The Blessed

Already twice blessed by the meat shortage and by exceptionally rich catches (187,000,000 lbs. last year), the Portuguese fishermen of Gloucester (Mass.) and their boats were blessed anew last week. It was a high point in a week's celebration of the 55th anniversary of the Church of Our Lady of Good Voyage.

As the 31 bells of the church carillon pealed, 400 swarthy fishermen in their Sunday best, followed by a score of clergy, made their way from the church to the fish pier. Archbishop Richard J. Gushing of Boston, in scarlet, purple and gold vestments, mounted a flag-decked platform facing the 24 draggers tied up together, with pennants fluttering in a stiff breeze. In his stentorian voice, which made the giant loudspeakers superfluous, the Archbishop said:

"The Son of God Himself took part in this honorable employment. . . . And when He commissioned His Apostles He said to them: 'I will make you to be fishers of men.' . . . When the heavens open and the storms let loose, the fisherman beholds as does no one else the awful majesty of nature . . . and the ears of faith hear once again the old command. 'Peace, be still.' "

Then, shaking toward the boats drops of holy water from a silver aspergillum, the Archbishop read the blessing: "Deign. 0 Lord, to hear our supplications and bless these ships . . . and all who sail therein. . . . Extend to them Thy right hand as Thou didst to Peter walking upon the sea, and send Thy holy angel from Heaven to protect and guard them from every danger. . . ."

After the Archbishop's blessing, fishermen and clergy went about the business of consuming 400 pounds of lobster, ten bushels of steamed clams, 1,000 pounds of boiled codfish and corresponding quantities of beer and wine.

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