Queen of the Waves

Queen of the Waves
Centennial Remembrance of
The Great Storm of 1900

On September 8, 1900, Galveston was struck by a hurricane of such destructive force that it continues to be known as the worst natural disaster in the nation's history.

More than 6,000 men, women and children were killed. Among the dead were 90 children and 10 Catholic Sisters at St. Mary's Orphanage.

The Sisters who died at the orphanage were members of the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, founded in Galveston in 1866.

In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Great 1900 Storm, the Congregation produced this recording of the story of the orphanage and the hymn "Queen of the Waves" sung during the storm.

Sister Margaret Ann Toomey is the storyteller. Children from Galveston and Houston, accompanied by Sisters Rosalita Weber and Maureen Costello, sing the hymn in memory of all those who lost their lives during the storm.

To order the CD, call Linda Macdonald at (713) 928-6053.

Queen of the Waves
from a French hymn, author unknown

Queen of the Waves, look forth across the ocean
From north to south, from east to stormy west,
See how the waters with tumultuous motion
Rise up and foam without a pause or rest.

But fear we not, tho' storm clouds round us gather,
Thou art our Mother and thy little Child
Is the All Merciful, our loving Brother
God of the sea and of the tempest wild.

Help, then sweet Queen, in our exceeding danger,
By thy seven griefs, in pity Lady save;
Think of the Babe that slept within the manger
And help us now, dear Lady of the Wave.

Up to the shrine we look and see the glimmer
Thy votive lamp sheds down on us afar;
Light of our eyes, oh let it ne'er grow dimmer,
Till in the sky we hail the morning star.

Then joyful hearts shall kneel around thine altar
And grateful psalms reecho down the nave;
Never our faith in thy sweet power can falter,
Mother of God, our Lady of the Wave.
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