<P> Loosely based on the medieval Latin plainchant Ave Maris Stella, the hymn is generally sung to the modified traditional English melody Stella . This melody, was published in 1851 by Henri Frederick Hemy in his "Easy Hymn Tunes for Catholic Schools". The name Stella comes from the village of that name near Newcastle - upon - Tyne where Hemy was the organist in a local church . According to one account, after playing the organ for evening benediction on Sunday at Stella, he called into the (old) Board Inn at the foot of Stella Lane with some companions and seated at the piano first played his rendition of the tune . </P> <P> J. Vincent HIgginson described it as "one of the oldest English vernacular hymns commonly found in Catholic hymnals ." </P> <P> A ship was an early Christian symbol . The word "nave", used to describe the main body of a church, is from the medieval Latin navis meaning "ship", possibly with some reference to the "Ship of St. Peter" or the Ark of Noah . Catherine of Siena described the Church as a ship . The image was transferred to the individual travelling on life's stormy or tempestuous seas . This motif is also found in the first stanza of Mother dear, O pray for me. Christ calmed the storm when traveling by boat with his apostles (Matthew 8: 23 - 27) and walked on the water and calmed the storm . Also St Peter walked on the water with the help of Jesus . (Matthew 14: 22 - 33) Besides many of the apostles were fishermen and Christ made St Peter and St Andrew the fisher of men . (Matthew 4: 18 - 22). </P> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Wikisource has original text related to this article: Hail Queen of Heaven, the Ocean Star </Td> </Tr> </Table>

Star of the sea pray for the wanderer pray for me