Rained On
at St. Patrick's
Cathedral

Celia Cruz was taken in a 30-block processional down Fifth Avenue from the funeral home to St. Patrick's Cathedral. Her casket, draped with the Cuban flag, was encased in a see-through wagon pulled by 2 white horses. Leading the procession, which included 5 carloads of flower arrangements, was a statue of la Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre.

The St. Patrick's mass, completely in Spanish for the first time, was simulcast on TV and radio stations. The Cathedral was filled to capacity with a star audience- Ruben Blades, La India, Antonio Banderas, Miss Universe Denise Quiñones to name a few. Others who paid their respects were Hillary Clinton, the Governor, and Mayor Bloomberg.
Photos: eldiariony.com

I wasn’t sure whether to try to get into Saint Patrick’s for the mass, or stand along 5th Avenue to get a glimpse at the royal processional complete with white horses. Due to time constraints I couldn’t even dream of getting into St. Patrick’s and because of my lateness I couldn’t even get a glimpse of the white horses.

When we got to 5th Avenue in front of St. Patrick's, the processional had already passed. All I saw were the limos that were carrying the flowers. One of the flower arrangements was in the shape of the Cuban flag.

Large speakers broadcast the mass on Fifth Avenue. Patti Labelle sang the Ave Maria. The closing hymn, Carnaval was delivered by Victor Manuelle as he improvised the end especially for Celia.

We couldn't stay and listen to the mass because of the pouring rain. Mystically, a torrential rain storm fell as the royal procession began.

Ricardo Vasconcellos from El Diario La Prensa described it best:

Cinco minutos después que empezara la lenta procesión hasta la Catedral de San Patricio se descolgó sobre el Parque Central y la Quinta Avenida una verdadera tormenta.

¿Habrá sido una casualidad que el sol haya sido tan repentinamente sustituido por un aguacero torrencial mientras el cuerpo de Celia marchaba a la más famosa iglesia neoyorquina?

¿Puede considerarse un hecho fortuito el que a la llegada del cotejo fúnebre un rayo haya caído en las cercanías de la iglesia seguido de un trueno aterrador?

¿Quién podría revelar el misterio del llanto diluvial y el grito desgarrador de la naturaleza tal como si el Dios de los cristianos se hubiera unido a Changó, Ochún o Eleguá, a quienes Celia veneró en vida?

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