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| Holy Innocents' Christmas Crèche Photos by New York Scugnizzo |
Deus, qui hanc sacratíssimam noctem veri lúminis fecísti illustratióne claréscere: da, quǽsumus; ut, cujus lucis mystéria in terra cognóvimus, ejus quoque gáuddiis in cælo perfruámur: Qui tecum. 1
Since my decision to only attend the traditional Latin Mass, I knew there would be some difficult decisions to make. Living almost two hours away from our parish meant leaving my family and friends a lot earlier than I would have if I just attended Midnight Mass with them at our local church a block away. Sadly, after our resplendent Vigilia dinner, replete with traditional Duosiciliano seafood dishes, I would miss out on the caffè, dolci and games, like tombola and chess, not to mention the much-needed quality time with my loved ones. However, being a holy day of obligation and recognizing there would be plenty more coffee, dessert and hijinks on Christmas Day, I knew what I had to do. After the invitations to join me were courteously (and expectedly) declined, I bid them all a Merry Christmas and went on my way.
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| Beautifully decorated high altar & famed Crucifixion mural by Constantino Brumidi |
Catching the train to the city without a hitch, I arrived in record time to the Shrine Church of the Holy Innocents (128 West 37th St.) in Manhattan. [Insert obvious joke about a Christmas miracle here]. Settling into the beautifully decorated church just as the Exposition and Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament was beginning, I meditated and prayed the Holy Rosary, as well as my daily prayers for the poor and forgotten Souls in Purgatory.
At 11:00 am the very talented Schola Cantorum of Holy Innocents began singing a few traditional Christmas carols in Latin. This was soon followed by the solemn Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament. At about a quarter to twelve the lights went off, plunging the nave into darkness, except for the vigil candles held by the parishioners (reminiscent of a Rorate Cæli Mass).
To the opening hymn of Adéste fidelés, there was a candlelight procession to the manger erected before the Our Lady of Perpetual Help bye-altar. Our Pastor, Fr. James L.P. Miara, M. Div., placed the statue of the infant Jesus on His bed of straw, which was surrounded by the Blessed Virgin Mary, Good St. Joseph, the angels and shepherds. The crib was blessed and the packed church sat quietly in anticipation.
At midnight the lights were turned on. Fr. Miara sang the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass; Fr. Michael C. Barone, Chaplain for the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George and Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey, was the Deacon; and Mr. Jeffrey Collins was the Subdeacon. MC Eddy Toribio, several servers, and the Schola dutifully assisted the sacred ministers.
After Mass, I briefly went downstairs to the parish hall to say hello to a few friends and see the always-delicious home-cooked repast generously prepared by members of the congregation. Still full from dinner and not wanting to miss the votive Low Mass at Dawn commemorating the Feast of Sant’Anastasia di Sirmio, I skipped the reception and rushed back up to the church, joining Fr. Miara and some thirty parishioners for the celebration. Often forgotten, the young Roman virgin was martyred on Christmas Day in 304 A.D. during the persecutions of Emperor Diocletian. Patroness of Motta Sant’Anastasia in Catania, Sicily, she is also fêted in late August during harvest.
With a long trek home ahead of me and unsure if I would get lucky with the trains again (I did!), I chose not to return to the party. Instead, I took a moment to light a few more candles and prayed for my family, friends and ancestors before departing.
Always worth the effort to visit, Holy Innocents is a steadfast bastion of traditional Catholicism in the heart of our decadent society. In his homily, Fr. Miara quoted St. Joseph Sebastian Pelczar, “Every church of ours is like another Bethlehem stable, every ciborium, like a manger. Here as there, the same lord Jesus rests—wearied from his majesty.” While this may not be true at every church (please forgive my cynicism), it most certainly is a reality at this thriving sanctuary. May God bless you all, Merry Christmas!
~ Giovanni di Napoli, December 26th, Feast of Santo Stefano primo Martire
1) O God, Who hast made this most holy night to shine forth with the splendor of the true Light: grant, we beseech Thee, that we, who have known the mysteries of His light on earth, may enjoy also His happiness in heaven. Who with Thee liveth. ~ Collect
At 11:00 am the very talented Schola Cantorum of Holy Innocents began singing a few traditional Christmas carols in Latin. This was soon followed by the solemn Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament. At about a quarter to twelve the lights went off, plunging the nave into darkness, except for the vigil candles held by the parishioners (reminiscent of a Rorate Cæli Mass).
To the opening hymn of Adéste fidelés, there was a candlelight procession to the manger erected before the Our Lady of Perpetual Help bye-altar. Our Pastor, Fr. James L.P. Miara, M. Div., placed the statue of the infant Jesus on His bed of straw, which was surrounded by the Blessed Virgin Mary, Good St. Joseph, the angels and shepherds. The crib was blessed and the packed church sat quietly in anticipation.
At midnight the lights were turned on. Fr. Miara sang the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass; Fr. Michael C. Barone, Chaplain for the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George and Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey, was the Deacon; and Mr. Jeffrey Collins was the Subdeacon. MC Eddy Toribio, several servers, and the Schola dutifully assisted the sacred ministers.
After Mass, I briefly went downstairs to the parish hall to say hello to a few friends and see the always-delicious home-cooked repast generously prepared by members of the congregation. Still full from dinner and not wanting to miss the votive Low Mass at Dawn commemorating the Feast of Sant’Anastasia di Sirmio, I skipped the reception and rushed back up to the church, joining Fr. Miara and some thirty parishioners for the celebration. Often forgotten, the young Roman virgin was martyred on Christmas Day in 304 A.D. during the persecutions of Emperor Diocletian. Patroness of Motta Sant’Anastasia in Catania, Sicily, she is also fêted in late August during harvest.
With a long trek home ahead of me and unsure if I would get lucky with the trains again (I did!), I chose not to return to the party. Instead, I took a moment to light a few more candles and prayed for my family, friends and ancestors before departing.
Always worth the effort to visit, Holy Innocents is a steadfast bastion of traditional Catholicism in the heart of our decadent society. In his homily, Fr. Miara quoted St. Joseph Sebastian Pelczar, “Every church of ours is like another Bethlehem stable, every ciborium, like a manger. Here as there, the same lord Jesus rests—wearied from his majesty.” While this may not be true at every church (please forgive my cynicism), it most certainly is a reality at this thriving sanctuary. May God bless you all, Merry Christmas!
~ Giovanni di Napoli, December 26th, Feast of Santo Stefano primo Martire
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| The ladies served up some Christmas cheer at the reception |
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| Maria's delicious pork kielbasa, chicken with fava beans, and beef with barley |
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| (Above & below) Assorted trays of affettati e formaggio |
