21/06/1946: Stormy night in the J.J. Sister

21/06/1946: Stormy night on the boat J.J. Sister (st  Josemaría was travelling with don Jose Orlandis) during the trip from Barcelona to Genoa. The doctor in Madrid had advised against the trip, and told st Josemaría he was not accountable for his life if he went ahead. St Josemaría  had written to don Alvaro: There is nothing funny about this trip you talk of as 'convenient': I’ve never been in worse physical condition... However, decided not to go against God’s will (...) I’ll go like a truss”.

The storm, strange itself at that time of the year, lasted for almost 20 hours. All the dinerware and glassware in the dining room was broken. One could hear the furniture moving from side to side of the rooms. Practically all passengers and crew ended up seasick. In the midst of it, st Josemaría commented to don Jose: “You know what? If we sink and get eaten by the fish... Perico (Pedro) Casciaro shall not eat seafood ever again! Soon after he commented: “Got to see how deep has the devil sunk it’s tail in the gulf of Lyon! It’s clear he’s not happy about us arriving in Rome!”. St Josemaría arrived in Genoa the night of the 22nd of June. Don Alvaro and don Salvador Canals were there waiting for him. St Josemaría when greeting don Alvaro, said to him: “Here you got me you crook!... You ended up getting your way!”. That night they slept in a hotel in Genoa, but it was so late that the diner was closed. St Josemaría hadn’t eaten anything for more than 30 hours. Don Alvaro could only offer him a piece of cheese that he had kept in his pocket thinking of St Josemaría, anticipating he might have not been able to eat during the trip. The next day they left to Rome.

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