San Felipe de Neri

I attended Mass today at  the Albuquerque Old Town Church San Felipe de Neri, which is one of the oldest historical buildings in the state and is also designated a Catholic shrine by the Archbishop of Santa Fe. It has an air of antiquity reflecting its place in the history of the Southwest. Remarkably it was a place of worship some 70 years before the Declaration of Independence, going back to the time of the Spanish Conquistadors. It was founded by the Franciscan friars in 1706 under the auspices of the King of Spain, which dates it before any of the Spanish mission churches in California.  In 1821 at the conclusion of the Mexican War of Independence from Spain, it became an official Catholic property of its new country - Mexico.  In 1850  with resolution of the Mexican - American War, the Franciscan friars returned to Mexico and the Church of San Felipe de Neri became part of the newly created Archdiocese of Santa Fe of the Territory of  New Mexico belonging to the Unites States. There is a flagpole in the Old Town plaza which has flown in succession the Crown of Castile's Red (Conquistador Flag of Spain), then the Mexican Eagle, and finally the Stars and Stripe of the USA over the 300 year tenure of San Felipe de Neri Church  -  a chronological flag testimony to the enduring spiritual mission of this church.
 From an architectural perspective the core San Felipe de Neri Church is fairly representative of the Spanish colonial style. The chuch's exterior has a quaint design, buttressed by massive 5 feet thick adobe walls.  In 1861 European style  bell spires were added. They point to heaven and penetrate the skyline of Old Town with a religious presence. Their Gothic design is unique compared to other Spanish mission churches of the same era.
The interior of the San Felipe de Neri church has straight lines and pale blue and gold hues. Comparing the current decor to original drawings and later photos it appears that a skin of a 19th century fabric has been laid over the old interior. The walls are covered with tongue and groove wainscoting to shoulder height. A stamped metal ceiling covers the vigas ( wood beams) which were originally exposed. A brick floor has replaced the traditional hard packed earth of a Spanish mission church. The altar is classic painted marble which is anchored to the exterior wall. The hand-carved confessional gracing the east wall is an example of the finest Spanish woodwork of the 18th century. Beneath the Virgin Mary Altar on the right is a prostate, blood - stained figure of Jesus Christ, a manifestation of classic Spanish Penitente art  . 

It is amazing to step inside a Church and know that over 300 hundred years ago other persons stepped inside the same door for the purpose of worshipping Jesus Christ. The Mass I attended at 1015 AM was packed and the Pastor - Father Dennis Garcia extended a greeting to both parishioners and visitors. He focused his sermon on the Old Testament passage of Nehemiah, who welcomed the exiled Israelites back from Babylon to the ruins of Jerusalem by reading to them from the Torah, just so that they would not forget their identity as God's chosen people. In a similar manner I thought that this ancient Church with its history, architecture and art and thru the Mass and its other services, may inspire Catholics to  keep firm their religious identity. I encourage all Catholic pilgrims in New Mexico to visit San Felipe de Neri Church. It is a pilgrimage into our Southwestern Catholic Christian heritage.
 For Mass times and other services at San Felipe Neri click on

San Felipe de Neri Parish

www.sanfelipedeneri.org/

Visiting Catholic Shrines in New Mexico

                                                                                                                                                                  I visited the Shrine of Saint Bernadette in Albuquerque this morning. I had read on the Archdiocese of Santa Fe website that during this" Year of the Faithful", pilgrimages to any of the designated Catholic shrines in New Mexico were encouraged and may be blessed with a plenary indulgence. Now I know this sounds very pre-Reformation to non-Catholic Christians but my interest in visiting a Catholic shrine was provoked by the Archdiocese offer of a plenary indulgence, which can be obtained either for oneself or for a deceased loved on. To my surprise I learned that one of these Catholic shrines, namely the St. Bernadette Shrine was in the same vicinity of Albuquerque as my home. I  had neither been aware of the shrine nor had heard mention of it at either of the parishes where I attend services. Furthermore I confess I was relatively ignorant of Catholic shrines and their religious significance. My research into shrines led me to the  Roman Catholic Code of Canon Law, canons 1230 and 1231 which read " The term shrine means a church or other sacred place which by reason of special devotion and designated by the local ordinate, is frequented by the faithful as pilgrims." And according to the Modern Catholic Dictionary, "A shrine is a holy place. It may be a box shaped repository in which relics of a saint are placed; or the sacred image or statue of Our Lord, the Blessed Virgin, or a saint to whom special devotion is given. Shrines may also be prominent sacred localities. They may be churches or the burial places of a saint, or the place where a saint lived or died, or where a heavenly apparition took place."  The Shrine of Saint Bernadette in Albuquerque has many of these qualities. A life-size replica cast of Saint Bernadette in a prayerful pose at the time of her death lies in a glass case in the Church's vestibule. There is a relic of her hair framed alongside as well as one of the slipper socks she wore when she was infirmed with Tuberculosis shortly before her death. She was obviously small in stature. What is most striking about the photos on display is her prayerful countenance. There is an expression of intensity as she prays. There are photos of the grotto where she received apparitions of the Immaculate Conception,  the spring which came forth by rubbing the adjacent soil on her face, the convent she entered at the age of 17 and the lace altar garments she knitted there. Across the vestibule is a statue of the Immaculate Conception and a small fountain pool of authentic Lourdes water which visitors can use for washing their hands and feet. All in all the Saint Bernadette Shrine confers a sense of holiness to this place - for some it may be a place of healing and spiritual cleansing. I encourage pilgrims to visit this shrine. I plan to go back.
For more information on this shrine, visit http://www.shrineofstbernadette.com/.                                                                  For the Archdiocese of Santa Fe's listing of New Mexico shrines click on  www.archdiocesesantafe.org/

