inSPIREd Sunday

This is St. Patrick's Cathedral
in midtown Manhattan—
and the statue of Atlas directly
across the street.

[To see more churches from
around the world, go here.]

Weekend Reflections

I was walking across 50th Street the other day
and saw St. Patrick's reflected in the
windows of a nearby office building.  This is
something I never would have noticed
before I discovered James's wonderful meme.
Thanks, James!

[To see more Weekend Reflections, go here.]

church music

I stood for a long time watching a talented
organist at St. Patrick's Cathedral
one afternoon a couple of years ago.  This was
before they did their massive renovation;
unfortunately, I don't think I'd be able to see him now.

[Linking back to The Weekend in Black and White
and to inSPIREd Sunday.]

inSPIREd Sunday

Another shot of the newly renovated
St. Patrick's Cathedral in NYC.
The reno took three years, cost $175 million,
and though it was due to be completed
this month, it was finished in time for the
visit of Pope Francis in September.

[To see more churches from around the world, go here.]

inSPIREd Sunday

This is the crèche at St. Patrick's Cathedral,

with everyone focused on the baby

(who won't be placed in the manger until

Christmas Eve)—including the rector's yellow
lab, Lexington (a bit unorthodox, but wouldn't the
shepherds have had dogs?).

[To see more churches from around 
the world, go here.]

The Weekend In Black and White

As promised in yesterday's post, here's Lee Lawrie's
Art Deco statue of Atlas.  It's four stories tall, 
weighs 7 tons—and when it was unveiled in 1937
some folks complained; they thought the face looked a 
bit too much like Benito Mussolini (actually, it does).

[To see more b/w pics, visit Dragonstar's meme.]

Weekend Reflections

This is 630 Fifth Avenue, across the street
from St. Patrick's Cathedral and right
behind the 1937 Art Deco statue of Atlas
(more about that tomorrow).

[To see more Weekend Reflections, see James's meme.]

inSPIREd Sunday

I took this shot of the spires St. Patrick's Cathedral 
the day before Pope Francis arrived.  Already 
there were barricades set up along the length of this 
block (and many others)—24 hours later, I 
would not have braved the crowds.

[To see more churches from around the world, go here.]

inSPIREd Sunday

There's still some scaffolding around St. Patrick's Cathedral
here in NYC, as they continue to renovate—and
Atlas is still shouldering his burden across Fifth Avenue.

[To see more churches from around the world, go here.]

another view

I've shown you the front of

St. Patrick's Cathedral. Now here's 

the back—it may not

have the towering spires, but

the architectural detail here

just blows me away.

St. Patrick's Cathedral

My favorite moment in this cathedral was the wedding
of an actress (friend of a friend), who sailed down the
aisle proudly 8 months pregnant.  The child (a girl)
was born on time a month later, and named Margo
Channing (after Bette Davis' character in All About Eve).