This is the famous cathedral of St. Patrick in New York City where I have had the privilege of narrating the Christmas midnite mass for 21 years –with Cardinal Cooke, then Cardinal O’Connor and finally with Archbishop Egan ( now a Cardinal ).
It is situated on 5th avenue between 50th and 51st streets in the absolute center of ALL THE ACTION. How the Holy Spirit instructed the lads of 140 years ago to build in that then desolate spot shows once again the Providence of the Lord in watching over His people.
What a night it is ! Ladies in mink and hippies in torn jeans and ushers with tails and white gloves. Senators and mayors and UN diplomats—wall to wall with God’s children. Somehow, even if some don’t believe in the awe of the ENFLESHMENT OF GOD IN JESUS , they intuit—pre-articulately—that this is a HOLY night and a holy place. And it is good to be here. Some years it snowed or rained the winter rain or seemed like April in Paris. No matter what—there is always the deep sense of rightness—almost a nostalgic wish for the real peace of Bethlehem of that Night. Almost sensing that the profound wish we have for peace can never come except through the Presence of the Babe in the manger.
It is simple but hugely profound. Maybe, no one can grasp it unless he follows the path of Christ’s teaching: UNLESS YOU BECOME LIKE LITTLE CHILDREN……….! It is so difficult for us to do that. So difficult. I am too snobbish. I am too proud. I am too limited in my vision and too hooked into what I perceive (probably wrongly) as others’ disdain of me if I openly profess my Faith in a poor and little and helpless child. God help my weak Faith. May He give me the courage and the good sense to be vulnerable but authentic.