Santander, Spain, Jul 18, 2012 / 15:04 pm
On the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the patroness of fishermen, a Spanish bishop expressed solidarity with fishermen and their families amid the economic crisis affecting their industry.
In his July 16 message, Bishop Vicente Jimenez Zamora of Santander said Our Lady of Mount Carmel is "the advocate and captain of the seas" and that Jesus chose fishermen to be his "first evangelizers."
"The men and women who work on the seas are aware of the saving presence of Jesus and his mother, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, during their long hours of hard and dangerous work," he said.
"The problems facing those who work on the seas are aggravated by the persistent economic and ethical crisis," Bishop Jimenez Zamora added.
He said their families often endure the prolonged absence of the father, the ups and downs of the fishing market, the importing of fish from other countries, and other problems.
During his remarks, the bishop offered a special prayer for the fishermen who have died on the seas during the last year and for their families.
"May Our Lady of Mount Carmel, whose image is carried about on the Cantabrian Sea, through our cities, fields and valleys, accompanied by the fervor of her children, be the star that guides us to Christ, the safe port of salvation," he said.