:dancing-banana:
Go to the back to the Lady Chapel where the Blessed Sacrament is kept.  I used to often pray the Rosary there when I worked on the UES. Fulton Sheen is buried beneath the altar as are other bishops and cardinals of long ago.
As for panhandlers, pray to the Holy Ghost for wisdom.  Many are nothing but charlatans.  A friend used to get a roll of dimes each week and give 10¢ to every beggar who approached her.  When the dimes were gone, she'd smile and say, "Sorry, no more today." Money is often not what is needed.  On occasion, I've purchased a hot drink or even an entire meal for a street person.  In winter, gloves, hats, scarves are often appreciated by those without.  In summer, I once bought a man a pair of flip-flops as the pair he was wearing were too small and held on with dirty duck tape.  Always offer a kind look, a short greeting, and smile to panhandlers.  That is a good way to discern those in genuine need from mere tricksters. Many are mentally I'll with no family or friends. Only exceptions are those who appear to be threatening or in some way dangerous. Hope this is helpful!

I have two questions, but I think that they could probably be answered in one discusion.

1) What do you think about going into a novus ordo church during your lunchbreak in order to pray the rosary?  I just started working down the street from St. Patrick's Cathedral and it seems like a better environment than going into the park to do it.

2) What is your policy on giving money to panhandlers?  Again, I just started working in Manhattan, and I know that I'll encounter a lot of them getting off the train in the morning and heading back into the train station in the evening.

1) "Prayer is good no matter where it is offered." Fr Peyremale to the town council members who were trying to preach agains Bernadette in "Song of Bernadette."

2) Why don't you see how many people are asking. If you can afford it give a little. Maybe you could set a limit and keep to it.    

As far as the panhandlers, yes, discernment is the key.  I have been walking past and thinking about whether I should give or not.  No impulse giving.  I don't want to fund evil habits.

Thanks for the advice guys.  Frances, I went to the back to the Lady Chapel this afternoon.  It was filled with Catholics reverently adoring the Blessed Sacrament.  It was an awe inspiring experience.  Thank you for telling me about it.

 :dancing-banana:
It's so easy to think of ourselves as did the prophet Elijah, that we are the only ones left keeping the Faith.  That time may come, but I believe there are still true Catholics, even in a novus ordo Cathedral in the middle of Manhattan.

The added benefit of praying in the Church of course is adoration.

As for panhandlers, we had such a problem in our cathedral lately during one of the masses the priest went down and personally kicked one out.

In fact, the priests have kicked out all the homeless from the cathedral. This came after two assaults on priests and near-violent confrontations with volunteers who were trying to clean the restrooms in the mornings. One homeless person actually jumped into a car with an elderly female parishioner and demanded a ride. Things were getting out of hand. The hours at the cathedral had to change and doors locked for protection.

The priest told us to refer all panhandlers to Catholic charities five blocks away and ordered us to give no money to them.

This may seem uncharitable but the priests have to live there and they have staff they are responsible for also.

A couple years ago a priest went out in the middle of the night when he saw a person sleeping in front of the school to ask him to leave and he was attacked.

The church needed some type of security, the answer is not kicking out those not rich enough.
 The story of the Good Samaritan is so true,  there are kind hearted people who are religious but so often it's liberals (even those for things that are not of God) who act Christ like to someone in a desperate situation.

Quote from: Tiffany

Quote from: crossbro

The added benefit of praying in the Church of course is adoration.

As for panhandlers, we had such a problem in our cathedral lately during one of the masses the priest went down and personally kicked one out.

In fact, the priests have kicked out all the homeless from the cathedral. This came after two assaults on priests and near-violent confrontations with volunteers who were trying to clean the restrooms in the mornings. One homeless person actually jumped into a car with an elderly female parishioner and demanded a ride. Things were getting out of hand. The hours at the cathedral had to change and doors locked for protection.

The priest told us to refer all panhandlers to Catholic charities five blocks away and ordered us to give no money to them.

This may seem uncharitable but the priests have to live there and they have staff they are responsible for also.

A couple years ago a priest went out in the middle of the night when he saw a person sleeping in front of the school to ask him to leave and he was attacked.

The church needed some type of security, the answer is not kicking out those not rich enough.
 The story of the Good Samaritan is so true,  there are kind hearted people who are religious but so often it's liberals (even those for things that are not of God) who act Christ like to someone in a desperate situation.

I disagree with you.
 They were interfering with our services and disrupting mass- the Cathedral is not a 5 star hotel and our priests are not punching bags and neither are the mostly older people that volunteer to clean. Also, the school is directly attached to the chapel and the kids have to use the restroom too. We do have security and the entire grounds are monitored by video. And, as I pointed out Catholic Charities is only blocks away, so they are being taken care of and have those facilities available.

They may be in a desperate situation, but they placed the priests in one also. It was not an easy decision to make but it was the only one.

borgious style charity preach loving and giving to the poor but keep them out of our space and sight

Spot-on Tiffany!

Plenty of this in Tradition these days:

James 2:1-5

"My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory with respect of persons.  For if there shall come into your assembly a man having a golden ring, in fine apparel, and there shall come in also a poor man in mean attire,  And you have respect to him that is clothed with the fine apparel, and shall say to him: Sit thou here well; but say to the poor man: Stand thou there, or sit under my footstool:  Do you not judge within yourselves, and are become judges of unjust thoughts?  Hearken, my dearest brethren: hath not God chosen the poor in this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which God hath promised to them that love him?



Too many books, not enough love!



God bless!