Sunday, April 24, 2016

St. Patrick's Cathedral by Deirdre McGrath



While walking down Fifth Avenue, it would be hard to miss the towering, neo-gothic styled cathedral beside you. Its’ elaborate architectural details are truly admirable and striking; you may find a man of any religion may stop and gaze at its beauty. As you open the doors, you soon gather that inside is especially majestic. You are surrounded by tranquility inside the churches’ walls, a stark change from the hectic outside world. Thousands of religious icons and symbols enhance its’ true beauty. Today, New Yorkers and visitors are fortunate enough to gather in a place where people of all backgrounds come together to retreat from outside world.
            In the eighteenth century, only a few hundred Catholics resided in New York City. The Catholic population began to increase, and an urban revolution was occurring. During urban revolutions in Europe, large and influential cathedrals were built, and America followed suit. At this time, the diocese of New York and New Jersey were established, and people became involved in the construction of a new church. Many poor Irish Catholic immigrants lived in New York City and as a result, the church was named after the patron St. Patrick. St. Patrick’s Cathedral was built in 1809 and soon became a staple of New York City. More than five million visitors come through St. Patrick’s Cathedral each year.
            St. Patrick’s Cathedral is known as a symbol for American religious freedom. America was seen as a novelty, and a land of opportunity. Irish immigrants came to America in masses and looked to find a better life. They were extremely impoverished, out of work, and lived with their families on very little. St. Patrick’s Cathedral became a place for the congregation of Irish Catholics. Soon after, the church brought together Catholics of other ethnicities, which provided many with their spiritual needs. People began imagining the “new America” in different ways and associated it with being multicultural and multi religious.
If you asked a group of people in a room to define the term “religious”, your responses would certainly vary. Many in this group, however, may say that taking part in religion is a way to get involved with society. For example, some Roman Catholics attend mass every Sunday. Others may attend mass every day, and some may attend on Christmas and Easter. But, who is to define what “religious” truly is? The sense of unity in St. Patrick’s Cathedral allowed Irish Catholics of all religious standings to come together. In Ireland, they felt a sense of betrayal in many senses and came to America for something new. Many were simply born Catholics, but didn’t practice, attend mass, or even receive communion. This sense of community allowed them to feel a strong connection to the church. Although they didn’t always attend mass regularly, when they did, they felt they were able maintain their Irish identity. Once other ethnic groups integrated into St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Irish slowly integrated into the new multicultural society.  
The cathedral itself is a religious text, and it carries infinite meanings; as a text can be interpreted in many ways. This can vary from a piece of furniture, place of religious worship, a magazine, or a work of art. Since we all come from different ethnicities, cultural backgrounds, and histories, we find that we construe these types of objects differently. The Irish, for example, saw it as a center for Irish life in New York. “The oldest Roman Catholic Church building in New York City, it played vital social and political roles in the lives of young immigrants, helping them adapt to their new home” (Lower East Side Tenement Museum, 2005). Pope Francis’ visit in the fall demonstrates how significant St. Patrick’s Cathedral is on Catholic lives today.


"Lower East Side Tenement Museum." Lower East Side Tenement Museum. 2005. Web. 21 Apr. 2016.

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