Heavy security was present Monday as thousands of people from all over the city and the world celebrated Christmas at the annual mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral.

While officials stress that there are no credible threats to the city, security has been tight around the area, including Rockefeller Center.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan was originally scheduled to lead the mass, but he is sick with the flu and had to miss it, along with the Christmas Eve Midnight Mass. Officials said Dolan is recovering.

But that did not dampen the excitement for those who attended the Christmas Day Mass — some of whom came from as far away as Indonesia — and listened to a homily about Jesus Christ and his birthday.

"It was beautiful. It was just so nice and uplifting," one woman said. "The homily was gorgeous."

"It's been marvelous. It's been spending time with the family, seeing the sights, eating and drinking," said one attendee from Manchester, England. "But today is what Christmas is about: Attending the mass, celebrating Jesus's birth, and being together."