THE STORM ON THE SEA / by Joe Castorino

The storm strikes!

It strikes suddenly,

And without warning.

Then lightning flashes in a frenzy

In the vast vault of the dark sky,

In the form of a frightening cross.

What am I to do?

As as a little child of God,

I cry out in my need:

O Mystical Rose, please help me!

O St. Joseph, please help me!

O Guardian Angel, please help me!

O Divine Mercy, please save me!

Then, I spiritually fall to my knees,

And I surrender to you, Jesus.

In that moment,

In my emotional suffering,

I remember your sorrowful Passion,

And my heart is wrenched within me,

Pierced with pain,

Wailing with woe,

Feeling alone,

At the foot of the cold cross.

In that moment,

In my physical pain,

I suffer sorrowfully with you,

In the Agony in the Garden,

In the Scourging at the Pillar,

In the Crowning with Thorns,

In the Carrying of the Cross,

In the Crucifixion.

I remember with holy courage

That patience is the companion of wisdom.

And I realize that I have been

So focused on the cross

That I forget that the Resurrection

Is sleeping ever so peacefully

In the back of my boat.

Then the Resurrection stands up,

And in the sparkling of an eye,

The dark waters of the sea

Suddenly grow calm,

And the roaring of the waves ceases:

He embraces me with His love.

O Merciful Master,

Thank you for saving me,

Thank you for loving me so much,

Thank you for teaching me faith --

Jesus, I trust in You!