On Tues., Oct. 10, thousands of Catholics gathered in New York City for Napa Institute's Mass and Eucharistic procession at Saint Patrick's Cathedral with renowned Catholic priest and speaker Father Mike Schmitz.
Father Mike celebrated Mass at 4:30 p.m. and later led Benediction and a Eucharistic procession through the streets of Manhattan.
Father Mike told participants he offered the Mass for peace in Israel after the Hamas attack, which took the lives of at least 1,200 people.
"Pray for Israel right now," he said. "This Mass is being offered for peace in Israel."
According to recent reports, the American death toll rose to 27. The Biden Administration announced they will work to evacuate U.S. citizens currently in Israel.
After mentioning Israel, Father Mike encouraged listeners to visit the country's Via Dolorosa if ever given the chance.
Via Dolorosa is Latin for "Sorrowful Way." It is the path Jesus took while carrying the cross on His way to Calvary.
"When He walked through the streets of Jerusalem carrying His cross, this was not Jesus in His glory. This was not Jesus in His power," Father Mike said. "When God was in the process of saving the world, most people didn't even know what was going on."
"Many of them spat upon him and abused him as God was in the process of saving the world--as God was in the process of pouring himself out and love for us," he said.
Father Mike then expressed his desire for the world to understand Jesus' unconditional love for us in the Eucharist, even though the crowds did not understand this when Jesus walked the Via Dolorosa in Israel.
"When I think of a Eucharistic procession...I want them to know this is Jesus. I want them to understand," he said.
"I think we have an incredible opportunity incredible invitation tonight. Tonight we get to make a choice: That God-willing, we will radiate through the rest of our lives and into eternity," Father Mike stressed.
"We get to be his friends. His friends in His poverty, hiddenness, and vulnerability so that we can be his friends in His glory, power, and victory.
"Today we worship him as our God and we will walk with Him as friends of Jesus."