Saint Patrick's Cathedral, New York City

Saint Patrick Cathedral is located on Fifth Avenue between 50th and 51st Streets in New York City. The Cathedral is the largest Gothic-style Catholic Cathedral in the United States. There is some outside structure maintenance going on, so a construction scaffold is around the building at this time.

The Cathedral initial construction was begun in 1858 by Archbishop John Hughes to replace the original St. Patrick's Cathedral, which is used today as a parish church in New York. The cornerstone was laid in August of that year, and, after a suspension of work during the years of Civil War, John Cardinal McCloskey, the first American Cardinal, resumed work in 1865, and the doors were opened for worship in May, 1879.

It is a wonderful place to visit, no matter what your religion, to see its beautiful architecture, stained glass, works of statuary art, and as a place for quiet meditation and reflection in a busy city.

Some interesting acts from the cathedral's website:

"The Cathedral seats about 2,200 people.
The exterior length is about 405 feet; the width is 274 feet.
The spires rise 330 feet from street level.
The architect was James Renwick, an American. The Lady Chapel was designed by another American, Charles Mathews.
The St. Michael and St. Louis altar was designed by Tiffany and Company. The St. Elizabeth altar was designed by Paolo Medici of Rome.
The Archbishops of New York are buried in a crypt under the high altar. Their honorary hats, called galeros, hang from the ceiling over their tombs.
The Stations of the Cross are works of art which won first prize at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893.
The Cathedral has three organs.
The baldachin over the main altar is solid bronze.
Each year over 3 million people visit St. Patrick's Cathedral "

Its poignant Pieta statue of the deceased Christ being held by his mother Mary is three times larger than the Pieta in St. Peter's, Rome.

Besides daily Masses and devotions the Cathedral has many concerts, and choir and organ music programs held throughout the year, and most of them have general seating which is free. Check the music link to find the schedule of events.

At Christmas the beautiful, almost life size, Nativity Creche brings a feeling of peace and devotion. The crib remains empty until Christmas midnight Mass.

At that time the cathedral is also bedecked with hundreds of red poinsettia plants and wreaths of evergreen in beautiful homage to the celebration of birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

To see hundreds of fabulous detailed photos of the cathedral's interior and exterior check this Webshots link, and also this Flickr link.

In this busy season may we remember the true meaning of Christmas -- the miracle of Jesus' humble birth and His gift of our salvation.

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." Iasiah 9:6