Mass Of Reparation: Why New York’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral Was Forced To Perform One
NEW YORK — The Archdiocese of New York condemned the funeral of a transgender leader held last week at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, calling the entire thing “sacrilegious” and that church official had been duped into performing the service.
The Feb. 15 funeral, which drew some 1,000 people to the famed cathedral, was in memory of Cecilia Gentili, an artist and trans activist known for her advocacy on behalf of sex workers and the LGBTQ community.
Gentili, 52, had once served as Director of Policy at the GMHC (formerly the Gay Men’s Health Crisis) and founder of Trans Equity Consulting, an advocacy group.
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A self-proclaimed atheist, Gentili’s funeral Mass was more performance art than a religious ceremony. It also included foul language and inappropriate attire by many in attendance — something that drew outrage across social media over the weekend.
Warning: The video below features offensive language.
Ceyenne Doroshow, a friend who organized the funeral, told The New York Times that Gentili’s family had kept her background “under wraps” from church officials because they feared the archdiocese would not host a funeral for a transgender person.
Doroshow added that Gentili’s family and friends wanted the funeral to be held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral because “it is an icon, just like her.”
The archdiocese released a statement condemning the funeral after realizing what had taken place.
The Rev. Enrique Salvo, the pastor of St. Patrick’s, said people who work at the house of worship — known as “America’s Parish Church” — had not been aware of Gentili’s lifestyle or beliefs.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who oversees the archdiocese and the 2.8 million Catholics it serves, has not commented publicly on the funeral and the fallout.
What is a Mass of Reparation?
As a result, the cathedral, under Dolan’s direction, conducted a rare “Mass of Reparation” this past Saturday, a liturgical celebration offered to make amends or repair for sins committed against God and humanity.
The concept of reparation is deeply rooted in Catholic theology — emphasizing the need to acknowledge wrongdoing and striving to rectify potential harm caused.
This form of Mass underscores the belief in the redemptive power of prayer and penance, according to church teaching, and aims to restore harmony and balance in the relationship between individuals and God.
At the heart of this theology is the recognition of human frailty and the reality of sin. Catholics believe that sin not only damages the soul of the individual, but also affects the wider community. As a result, reparation is not only about seeking forgiveness for personal transgressions, but also about recognizing and addressing the collective responsibility for the brokenness in society.
The liturgy of a Mass of Reparation typically follows the structure of the Catholic Mass, with readings from scripture, prayers and the celebration of the Eucharist. However, there are specific prayers and rituals unique to this form of Mass that highlight the theme of reparation. These may include penitential prayers, acts of self-denial, and expressions of sorrow for sin. The liturgical color associated with Masses of Reparation is often violet, symbolizing penance and contrition.
A Mass of Reparation was held in Brooklyn last November at Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church. The Brooklyn Diocese said the church had been desecrated when singer Sabrina Carpenter filmed a sexually provocative music video inside the house of worship.
As in the case of what had taken place in the Brooklyn Diocese, the Mass of Reparation that took place at St. Patrick’s was the restoration of the sanctity of the church and the sacred space that it is for so many Catholics.
Catholic concept of reparation
Central to the Mass of Reparation is the offering of prayers and sacrifices as acts of atonement. Catholics believe that through prayer, individuals can participate in Christ's redemptive work and contribute to the healing of the world.
In offering reparation, Catholics seek to repair the relationship with God that has been damaged by sin and to restore justice and peace in the world. Reparation has deep roots in Catholic tradition and spirituality. Throughout history, saints and mystics have emphasized the importance of making amends for sin through prayer and penance.
The Catholic church teaches that acts of reparation not only benefit the individual soul but also have the power to bring about conversion and transformation in society. By acknowledging sin and seeking reconciliation, Catholics strive to live out the Gospel message of love, mercy and forgiveness.
In addition to individual acts of reparation, the church also emphasizes the importance of collective reparation for sins committed by society as a whole. Masses of Reparation are often offered in response to particular sins or injustices — such as clergy sex abuse — that have afflicted the community.
Clemente Lisi is the executive editor of Religion Unplugged. He previously served as deputy head of news at the New York Daily News and a longtime reporter at The New York Post. Follow him on X @ClementeLisi.