Midtown Mercy - A Procession of Hope in the Heart of the City
New York's Catholic Community takes to the streets to celebrate the Feast of the Holy Innocents
I was back.
Once again, I found myself navigating the gritty streets of New York City.
I was a stone's throw from Madison Square Garden and a block or so from the famous breadline at St. Francis Church—a church that's literally served millions upon millions of meals since the Great Depression.
And it's been a while.
For a better half of 2024, I was traipsing around the country, covering the National Eucharistic Pilgrimages and Eucharistic Congress for a book that should be available in January (Stay tuned for info on that :-)
But for the past four months, I ended up dealing with a litany of family crises, only occasionally being able to sneak out and cover an event or write a story.
So I smiled as I glanced down at the street beneath my feet and felt the rumble of the subway as it streaked through the tunnel below to destinations unknown.
I was home once again.
It was Saturday, December 28th, the Feast of the Holy Innocents. As I walked the familiar streets, surrounded by the towering skyscrapers and quiet roar, which is the 'sound of the city,' I saw the spires of the Shrine in the distance. Beacons of peace and mercy in a city known for neither.
As I approached the steep stairs leading to the Shrine of the Holy Innocents, I was greeted by familiar faces. The CFRs, The Sisters of Life, and the countless Faithful are the core of the City's vibrant Catholic Community.
They arrived at those same steps to honor the lives of those slain by King Herod and to intercede for the innocents lost in our time.
The air was cold and damp, with the kind of chill that seeps into your bones and reminds you that the extra layer you thought was pointless was a good idea after all.
As Mass concluded, the crowd spilled out onto 37th street—their fingers tightly wrapped around Rosary beads, their breath visible in the frigid air.
A gentle rain began to fall.
At the front of the procession, in the shadow of the tall bronze Crucifix, an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, was carried gently by two friars from the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal.
As the procession began, the bells of the Shrine tolled solemnly, reverberating through the concrete canyons of the Garment District, weaving a solemn melody that seemed to linger in the air.
The connection between Herod's massacre of the innocents and the tragedy of abortion today was inescapable. The relentless pursuit of power and self-preservation that drove Herod mirrored the sacrifices of the most vulnerable in modern society's relentless pursuit of 'freedom' and self-interest.
The procession halted at an abortion facility on 2nd Avenue. Rain now steadily falling as a member of the Sisters of Life led those gathered in the Rosary. Their prayers for the mothers and fathers of the unborn, those whose tiny lives hang in the balance, and for all those affected by the scourge of abortion.
The voices of the faithful rose above the din of the City, their prayers forming a symphony of Grace rising to the Love of the Eternal. Time seemed to stop as the prayers resonated through the street.
A lone taxi sped by, parting the billowing clouds of steam that rose from deep beneath the streets…
The silent rain drenching the veils of the Sisters, causing them to resemble shrouds of tears…
A portrait of Grace against the backdrop of a broken city.
As the procession returned to the Shrine, the faithful's prayers turned into singing as they joyfully sang Christmas Carols, drawing the attention and smiles of even the most jaded of New Yorkers. (See the short video below)
Inside the Shrine, Bishop Byrne offered Benediction. The candles' flames seemed brighter now, their light a testament to the light of Hope.
I'll leave it at this.
Even in the chilling winds and rain, New York's Catholic community once again stood resolute, a living testament to the Truth that Christ will always overcome the darkness of this world.
And if there was ever a good day to get back in the game…
It was today.
But next time I’ll bring an umbrella.
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You have my heartfelt thanks for your generosity and support and please keep me in your prayers, and know of mine for each of you. God Bless, Jeff
That opening image, oh New York
Beautiful as always, my friend. Be sure of my prayers for you and your family, whatever the challenges.