www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Prayer Hostage Captain, family, & church

As we have heard on the news these past few days, there are a number of ships where people are held captive, everyone that was on board.

Also, for this captain, and a safe release from the pirates. His family and his Church. I found this blog, I didn't know he was Catholic, not that it mattered, but wow what a way for a parish to face Easter. If you think about, his crew is free. He has laid down his life...

Hostage's church, town reflect on family's plight

By Lauren Ober • Free Press Staff Writer • April 11, 2009


UNDERHILL -- On the most solemn of Christian holidays, parishioners at St. Thomas Catholic Church prayed for their fellow congregant Capt. Richard Phillips and his safe release from captivity at the hands of Somali pirates.

At the church's Good Friday service, the Rev. Charles Danielson asked the 70 or so worshippers to remember the Phillips family and their ordeal this Easter weekend. With television satellite trucks parked outside and national network reporters lying in wait for any break in the story, Danielson recalled the familiar tale of Jesus' death on the cross at Mount Calvary..."You think about what today means, Jesus bearing the burden for us all," Dufresne said. "Andrea and her family are bearing their own burden."

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20090411/NEWS02/904110308/-1/NEWS05

Prayers ascending for Cptn. Phillips, his crew, and all the others sailors sailing in known heavily-pirated waters.

St. Nikolaos, St. Brendan, St. Christopher pray for them!

Indeed, many ship captains and crews, besides Captain Phillips, are presently being held captive by pirates, awaiting exuberant ransoms...

My prayers for them and for their families... and in a special way, I pray for Captain Phillips because of the particular circumstances of him being held as a hostage...(most of the ships' crews are released unharmed after months of negotiations and their ransom demands being met)...

"for those travelling by land, sea and air, we pray to the Lord"....Kyrie Eleison!

In Christ,
Alice

Ahh, you know who?

ST. NICHOLAS!!!

In other parts of the world, however, St. Nicholas' chief patronage is that of sailors and ships—offering safe voyage and protection from storms. Many ports, most notably in Greece, have icons of Nicholas, surrounded by ex-votos of small ships made of silver or carved of wood. Sailors returning safely from sea, place these in gratitude to St. Nicholas for protection received. In some places sailors, instead of wishing one another luck, say, "May St. Nicholas hold the tiller."

Prisoners and others wrongly condemned are St. Nicholas' third major category of patronage. It reveals his strong concern for justice, especially for innocent victims. The stories of guiltless soldiers lives being spared and others wrongly imprisoned being released form the basis for this category.

Almighty God,
who in thy love didst give to thy servant Nicholas of Myra
a perpetual name for deeds of kindness on land and sea:
Grant, we pray thee,
that thy Church may never cease to work
for the happiness of children,
the safety of sailors,
the relief of the poor,
and the help of those tossed by tempests of doubt or grief;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

I am taking a few minutes this morning to pray for all involved--the Captain's safety especially..and for a peaceful resolve and capture of those who have committed this crime on the seas. And lifting up the Captain's family as well. It is a blessing to read of his congregation's prayerful support during this crisis. Thanks for sharing all of the above, Pani Rose.

Christ is risen!

The captain has just been freed - heard it on the radio news.
Christos Anesti!

Thank God - it is now on the BBC Site

Captive Captain freed [news.bbc.co.uk]

God is good

Oh, thanks be to God! Praying for the restoration of his strength. His family will, indeed, have a Happy Easter!

Thank God.

Great news for this Palm Sunday / Easter Sunday :)

Thank God the Captain is safe and alive.

Prayers for the souls of the pirates who were killed...

Alice

Just my response, Alice!

Thanks to God for the Captain's successful rescue!

May God have mercy upon the lost souls of the pirates who took the captain hostage and threatened his life...

Prayers of thanks for the Captain's safe return and for the safe return too of those for whom he offered himself as hostage. Prayers also for all at sea, especially those plagued by this lawless piracy and the crews of the multi-national forces that are seeking to end this scourge of piracy.