On Tuesday, March 10, the NYC Area participated in a Lenten Holy Hour and Spiritual Reflections service. The service was held in the Lady Chapel of St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Rev. Gerald Murray, ChM, JCD was the celebrant.  

The service began with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. This was followed by Spiritual Reflections preached by Fr. Murray. The theme of Fr. Murray’s reflections was Psalm 146 “Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, O my soul.” Reflecting on “I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being”, Fr. Murray noted that our life on earth has a natural limit — that day is unknown to us — and our life should be preparation for our ultimate goal, eternity in heaven.  

He quoted noted Catholic historian Christopher Dawson: “Every day is a dress rehearsal for the second coming of Christ”. Regarding “put not your trust in princes”, Fr. Murray noted that everything on earth is a temporary arrangement and that we should not put our trust in man, but rather, we should put our trust in the truth and in God, for that is what endures. Fr. Murray also wove in the story of St. Maximilian Kolbe, who “executed justice for the oppressed” when he volunteered his life so that a married man, who had been chosen by the Nazis for death in Auschwitz, could live.  

Following these reflections, the recitation of the Holy Rosary was led by Camille Kelleher, DM; Jessie Massabni, AUX; and Steve Bujno, KM, while congregants had an opportunity for the Sacrament of Penance. The service concluded with a final Benediction.  

We thank Fr. Murray for leading this beautiful service and for his inspirational and spiritually thought-provoking reflections during this Lenten season.

Psalm 146

Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD, O my soul!
I will praise the LORD as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

Put not your trust in princes,
in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.
When his breath departs, he returns to the earth;
on that very day his plans perish.

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD his God,
who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them,
who keeps faith forever;
who executes justice for the oppressed,
who gives food to the hungry.

The LORD sets the prisoners free;
the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.
The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;
the LORD loves the righteous.
The LORD watches over the sojourners;
he upholds the widow and the fatherless,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

The LORD will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the LORD!