A truly divine experience awaits you at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan. Whether it’s the church’s history, the stunning architecture or the building’s religious message, there’s just no describing the sensation you feel when you first lay eyes on this New York City icon. Built in the years between 1858 and 1865, St. Patrick’s Cathedral is the largest decorated gothic-style Catholic Cathedral in the nation, providing hundreds of New Yorkers with a celebrated place of worship. Known internationally for its beautiful rose window and Tiffany & Co, designed alter, the Cathedral is currently one of NYC’s most popular religious tourist attractions. Millions of visitors make the pilgrimage to St. Patrick’s Cathedral every year, participating in weekly services and parish programs. Now you too can be a part of the St. Patrick’s experience thanks to public worship and cathedral tours. You don’t have to be religious in order to appreciate this New York City icon, so don’t miss your chance to see it up close. Plan to visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral during your upcoming car rental NYC vacation!
Architecture Inspired by Heaven
St Patrick’s Cathedral in downtown New York City is one of the nation’s most photographed tourist attractions. Modeled in the Gothic Revival style of architecture, the Cathedral features a stunning array of marble, glass and steel. Designed by James Renwick Jr before the dawn of the American Civil War, the Cathedral is easy to recognize. Built of white marble quarried in New York and Massachusetts, St. Patrick’s Cathedral boasts a beautiful 330 foot spire, and encompasses all of the space between 3rd and 7th Avenue and 44th and 59th Streets. Beautiful windows also characterize the Cathedral thanks to the expert work of artists in Chartres, Birmingham and Boston. Car rental NYC visitors will also note the gigantic rose window created by Charles Connick. The architecture continues inside the Cathedral thanks to the stunning St. Michael and St. Louis altars (both of which were designed by Tiffany & Co.) and the St. Elizabeth altar which was crafted by Paolo Medici of Rome. You and your car rental NYC companions will also be left speechless after viewing the Cathedral’s pieta representation. The pieta inside St. Patrick’s Cathedral is actually three times larger than the famous one crafted by Michelangelo. Other impressive features inside St. Patrick’s Cathedral include a bust of Pope John Paul II and two of the world’s most beautiful organs.
If These Bones Could Talk
Car rental NYC customers may be interested to note that numerous bodies are buried inside the religious facility. These burials include the eight deceased archbishops of New York, six of which were Cardinals. When you’re inside the Cathedral make sure to take a moment and look for the Cardinal’s honorary hats, called galeros. They are hanging from the ceiling directly above their tombs. Other burials inside the Cathedral include Archbishop Fulton Sheen and the man responsible for the reconstruction of St. Peter’s Church, Pierre Toussaint. Car rental NYC customers are encouraged to view the burial markers of these important religious figures while inside the Cathedral. A number of famous New York City citizens have also had their funeral at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. These have included baseball legends Billy Martin and Babe Ruth, football coach Vince Lombardi, and singer Celia Cruz. Memorial masses for Yankee legend Joe DiMaggio and the prolific artist Andy Warhol were also held here.
Worship at St. Patrick’s
Car rental NYC customers are encouraged to participate in one of the weekly mass sessions held inside St. Patrick’s Cathedrals. Weekly masses are held mornings at 7:00, 7:30 and 8:00 am. Afternoon sessions begin at 12:00 noon, 1:00 and 5:30 pm. Saturday masses are held at 8:00 am, 12 noon and 5:30 pm (fulfills Sunday’s obligation). Sunday Masses are held at 7:00, 8:00, 9:00 and 10:15 am. Afternoon programs re also held at 12:00 noon, 1:00 and 5:30 pm.
If you would like to learn more about St. Patrick’s Cathedral before embarking on your upcoming car rental NYC vacation please log onto the official Archdiocese of New York website at www.ny-archdiocese.org. Potential visitors can also contact the Cathedral by telephone at 1-212-753-2261.