It shouldn’t be surprising that churches in coastal communities have ornamentation that speaks to saintly protection of boatmen and fishermen. Here in Monaco’s huge cathedral (where Princess Grace was married and now lies buried) this saint carries the protected craft out of harm’s way. Even in my small fishing-centric town of Gloucester, MA, the beautiful Portuguese-neighborhood church features a statue of the Blessed Virgin cradling a ship in her arms.
Saint Nicholas ... saint of sailors in peril on the seas ... death row inmates ... virgins whose fathers can't afford dowries, forcing them into prostitution ... and of course little boys who are victims of pedophile serial murderers who make stew out of them. Old Saint Nick miraculously restores them all by sliding down the chimney in the "nick" of time!
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