I have just begun reading Ildefonso Falcones' epic novel 'Cathedral of the Sea' - I am not even a fifth of the way into it yet - but I just have to take a moment to rave about it!

The story is set in 14th Century Spain and, so far, revolves around the life of a young peasant boy, Arnau, and his father as they struggle against the iniquities of the feudal system and the injustices meted out upon them by vicious overlords. The story will, according to the book jacket, chronicle Arnau's life, his trials, triumphs, setbacks, etc.

What has grabbed me most, though, at this early stage in the book, is young Arnau's discovery of the titular church - the very real Santa Maria del Mar of Barcelona. It is described as it is being modeled into THE church for the general public of Barcelona, being paid for by them - in money or effort - rather than lavish endowments by the lords and nobles. Striking is the depiction of the child Arnau's feelings for his mother (or rather the loss of his mother) and his growing love for the Virgin Mary. The book movingly (VERY movingly) describes his search for 'The Virgin' through the city, with each church he encounters not being the 'right' church - dedicated to other saints, etc - and being thrown out of them by unkind priests not willing to suffer a little boy on their premises. And then he discovers, by the sea, the church dedicated to the Virgin Mary whom he as taken to himself as a substitute for the earthly mother he has lost and to whom he has transferred all the love a boy can have for his earthly mother.

In his childlike way, Arnau had trusted the birds of the trees to take his prayers to The Virgin and thereby his messages to his actual mother, long since assumed dead. In a beautiful scene, the writer pictures a flock of birds taking of from a new church - the Cathedral of the Sea - and, at last, Arnau finds a gentle and kind welcome from a priest. Inside the church of Santa Maria del Mar, Arnau finds what he has been looking so hard for: a simple statue of the Madonna and the Christ Child - simply carved, not especially decorated, speaking only to its subject and not about the riches of any benefactor. And Arnau prays simply and freely to the Virgin Mary, in one of the most moving scenes in a book I have ever read.

For anyone who has ever wondered why Catholics are so close to Mary, then I can do no better than recommend this segment of this book to illustrate a little of why we love her so much for her motherly care of Christ and thereby for all of us. If you have ever felt alone or bereft, if you have ever yearned for the love of your mother when it wasn't available for whatever reason (I lost my mother over 10 years ago, for example) let this book, if nothing else, remind you that the Blessed Mother of Our Lord loves us all and is available to all. Talk to her freely, unburden your heart, tell her of your pains and your joys and feel the comfort of her spiritual embrace and her joy in your happiness. It's free and it's as real as any mother's love you have experienced.

'Cathedral of the Sea' could end up as a pot-boiler but it would still be priceless for this illustration.

Our Lady is often called the Star of the Sea: this is because she is seen as a guiding light for us as we journey towards Christ, in the way that a star would guide a sailor. Therefore, since 'Cathedral of the Sea' centres on the Santa Maria del Mar church of Barcelona (shown in the picture) it is appropriate to pray:

Maria, stella maris, ora pro nobis.

Mary, star of the sea, pray for us.