Crowds Gather At Cathedral Basilica Of Saints Peter & Paul For Christmas Mass
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- This morning, Christians are gathering in church to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
It gives the faithful time to reflect on the meaning of Christmas.
Families, elderly, the homeless all took part in the service, and to pause and reflect on the meaning of the season.
"Oh my gosh, it's going to bring tears to my eyes, family time together, my son is home from college, and it's going to be really great to be with family," one mother attending the service said.
Eyewitness News reporter Justin Finch is at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Center City.
There is, of course, Christmas tradition- midnight mass throughout the Basilica, a tradition where the splendor can be seen in every part of the service, in every pew was filled overnight.
The service always visually and spiritually moving, the choir saying carols including come all yee fateful, hundreds sang from the pews, standing room to share in the moment.
This year's focus was on the holiday and family.
The homily under scores the importance of passing along family focused traditions onto children, attendees also called to remember the humble birth of Christ, outdoors in a manger, detailed scripture, of course, in song.
Now if you missed this midnight mass, there are also services at 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., of course, Noon today.