Prayer that the sail of the cross will help us endure our fasts

Often the spiritual life is compared to a ship, sailing to our ultimate goal of Heaven.

In fact, it is no coincidence that the part of every church where the people sit is called a nave. This word comes from the Latin navis, or ship, and was meant to portray the reality that the Church is a ship, protecting those inside it from the waves and buffets of the world.

Below is a prayer from the Liturgical Year that is taken from Triodion of the Greek Church. It builds on this imagery and focuses on the cross as our sail through the remainder of Lent.

Having thy Cross as sail,
we have already winged our way half
through the saving voyage of our fast.
Lead us by the same, O Savior,
into the haven of thy Passion.

Read more:Ships in art: Symbols of the Church and our pilgrimage to heaven