Sailors ...
Sailors, women and troubles (1958 film), Love Boat (television series), the sailor has a woman in every port ... The figure of the sailor has always been accompanied by a reputation as a frivolous and easy-going heartthrob, with a strong tendency to procure damage to oneself and to others. Life on the ships of the Navy leads us to consider that fame is certainly sometimes deserved, but ....... there is a moment in the sailor's day in which spirituality prevails and values return to be those shared by most of the Italian people. The ship is underway, it is sunset, the Collective Orders Network (ROC) calls the crew free from guard services to the stern, the departments line up, the ROC from the bridge orders: CREW BEWARE ... DISCOVER!
The sailors, in absolute silence, take off their caps. The reading of the Sailor's Prayer begins.
TO YOU, O GREAT ETERNAL GOD,
LORD OF THE SKY AND THE ABYSS, WHOM THE WINDS AND WAVES OBEY ...
Certainly the crew, at this moment, is on the blue abyss facing the waves and the tides, it seems impossible that someone with few words could have described such an emotion.
WE, MEN OF THE SEA AND OF WAR, OFFICIALS AND SAILORS OF ITALY,
FROM THIS SACRED SHIP ARMED BY THE HOMELAND WE LEAVE HEARTS.
At the end of a day that may have been, depending on the occasion, demanding, easygoing, dangerous or adventurous, we cannot fail to raise our thoughts to our Creator to whom we all owe our life.
GIVES RIGHT GLORY AND POWER TO OUR FLAG,
COMMAND THAT THE STORM AND THE FLUTS SERVE TO YOU;
PLACE HER TERROR ON THE ENEMY;
MAKE THAT FOREVER THEY GET AROUND IT IN DEFENSE PETTI OF IRON,
STRONGER THAN THE IRON THAT ENCLOSURES THIS SHIP,
TO HER FOREVER GIVES VICTORY.
We therefore remember why the crews sail the sea: to defend what the flag represents with personal sacrifice. At this point, the back of all the sailors is crossed by a shiver and the silence becomes even more absolute.
The ROC continues:
BLESS, O LORD, OUR FAR HOMES, DEAR PEOPLE.
… And everyone thinks of those who have stayed at home often waiting only for a short meeting.
BLESS THE REST OF THE PEOPLE IN THE FALLING NIGHT,
… And everyone thinks that the communion of all individual families form the people, that people to be defended and protected.
BLESS US THAT, FOR IT, WE SEE IN WEAPONS ON THE SEA.
BLESS US.
… At this point the back is all tingling and sometimes the tear appears. The ROC at this point orders: COVER UP… IN FREEDOM. But you stay a few minutes at the stern, someone looks for a cigarette to seem casual, a few words with the neighbor, but it is certainly not a time when you think of 'women and troubles' but only of DEAR PEOPLE.
History tells us that ...
We owe this exciting moment of reflection to Antonio Fogazzaro who composed the PRAYER OF THE SAILOR in 1901. On 23 February 1902 it was recited for the first time on the G.Garibaldi Armored Cruiser. It liked it so much that since 1909 it has been compulsory on board the ships of the MM. Certainly on board the ships there are different religious sensitivities but since then all Italian sailors have found this moment of spiritual recollection every evening that is good for all MEN OF THE SEA AND OF WAR.
