Wednesday, March 30, 2011

St. Patrick's Cathedral

I was doubtful that I would have the opportunity to visit St. Patrick's Cathedral because, well, there's just something about saying, "OK, kids, let's go visit that church so Mom can take pictures" that elicits much eye rolling and sarcastic remarks like, "Wow, Mom, that sounds like a lot of fun." But...when I saw that the Lego store was but a half a block from this beautiful cathedral, I seized the opportunity. I sent Mark in to the loud, crowded Lego store with four children while I spent several quiet, remarkable moments in a stunningly gorgeous place.

St. Patrick's Cathedral opened its doors in 1879.

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(from St. Patrick's Cathedral New York website): "As Brendan Gill wrote in his introduction to St. Patrick’s Cathedral: A Centennial History, 'In the Old World, for well over a thousand years the center of a city was thought to be wherever its Cathedral stood…

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We are a city that, even within its comparatively narrow confines, has always tended to spin apart. To speak only of Manhattan (the original New York City of Hughes’ day), we have Wall Street and Greenwich Village and Chinatown and Chelsea and Times Square and the Upper East Side and Riverside Drive and Harlem and Washington Heights and scores of other districts and neighborhoods; yet we have few places that convey an authentic sense of being at the very heart of things. St. Patrick’s is such a place.

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Aided by the graceful presence of its neighbor, Rockefeller Center …, the Cathedral dominates Fifth Avenue as easily today as it has ever done…

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Thanks to the program of preservation carried out under the watchful eye…, the building has never looked more beautiful.

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There it stands for our delight and, if necessary, for our consolation.

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Its front steps are a parvis, if not a Paradise, and young and old take the sun upon their faces there as a sort of benediction, while the scattered benedictions of a thousand rosy candles wink and twinkle within.'"

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21 comments:

Unknown said...

WOW! Amazing place, beautiful photos! Well captured! Thanks for sharing!

Unknown said...

Excellent pictures. As a homeschooling project, ask the kids to build a Lego St. Patrick's cathedral and post pictures of their efforts. The Lego stained glass windows would be fun to see.

Ashley Sisk said...

Wow - how gorgeous!

Jessaca said...

That cathedral is absolutley stunning in B&W!! Very dramatic!!!

Margaret said...

Very well done. I've been there for Mass. A truly special place. I love your perspective in the b&w.

deb duty said...

What a beautiful cathedral and your photos capture it beautifully! You really did a fantastic job.

Anne U @ hot coffee mama said...

I love old churches, the architecture and the history fascinates me.

Anonymous said...

Great photos and amazing churches!!!
Kisses and reagrds.

Buckeroomama said...

These are such awesome shots! I was not as into photography back then when I was in New York (sans kids)... I was all about shopping then! Now, if ever we visit, I will have to send the kids to the Lego store while I do what you did. =)

Unknown said...

How beautiful! I love your photos. I'm so glad you were able to squeeze in some "me" time, too! I'm sure the tranquility of the cathedral beat out the noise of the Lego store :)

Cedar said...

Stunning! Absolutely stunning! I am amazed at your captures, particularly the second one and the one next to the sky scrapper! Love them!

melissa said...

Such an amazing church & those photos are gorgeous! xoxo

dclouser said...

These are stunning photos, Katy! I remember visiting St. Paul's Cathedral when I was a student at Nyack and I well remember how awe-inspiring it was! You captured it beautifully.

Nancy @ Ordinary Miracles & The Crazy 10 said...

Converts so well into black and white!
Lovely images!
Nancy-of the crazy 8

Gina Kleinworth said...

I absolutely LOVE photos of churches. When I was a teen we flew back east & I visited St. Ann's in MA. It was so amazing! Very similar to your photos

Tracy said...

Just beautiful and you captured it soooo well!!

tsinclair said...

What a beautiful church, and I am glad that you were able to truly enjoy it.

Misty said...

What amazing architecture!

CrossView said...

Wow! Stunning!

Michelle R said...

These are wonderful! I'm glad you got some time to explore this!

Anonymous said...

I love the black and white pic of the outside. It looks all stormy.

ALEX WAS HERE!!