Bruce Springsteen poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film "Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere" during the London film festival in London, Oct. 15, 2025. His single "Streets of Minneapolis" released Jan. 28, 2026. (AP/Invision/Scott A Garfitt)
by Patty Breen McNeil
The Greek translation of the word "liturgy" is "the work of the people." Liturgy does not just take place on Sunday mornings in a church building; liturgy occurs in our homes, in doctor's offices, libraries, schools, food lines — truly, anywhere.
Right now, liturgy is found on the streets of Minneapolis. There, we witness a liturgy of hymns sung at airports and the sound of blowing whistles; a liturgy of grocery and diaper deliveries, sit-ins and peaceful protests; a liturgy of homemade signs, desperate prayers, tears of lament, holy rage and indefatiguable solidarity.
And no one sees it more clearly than Bruce Springsteen.
People take part in a demonstration in Minneapolis Jan. 25, a day federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse who was filming at a protest against the immigration crackdown in Minneapolis. (OSV News/Reuters/Shannon Stapleton)
In his latest single, "Streets of Minneapolis," Springsteen offers Americans a soundtrack to that liturgy with lines like "Citizens stood for justice/ Their voices ringing through the night/ And there were bloody footprints/ Where mercy should have stood." Later he croons, "We'll take our stand for this land/ And the stranger in our midst." The single, released Jan. 28, was the highest-selling song in the United States last week, Billboard reported on Monday (Feb. 2).
Born into a working class Irish and Italian family in Freehold, New Jersey, Springsteen's life was defined by Catholicism. When he performed at the 2018 Tony Awards, Springsteen introduced the song "My Hometown" with the following memories: "I literally grew up surrounded by God. Surrounded by God and all my relatives. … And when the church bells rang, the whole clan would hustle up the street to stand witness to every wedding and every funeral that arrived like a state occasion in our neighborhood."
The single, released Jan. 28, was the highest-selling song in the United States last week, Billboard reported on Monday.
For many listeners, Springsteen's music is a spiritual experience, an invitation to meet the Divine through image and song, to find ourselves in the stories of others and see our common humanity. While no longer a practicing Catholic, Springsteen acknowledged in his 2016 autobiography, Born to Run, that his faith remains a part of his life and artistic expression — and you don't have to look hard to find it.
In this 2016 file photo, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band perform at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (CNS/USA Today Network via Reuters/NorthJersey.com/Amy Newman)
Springsteen's music, performances and even interview answers are influenced by the faith of his childhood, filled with themes of mercy, redemption, sin, sacrifice and solidarity with immigrants and working people. The song, "Jesus Was an Only Son," released in 2005, is a profound meditation on the humanity of Jesus and the agony of Mary.
The song "My City of Ruins," originally written for Asbury Park, New Jersey, was quickly adopted by the nation as a post-9/11 anthem: "With these hands, I pray Lord/ With these hands, with these hands/ I pray for the faith, Lord/ With these hands, with these hands/ I pray for the strength, Lord/ With these hands, with these hands/ I pray for your love, Lord."
"Streets of Minneapolis" is not Springsteen's first pro-immigrant song. 2006's "American Land," a lively Celtic influenced folk-rock song, details the hope and hardworking spirit that brought our ancestors here; it's a tribute to the diverse people who made this country what it is.
In these tumultuous days, the soul of our nation is being saved by the poets, activists, songwriters, storytellers, peaceful protesters and clergy imploring us not to look away. Bruce Springsteen is only one of many, but his latest song is a reminder to all of us to continue practicing liturgy wherever God calls us. And the most holy liturgy taking place right now is on the streets of Minneapolis, where we bear witness to the work of the people.
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