(mass times & church info last updated 04/24/2016)Address: 424 W. 34th St. (@10th Ave.)
Phone: 212.563.2575
Weekend Mass Times:
Sat: 5pm (English)
Sun: 10am (English, choir), 11:15am (Spanish), 12:15pm (English)
Weekday Mass Times:
Mon-Fri: 7:25am (in the Chapel of Divine Mercy), 12:10pm (main Church) (both English)
Holy Days of Obligation: 7:25am, 12:10pm, 5:10pm (all English)
Confession: Sat: 4:30pm-5pm, and after any Mass
Adoration & Novenas: contact the church for more info
Links:
Official Website
About the Organ
About St. Michael the Archangel
Walking home at 6am this morning, exhausted mentally and physically, not to mention emotionally, misdirected, misguided, trudging along, feeling all the old feelings of last night's revelry: ill, tired and shamed. Is this all I'm capable of? Is that the reason I keep coming back to it?
Later, I visited St. Michael's on 34th street. Another beautiful church but, perhaps it was my mood, something about the services seemed muted and dispassionate. The music was technically good yet lacked a certain animation. The African priest delivered a great talk, but something didn't seem to click. Maybe it was row after row of empty pews - only about 20 of us in attendance. Something was missing.
The church is aesthetically gorgeous. There are great statues of angels and saints (including John the Baptist and Pio.) especially one of St. Michael stepping upon Satan in triumph (though not as grand as that spectacular one out front of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.) My favorite part of the morning was kneeling in front of St. Michael's statue and finding a prayer to him and reciting it - a prayer I will forever cling to (see below.)
Now tonight, as the evening grows long and those Sunday night blues begin, the emptiness I felt this morning at Mass has found me here.I'm losing it. I don't know what I'm going to do. Falling further and further from what I know and what I want and want to be. Away from others. My friends are like strangers. Everything I thought I had and assumed to be mine, is gone.
St. Michael, Archangel,
Defend us in battle.
Be our defense
against the wickedness
and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray.
And you, Prince of the heavenly host,
by the power of God,
thrust into Hell Satan
and the other evil spirits
who prowl the world
for the ruin of souls.
Amen.
Defend us in battle.
Be our defense
against the wickedness
and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray.
And you, Prince of the heavenly host,
by the power of God,
thrust into Hell Satan
and the other evil spirits
who prowl the world
for the ruin of souls.
Amen.
I'll be praying for you. Hope things look up soon.
ReplyDeleteI don't know you, but I've enjoyed looking through your blog as I just discovered it. It sounds like you are going through a really rough time -- things will get better. Trust in this and I wish you much peace and happiness.
ReplyDeleteA few days ago I discovered your blog while trying to find information about Holy Rosary Church. I have enjoyed your trips to churches a lot! Now I had a few minutes and came back to visit, and found this sad post. I just wanted to tell you that I understand that feeling of being alone and feeling disconnected. But I also want to share with you that the best way I found to heal the "sunday night blues" (mine were long,very long) has been to use art as a way to connect with God. And to pray to God to help me achieve my purpose on Earth. If you ever want to come by Holy Rosary again (the crazy English-Filipino-Spanish Mass in the basement,) a friend and I have started a Prayerful Creation Circle 12-12:30 before mass. Your impression of the church was almost exactly like mine! You made me laugh! But the priest, Father Gilbert, asked us to bring art to the church and help him, so there we are. It is very strange, yet feels right. Thanks for your blog!
ReplyDeleteHope you are in better spirits. You are in my prayers. You have an interesting blog. I like to tour the churches when I am in town myself. Coming from a different angle, I think it is a travesty what has happened since VII. Sadly, right now, these places are more a museum to me; the worship that mostly goes on there is not what these churches were built for. Pray that God restores his Church.
ReplyDeleteRob
Hmmm, no post in two weeks. Hope things are good.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, no post in two weeks. Hope things are okay.
ReplyDeleteHang in there.
Thinking about you and wishing you well.
ReplyDeleteHello out there!
ReplyDeleteHow are things?!
You might try going to the Abbey of the Genesee and rest in a silent retreat. I just returned and found my week there rich and the monks are accessible and more than willing to help with spiritual challenges. I found that the liturgy of hours centered me and brought me closer to God. God bless!
ReplyDelete