One of the most popular names of Catholic churches in Britain is, “Our Lady Star of the Sea”. The reason may be that we live on an island and so we are conscious of the sea all around us with its beauty and its power but also its dangers. However, that would not have been the experience of Mary, the Mother of Jesus.

She may have seen the inland sea that we call the Sea of Galilee and she may have glimpsed the Mediterranean or the Red Sea; but the sea would not have played a great role in her life. Despite that, for centuries seafarers have invoked her protection and the power of her intercession. Why?

The key to this devotion may have its roots in the Old Testament. The name Mary is probably a derivation of the Hebrew name Myriam. This was the name of the sister of Moses. You may recall the story of how Pharaoh had ordered the Hebrew midwives to kill the male children born to the Hebrew slaves. Moses’ mother defied the law and hid her infant son in a basket among the reeds on the banks of the Nile.

Pharaoh’s daughter heard the baby crying and she was sorry for him. At this point his sister offered to find a nurse for the child and brought him to her mother. So Myriam rescued her brother from death by drowning. The child grew up to become the leader who would lead God’s People from slavery to freedom.

The first disciples that Jews called to be his closest friends, to be witnesses of his miracles and messengers of his Word were fishermen. When he called them he said, “Follow me and I will make you into fishers of men”. When he called them “fishers of men” I do not think that Jesus meant “anglers”.

In the last chapter of John’s Gospel we read how the apostles had toiled all night fishing and had caught nothing.  Standing on the shore of lake in the first light of day Jesus told them to “Throw the net out to starboard and you will find something”. What they found was a great catch of one hundred and fifty three fish. Some Scripture scholars see this catch as a symbol of the Church and the number of fish represented all the species known at that time.

The Apostles would remember another similar occasion when they had worked all night and caught nothing. Jesus used their boat to preach to the crowds, after which he said to them, “Put out into deep water and pay out your nets for a catch”.  The apostles were experienced fishermen but they obeyed the command of Jesus, the carpenter’s son, with the result that their two boats were filled to sinking point.

The message, perhaps, of today’s celebration is that we are to put our faith in Christ and place ourselves, our work, our homes and our lives under the protection of Mary, Mother of God and Star of the Sea. With that commitment and trust we will now bless these boats.