avarice. In avarice we tend to think only of ourselves and our own perceived needs physical and otherwise thereby eliminating God from the picture. God is always present and among us but to receive from God we have to give. Only by giving in the form and time that God asks of us can we receive. This capitol sin as all sin is tied to humility and pride. In giving we must be obedient to give as God asks us to do. I am not referring to money here or anything in particular. God manifests Himself through us. HE projects his love and helps others through us. The Good Lord will always let us know where and how He wants us to serve Him.

3rd Star

• Represents the Sacrament of Penance. The Sacrament of confession or penance is the means by which Christ through His Church forgives our sins. There are four steps to the Sacrament. The first is an examination of conscience which should be done daily writing down all those faults which are recurring and all serious or deadly sins. The second is to be truly sorry for the offense against God. If this is not present than the sin is not forgiven even if the rest of the process is completed to perfection. On this note God in His Love for us will always provide the means and circumstances to find HIM if and only if we truly want to grow closer to HIM. The third step is making the determination of not to fall into the sin. For this an evaluation has to be made as to why we fell into that sin in order to avoid it in the future. The fourth step is to confess all of our sins to the confessor. If we should forget to confess a particular sin than the sin would still be forgiven however it should be mentioned in the next confession. The last step is to do the penance imposed by the confessor. The sacrament of penance is an act of love and extreme humility to help us to see our faults in order to grow closer to God. As a last note all sin stains our conscience. This is known as the pain of sin. In confession we are restored to God’s Grace which means that if we were to die in that instant than we would not be condemned. However, because of the stain on our conscience we will continue to have horrible temptations associated with that particular sin until the pain of sin or consequence of the sin has been satisfied. This is satisfied through penance. The penance imposed by the confessor is not enough to satisfy the pain of sin. Many times, much more is needed. As long as the pain of sin is not satisfied the temptations and our weakness to fight the temptations will be greater.
• The third star also represents the virtue of chastity. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we should treat our bodies with respect being obedient always to Gods laws. Being chaste is to abstain from all disordered passions. This is not only limited to sexuality but also to all other obsessions. There are three things that help to control our passions. The first is temperance in all we do. The second is to practice silence and the third is to be mindful of all we see avoiding all those sights that cause us temptation.
• The corresponding capital sin is lust. Lust is disobedience to God’s teachings and law of love. Lust can also be described as passion for pleasure without any control. In lust we are not in control but rather the sin controls us. This sin is the most prevalent in our society. This sin is justified by our society and considered normal. It is not nor can sin ever be justified. The scriptures and the teachings of the Church are very clear on this. A simple lustful thought can condemn us for all of eternity and/or can lead us on a path away from God. Today’s society says love justifies all. Love can ONLY exist within God’s teaching and law. It cannot exist outside of this. The scriptures and the teaching of the church are very clear on this.

4th Star

• Represents the Sacrament of the Eucharist. This Sacrament is a continuation of the bread the Israelites received on their journey to the promised land. The Eucharist is the body of Christ and just as the Israelites needed the mana to survive on their journey to the promised land, we also need the body of Christ on our Journey to Christ. The Eucharist is truly the body and blood of Christ as the many Eucharistic miracles prove. Our Blessed Mother ask for greater participation in the Eucharist. This star is at the center of Our Blessed Mother’s crown and is larger than the other stars highlighting its importance and absolute necessity for spiritual growth.
• The fourth star also represents the virtue of patience. The practice and living of this virtue allow us to confront the difficulties life brings never losing hope or becoming desperate knowing that in the end everything is in God’s hands to include our lives.
• The corresponding capitol sin is anger. This sin leads to revenge and violence. When we become anger, we become blind committing and indifferent to others and their physical or emotional pain often regretting our actions after the fact.

5th Star

• The fifth star represents the Sacrament of anointing of the Sick. Through this Sacrament special Graces are received which bring peace and strength and above all hope. In this Sacrament all venial sins are forgiven however any mortal sin must be confessed through the Sacrament of confession. This Sacrament used to be administered only to those in danger of death or with serious chronic conditions but now is administered almost routinely. It’s important to note that this Sacrament does not and cannot replace the Sacrament of reconciliation.
• The corresponding virtue is that of temperance. This virtue is not only applicable to food but to every aspect of our life. In the practice of this virtue every aspect of our life to include eating, sleeping and all else is moderated.
• The corresponding capitol sin is Gluttony. This consists of giving into our passions to not only include food but all that we do without restraint or need such as compulsive buying, eating or any other perceived need or want.

6th Star

• The sixth Sacrament represents Holy orders. This is a special calling and vocation for those who have the calling to become priests. Those that are consecrated with this Sacrament maintain the faith as the first disciples of Christ. The ordained priest is our guide to understanding the scriptures and have the obligation and mandate to administer the Sacraments especially that of the greatest Sacrament which is that of the Eucharist. They also have the divine mandate of showing us through their word and example of how to live the virtues.
• The corresponding virtue is that of charity. This virtue consists of loving God above all things and loving our neighbor as we love ourselves. Our Blessed Mother gave us an example of this when hearing that her cousin Isabel had conceived Our Blessed Mother dropped everything and left to help her. Her cousin Isabel was advanced in age which made it very difficult for her to fend for herself. Mary stayed with Isabel until her son John the Baptist was born. During this time the Holy Spirit revealed to Isabel that Mary was carrying Christ. In practicing this virtue, we are asked to put God as our priority practicing and living the virtue of charity through others.
• The corresponding capitol sin is that of envy. This sin consists of maliciously desiring what others have. This sin is particularly grave because it opposes God’s law of love.

7th Star

• The seventh star represents the Sacrament of Matrimony. This Sacrament was instituted by Christ sanctifying the union in marriage between the husband and his wife. In this Sacrament we receive the necessary graces to help each other mutually to grow closer to God as well as the necessary graces to bring up and educate the children according to God’s love, teaching and law. Christ elevated marriage to a Sacrament under the New Testament. This Sacrament requires preparation and is a vocation for those who are called to it. This Sacrament also represents the union between Christ and His Church.
• The corresponding virtue is that of diligence. This virtue moves us to act with promptness and love in doing good works according to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in whatever form it may take.
• The corresponding capital sin is that of sloth or laziness in doing God’s will. In this sin there is little or no will do God’s will. This sin is considered the mother of all vices because it destroys any semblance of God within us by not allowing us to do anything for God. We must always remember that spiritual growth is a two-way street always. The first part consists of God’s grace received through the Sacraments and all prayer which is what than gives us the strength to live the virtue. Only through living the virtue can we grow closer to Christ. Through the living of the virtues is how our will becomes one with Christ’s will.