I took a walk through St. Patrick’s Cathedral while in New York last week which always brings up something new for me when I do so.
This year I was fascinated by the former Archbishop’s crests on the floor of the grand Cathedral. I’ve met 4 of the Archbishops and they all are in fact, Irish. Terence Cardinal Cooke, John Cardinal O’Connor, Edward Cardinal Egan and now Archbishop Timothy Dolan. I swear the Irish mafia insures that the bishop is “one of us” so they can get good parking for the parade.
In fact, there has only been one non-Irish Archbishop in New York: the Frechman, John Dubois. Dubois is buried under the sidewalk of the Cathedral so “people can walk all over me in death, just as they did while I was living.”
You have to have a good sense of humor to be the bishop!
Today in New York they’ll be more police and fire staff out in their “dress blues” than any other day besides September 11th. And appopriately enough that’s actually the true color of this holiday as opposed to the green that most will wear. Irish warriors wore blue into battle and so NY’s Finest and Bravest are in good company.
Today, especially, I am thinking not merely of Ireland and New York, but mostly of my nearly 82 year old father who came to the United States from Ireland in 1947. Imagine crossing the ocean at the tender age of 19! But indeed that is what he did and in 1950 he married my mother, an American, born of an Irish mother and French Canadian Father. May he continue to be proud of his own Irish heritage today.
Lastly, for those who faced sexual abuse in Ireland, a blight in that nation’s Catholic past–may today bring you healing and an opportunity to pray to Patrick who after being imprisoned found his way to convert others. May you continue to convert souls to care for those in need and not merely protect their own interests.
Amen and slainte to all.