A special Solemn Vespers with Seven Copes was held on Thursday evening at the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral in honor of the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12). The moving gathering of faith and song featured a grand choir with orchestra accompaniment performing hymns in Latin; the sermon was in English. The “seven copes” refers to the liturgical cloaks worn by the celebrant and the six clerics assisting him during vespers, the Church’s evening prayer service.

Father Enrique Salvo, one of the assisting clerics, offered heartfelt welcoming remarks in both English and Spanish. Father Armando G. Alejandro, Jr. (Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter) served as the officiant. Father David Michael Moses delivered the sermon. In addition to Father Salvo, the other five assisting clerics were Father Roger Kwan, Father Ryan Muldoon, Father Daniel Ray, Father Peter M.J. Stravinskas, and Reverend Deacon John L. Heyer. About 350 people attended the 75-minute service at the basilica on Mulberry Street in lower Manhattan.

The grand choir and orchestra performed the Latin hymn “Ave Maris Stella,” (Santiago Billoni, ca. 1700), allowing the faithful in attendance to meditate on the lyrics: “Hail, star of the sea, Nurturing Mother of God, and ever Virgin Happy gate of Heaven. Receiving that ‘Ave’ from the mouth of Gabriel, establish us in peace, transforming the name ‘Eva.’” (The prayer service booklet included lyrics in Latin and English.)

The sermonist Father Moses spoke about the special Guadalupe story, her apparitions to Juan Diego in 1531, and the great devotion Mexicans have for her. Citing motherhood and physical birth, Father Moses said, “God chose to give us spiritual life through a Mother as well; this is why Pope Paul VI said, ‘We cannot be Christian without being Marian.’”

The priest noted, “It’s particularly fitting to accompany a celebration of Mary with orchestral music as we are tonight. First, because it is said that Juan Diego heard heavenly music when Mary appeared to him. And second, because the stars and the flowers in the tilma are arranged in such a way that when you play them as notes, the music comes out as perfect harmony.”

Father Moses continued, “Another fascinating point about the stars on the tilma is that they revealed the day on which Mary appeared – the day is the winter solstice – it’s the darkest day of the year. Mary comes to us when it’s darkest to bring us the light, who is Christ. That is our great hope.” And in service to others, he noted we should ask not what’s the least we can do, but instead ask what’s the most we can do, especially during Advent.

At the end of the vespers, after the seven copes and altar servers processed down the aisle and the choir finished singing, the people applauded with enthusiasm and appreciation. Among them were Sam Coveney and Jennifer Gomez, friends who are both 27 and members of parishes in Westchester.

“I liked seeing the copes, the different vestments. The music was great, it was phenomenal, and I really enjoyed the homily message,” Coveney told The Good Newsroom while people left the pews on their way to the Parish Hall for a social hour.

Gomez, born in Queens of Mexican ancestry, said, “I love that it was celebrating our virgencita de Guadalupe. I’m very devoted to her, so I thought it would be nice to come to this celebration… I’ve been to the (Guadalupe) cathedral, the big one in Mexico City.”