Rosary Prayer Groups

                                                                                                                                                        During the past year I have joined a rosary prayer group which meets on Saturdays before the 5:00 pm mass in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Albuquerque. I have occasionally attended a similar rosary prayer group which meets on weekdays after the 5:30 pm mass at Annunciation Church. It would seem that praying the rosary is gaining acceptance again within the Catholic faith community. Furthermore this practice is expanding its base. As an altar boy at St.Patrick's Church in Tacoma during the pre-Vatican II era, I remember elderly women kneeling in their pews and fingering their rosary beads as they prayed in whispering voices. I also remember my own mother leading her children in the rosary, after correcting our homework and before sending us up to our bedrooms. It seemed that the rosary was principally a prayer of Catholic women, albeit with their children during the 50's and early 60's. After Vatican II the practice of saying the rosary seemed to have almost vanished. Actually I don't remember ever saying the rosary at a Jesuit high school in the mid to late 60s. At my parish, St. Charles, as well as at Annunciation, the rosary is currently attracting more followers of both genders and of all ages. I have met seminarians,  professionals, skilled laborers and retirees. At St.Charles, a facilitator will call for prayer intentions. Often persons will ask the group to pray for sick family members or acquaintances, for family members or friends facing crises in their personal lives, for reconversion of family members, for the parish priest, for the intentions of the Pope and for other matters. The elements of the rosary are almost identical to those I remember my mother praying with the exception that the Luminous Mysteries of Jesus' life were subsequently added for contemplation by Pope John Paul II. The rosary begins at the crucifix with the  the Apostles' Creed. The next 5 beads correspond to an Our Father, 3 Hail Marys and the Glory Be. One of the mysteries of Jesus' life is presented for contemplation then an Our Father begins each decade of Hail Marys followed by the Glory Be. In all there are 5 decades of Hail Marys to be recited so 5 Mysteries of Jesus' life require meditation.

When I'm asked why I attend rosary prayer groups, my immediate response is that I need the prayers to help me thru life's difficulties. I also refer to Matthew 18: 20  " For where 2 or 3 are gathered together in My name, there am I in their midst." From a personal perspective, praying the rosary has been a respite from the distractions and busyness of my life. By meditation on  the mysteries of Jesus' life, I try to understand their relevance to my own life. How Christ centered am I becoming?
When I'm asked ( and this question is repeatedly brought up) by my spouse and friends who aren't Catholic, why pray to Mary when you can directly pray to God, I tell them that as a Catholic, I believe that Mary is in heaven so I beseech her prayers just as members of the rosary group ask each other to pray for our own special intentions. We are all gathering in Christ's name and praying thru Christ to the Father.
Praying  the rosary with a group of Catholics typically takes 30 minutes to complete. Certainly 30 minutes of prayer doesn't interfere with any of my other activities . I could pray the rosary faster by myself and sometimes do so but there is something very satisfying when I pray alongside others and we share our prayer intentions. There is a sense of belonging to Christ's community  - what we Catholics call the Mystical Body of Christ. I encourage Catholic pilgrims to seek out rosary prayer groups or at least to pray the rosary on their own. Praying the rosary and meditating on the Mysteries of Jesus Christ's life may open the door to a pilgrimage into one's inner spiritual self.
 For a refresher on praying the rosary click on www.catholicity.com/prayer/rosary.html

Starting the Pilgrimage

Welcome to New Mexico Catholic Pilgrimage. I have chosen this blog title to reflect my own journey into the history, culture and places of  Catholicism in New Mexico this new year. I'm well aware of the importance of pilgrimage to the Catholic tradition of this state. During holy week before Easter, one can see the pilgrims walking along the highways from as far south as Las Cruces (some 300 miles) to Santuario de Chimayo in the northern part of this state. In the chapel itself, one finds the crutches and canes nailed to the walls, signifying Christ's curative grace in this place. There appear to be many paths to the Catholic faith tradition  within this state, some very public such as joining the walk to Santuario de Chimayo, others more private such as meeting daily in small groups to say the rosary or singularly offering adoration when the Blessed Sacrament is on display in Catholic churches. In all of these settings, the Catholic faith beckons us to join in. My goal and task will be to search out and join the Catholic community of New Mexico in its diverse celebrations of faith during this" Year of the Faith". I will attempt to record these experiences as authentically and insightfully as I'm able. Like other pilgrims I will invite conversation and guidance from those along the way. I will also invite comments from any readers. The quest, of course, will be to enrich my own faith on this journey. Please join me on this pilgrimage.  
    For more information on the pilgrimage to Santuario de Chimayo click on  www.newmexicohistory.org/filedetails.php?fileID=505