It should also be noted that the use of "Stella Maris" to refer to the
Virgin Mary may be rooted in the legend (and perhaps fact) that after
Jesus' death,
Virgin Mary,
Joseph of Arimathea, and
Mary Magdalene sailed to the
south of France. Thus she was the star that came from the sea.
For what it's worth, some people think this legend to be connected to the origin of the French Merovingian kings and may point to their direct descent from Jesus and Mary Magdalene.