Sister Catherine was born shortly after the end of the Civil War. She lived in Washington, D.C. before the great ballooning of the federal government that we see today. One fine day a group from her church decided to take an excursion on the Chesapeake Bay. This was also before the days of outboard motors, so the men agreed to do the rowing.

As the day was drawing to an end and they were returning back to shore, the weather suddenly changed. The wind and waves of Chesapeake Bay threatened to swamp the boat. Reminded of the story in Matthew 8:23-27 of the Disciples on the Sea of Galilee fearing the wind and waves would sink the boat, the Christian group began singing a hymn, Master, the Tempest is Raging, based on that very story. On that day, the hymn also became a prayer. Here are the lyrics:

Master, the tempest is raging!
The billows are tossing high!
The sky is o'ershadow'd with blackness,
No shelter or help is nigh;
"Carest thou not that we perish?"
How canst thou lie asleep,
When each moment so madly is threat'ning,
A grave in the angry deep?

Chorus:
The winds and the waves shall obey my will,
Peace, be still!
Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea,
Or demons, or men, or whatever it be,
No waters can swallow the ship where lies
The Master of ocean, and earth and skies;
They all shall sweetly obey my will,
Peace, be still! Peace, be still!
They all shall sweetly obey my will,
Peace, peace, be still!

As they sang the winds and waves subsided until the men had enough time to row the boat to the shore. The incident demonstrating the Lord’s care for them so impressed Sister Catherine that sixty or seventy years later she told the story to our church.

If you are unfamiliar with the hymn, HERE is a link to a YouTube video with a Christian Brother singing all four parts of the song. That, in itself is unique, but it is also a beautiful hymn.

May the Lord always be praised for the way He takes care of us, if we but ask. Praise His name!