Queen of the Waves

Queen of the Waves is a French hymn (author unknown) sung by French fishermen seeking protection from storms.

In the United States, it became well known as a result of the Galveston Hurricane of 1900. The nuns of the St. Mary's Orphan Asylum had the orphans sing this song (in English) in order to calm them. Of the 93 children and 10 sisters in the orphanage, only three teenage boys survived.

As a result of this event, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word across the world sing this song every year on September 8, and remember the sisters and orphans that died that day.

The Sisters of Charity created an audio CD titled Queen of the Waves: Centennial Remembrance of The Great Storm of 1900, and MP3 audio files are available from the official 1900 Storm Remembrance Site. This CD tells the story of the Saint Mary's Orphanage during the 1900 Storm and includes the song Queen of the Waves.

Also, Gertrude Ederle, the first woman to swim across the English Channel in 1926 was popularly known in the press as "Queen of the Waves."

Lyrics

Queen of the Waves, look forth across the ocean

From north to south, from east to stormy west,

See how the waters with tumultuous motion

Rise up and foam without a pause or rest.

But fear we not, tho' storm clouds round us gather,

Thou art our Mother and thy little Child

Is the All Merciful, our loving Brother

God of the sea and of the tempest wild.

Help, then sweet Queen, in our exceeding danger,

By thy seven griefs, in pity Lady save;

Think of the Babe that slept within the manger

And help us now, dear Lady of the Wave.

Up to thy shrine we look and see the glimmer

Thy votive lamp sheds down on us afar;

Light of our eyes, oh let it ne'er grow dimmer,

Till in the sky we hail the morning star.

Then joyful hearts shall kneel around thine altar

And grateful psalms re-echo down the nave;

Never our faith in thy sweet power can falter,

Mother of God, our Lady of the Wave.

External links

Story of the Orphanage told by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word
Queen of the Waves: Centennial Remembrance of The Great Storm of 1900 (produced by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word) - with description at the official 1900 Storm Remembrance Site

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