Cum Fratris Nostris Absentibus!

The Cathedral of St. Julien

The Benedictines conclude many of their prayer remembering those who are not with them in choir for various reasons.  "May the Divine Assistance remain with us always - and with our absent brothers (cum fratris nostris absentibus)."  While I am not a Benedictine, I hope they are remembering me as I depart from Solesmes.

The Stained Glass Window of St. Julien over the Central Portal.

Since in the area I want to visit three of the more historical cities in the region:  Le Mans, Tours and Poitiers.  Le Mans played a part in the life of the founder of Solesmes:  Dom Prosper Guranger.  There he was the bishop's secretary before getting permission to reopen S. Pierre in Solesmes.  Le Mans also has one of the largest and best preserved Medieval cities (Veille Plantangenet) in all of Europe.  The Cathedral of St. Julien is magnificent to behold on the hill that holds the old city.  It is a mix of Roman and Gothic Styles and has tremendous Stained glass windows.  The wooden homes and cobbled stone streets are beautiful to behold and so widespread.  The entire old city looks out on the Sarthe River on one side and the modern city of Le Mans on the other.

Main Street of the Plantanganet Village

 The new city, like so many in Europe is pedestrian friendly.  I enjoyed just going from place to place and people watching.  "Look, and ye shall find," Scripture reminds us.  While walking around I found this church attached to a government building:  Notre Dame de la Couture.  Originally a palace with a joining church, today the government has the palace and then there is this giant church.  Upon entering it was giant, cold and empty.  At first I didn't want to walk because my boots were squeaking so loudly on the marble.   But there was no one there so I went further in.  To my surprise in the Lady Chapel-the chapel behind the main Altar- there was Eucharistic Adoration.  There were six people praying before the Blessed Sacrament and so I joined them for my Holy Hour.  By the time 6:30PM Benediction took place we were about 16 people.  A wonderful surprise!

Notre Dame de la Couture