Maria Asumpta Est: Celebrating Notre Dame in Her City!

The Assumption by Murillo

August 15 is the Patronal Feast of France.  No longer a Holy Day of Obligation, it is still the Feast of the Great Cathedral of Notre Dame du Paris.  I was expecting to join in celebrations there but the priest from Brooklyn who ministers there during the summer and myself never connected.

Notre Dame du Paris.

I awoke to a gorgeous day!  Not a cloud in the sky and the temperatures were in the 70’s.  Today is the “High Vacation Day” of the Paris Summer.  I was out early to watch the joggers and those who were out enjoying the morning like myself.  I went out for café-au-lait at a café that sits in the shadow of the Tour Eifel.  A true treat indeed at $7.00 a cup.

Detail over Main Portal, Notre Dame du Paris.

After coffee I walked over to the Rue du Bac, to the shrine where Our Lady appeared to St. Catherine Laboure in 1830.  There were some crowds but it was still pretty empty.   Still I was happy to make my Holy Hour there in a place that tradition tells us that Mary herself visited.   I’ve been here several times before and have said the Miraculous Medal Novena for ages but today felt a little different.

Chapel of the Miraculous Medal, Rue du Bac, Paris.

After my time at the Shrine I went back to St. Francois Xavier Church near where I am staying.  While the Little Sisters at the Nursing Home have Mass at 11AM each day, I have been celebrating most mornings at St. Francois because their early Mass is better timed.  But today was different.   I asked a few days ago if I could celebrate Mass in English!  Not a problem.  They set me up at a beautiful Altar Dedicated to our Lady and I brought my prayers in English.  They gave me a gorgeous vestment over 100 years old with Our Lady on the back.   Some of the parishioners were there at 11:45 (as was the sacristan to make sure I didn’t walk off with the chasuble)!

Detail, Chapel of the Miraculous Medal, Paris.

After Mass I went for a festive (soup to nuts) lunch in the shadow of the Church of the Dome, which is over Napoleon’s Tomb at Les Invalides.  It is the best restaurant I’ve visited in Paris.   The TripAdvisor website rate it 100 of 9,000 plus places to eat in Paris (and it was open)!  I had a wonderful meal.

Church of St. Francois Xavier, Paris.

I went back to where I am staying before an evening walk in some nearby parks.  Without a doubt it was a wonderful way to celebrate our Lady in her city!