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Evviva Maria!
Photos by New York Scugnizzo |
Over the years, I’ve attended many memorable Masses at the Shrine Church of the Holy Innocents (128 West 37th St.) in Manhattan. Coming to mind are my first ever Tridentine Mass on the Feast of St. George back in 2015, and my investiture into the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George a year later. Both were edifying and life-changing.
More recently, there were the Votive Mass of Exposition, Missa Pro Pace (Peace Mass), and Mass of Reposition during the Forty Hours Devotion; and the consecration of the church's icon of Blessed Charles de Foucauld with the procession of Our Lady of Fatima in Times Square. Though a long time in coming, the beauty and solemnity of these Masses were a big part in my recent decision to only attend the Traditional Latin Mass.
This weekend’s Votive Masses with the Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima now ranks among them.
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(L) Our friends Elena, Anna and Franca from the Madonna della Neve Society.
(R) My fellow lifters vesting in the sacristy |
Friday afternoon, the sixth Pilgrim Virgin Statue carved decades ago in the Fátima Sanctuary in Portugal arrived at Holy Innocents, the final destination of its month-long tour of the Archdiocese of New York. Traveling around the world, the international statues are meant to help “spread Our Lady’s Peace Plan and Message of Fatima,” which according to the November 10, 2019 church bulletin is “one of prayer, especially the prayer of the Holy Rosary, sacrifice and penance in reparation for sin, and Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary through the Brown Scapular.”
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After Mass, the Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima
was processed by candlelight around the church |
The most crowded I’ve seen the church thus far, devotees from far and wide gathered to venerate the Blessed Mother and celebrate the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Confession, the Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the praying of the Divine Mercy Chaplet, as well as the Luminous, Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries of the Holy Rosary were scheduled throughout the day.
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| Our Lady's message was brought to the streets |
Culminating with a Solemn High Tridentine Votive Mass of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the rite for investiture in the Brown Scapular of the Carmelites was unexpectedly offered to those who haven’t already been enrolled in the confraternity. Congratulations to my friends Elena and Andrew, along with all the others present who took the vows.
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| After Midnight Mass, the statue was processed around the nave |
The Mass was sung by Celebrant and Homilist Fr. James L.P. Miara, Pastor of Holy Innocents. Fr. Michael C. Barone, Chaplain for the Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey and the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George was the Deacon; and Fr. Christopher Salvatori, SAC, Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in East Harlem, New York was the Subdeacon. The Sacred Ministers were dutifully assisted by MC Eddy Toribio, nearly a dozen servers, and the very talented Schola Cantorum of Holy Innocents.
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| The statue circles the nave |
Following Mass, the faithful sang and prayed during the outdoor candlelight procession with the Most Blessed Sacrament and Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima through the teeming streets of New York City. Joining fellow parishioners, members of the Fratelli della Santa Fede (Brothers of the Holy Faith), including yours truly, had the great honor of carrying the statue.
Far from over, we returned to the church for the Night Vigil, which included praying the twenty mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary, the St. Michael Chaplet, and prayers of reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
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| A generous woman handed out mementoes for us to wave during the procession |
At Midnight, we again celebrated a Solemn High Tridentine Votive Mass of Our Lady. This time, Fr. Miara was joined by Deacon, Fr. Joseph Zwosta, in residence at St. Mark RC Church in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn and Subdeacon, Mr. Jeffrey Collins.
At the conclusion of Mass, the congregation sang the Te Deum and the traditional Fatima Farewell while waving white handkerchiefs as the Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima was processed around the nave. Placed back in the sanctuary beneath a flower arch, devotees filled the altar rails for a final opportunity to pray or deposit their written intentions into the prayer box next to the statue.
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| The statue returns to the sanctuary |
Having fasted all day on Friday, I joined the die-hards (and there were many) for some refreshments at the late night “coffee hour” in the Parish Hall. Expecting to have just a little caffè and maybe a croissant before hitting the road, I was pleasantly surprised to see a full-on catered meal, with platters and trays of Italian and Polish specialties. Since it was now Saturday and I could eat meat, I decided to stay out way past my bedtime, mingle with the other partygoers, and partake in some delicious affettati e formaggio, kielbasa and bigos.
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| (L) Fr. Miara says grace before dinner. (R) Trays of affettati e formaggio |
God Bless Fr. Miara, his faithful staff, and members of the greater Parish family for keeping Holy Innocents a true bastion of traditional Catholicism during the current crises of the Church. As always, it was a great joy to celebrate our faith together. Evviva Maria!
~ Giovanni di Napoli, November 24, Feast of St. John of the Cross
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| Assorted salumi, cheeses, fruit, and stuffed grape leaves |
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| Pork kielbasa |
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| Chicken with fava beans |
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| Beef with barley |
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| Cakes adorned with Our Lady's image |
