The ocean is never too far away in Rhode Island. We are fortunate to have all manner of ocean-going vessels nearby. One has been on the water for a long time: the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle, otherwise known as “America’s Tall Ship.” She has been sailing the seas since 1936, and is used to train cadets for the United States Coast Guard. Perhaps some of you reading caught a glimpse of her docked in Newport recently. Not only does she train future cadets, she and other sailing ships teach us about the Church.
The structure of a ship can be found in the design of many cathedrals and churches. The long central part of a church building where people gather for Mass is called the “nave,” which comes from the Latin word “navis,” which means “ship.” Looking up to the ceiling of some churches you can see vaulted ceilings that look like the inverted hull of a ship.
From the early centuries the Church has been compared to a ship. Much like Noah’s ark provided safety against the flood, the Church safeguards us against sin and death enabling us to reach the shores of heaven. In 1862, St. John Bosco had a vision of the Church as a ship, steered by the Pope through a violent battle against an armada of enemy ships, finding safety only by anchoring between two mighty pillars rising from the sea. On top of one pillar stood the Blessed Virgin Mary with a rosary. On the top of the other pillar was a large Eucharistic host. In other words, the Church will weather the storms of this world if she is anchored to the Eucharist and to Mary.
