Hello friends. I’m back with another NYC post. If you missed my first post from my New York trip, you can find it here. We are switching gears from food to some of my favorite sights. New York is packed to the brim with things to see, it’s hard to pick which things are the most important. But this one is a no brainer. If you are in New York, go to St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
There is a funny thing, most people might not know about me (yes a tangent is coming!). I was raised in a Catholic home, attended Catholic schools from 2nd-9th grade and have participated in all the sacraments through Confirmation. While my church going days have mostly been limited to Easter and Christmas, I still find solitude in my faith. As a child, you are mostly going through the motions during religion classes or mass. As an adult, I may not go to Church every Sunday or not eat meat on the Fridays of Lent, but I am still VERY much a faithful person. In high school, I took a religion class called “Problems with Faith.” The class was about questions and doubts you may have in your Catholic faith. I remember my teacher saying, “You don’t need to be in a Church to be closest to God.” If nothing else in all of my religious journeys, I’ve held SO tight to that notion. Whether I am on a hike with my best friend overlooking the ocean, or I am crying my eyes out in my car feeling broken- I feel connected to God. In the moments I need Him the most, or the moments I need Him the least- I reach out and find peace.
Along my life travels, I’ve sought out cathedrals. St. Patrick’s in Dublin, St. Paul’s in London, St. Mary’s in Edinburgh. I step inside and a feeling of tranquility rushes over me. Here we were, in New York City, one of the busiest places on earth, yet inside St. Patrick’s it’s calm, quiet, collected. You forget about the rush of life outside the walls and can sit and pray, think, reflect.
I can’t suggest it enough, even if you aren’t religious, visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NYC. Take in the history, the architecture, and feel the solitude it creates. Life is a scary thing- seek out places to find peace.
Love, Rachel
xo
