. . . celebrating hope of salvation.
Today I had the good fortune of being part of an extraordinary Easter Mass in the newly reopened / restored Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris. There’s still exterior work underway since its great fire of five years ago — the replica spire recently was put in place, for example — but the interior seems to have been exquisitely restored (though many lament the loss of its legendary patina of accumulated soot, dirt, & grime).
Through circumstances, I was fortunate enough to be seated in the third row from the altar, so was situated to savor the spectacular panoply of adult & children’s choirs, new/contemporary (foreground) & old (background) altars, powerful organ music, beautifully restored stained glass windows, solemn ceremonial service, & enough incense to choke a horse!
Post-Mass hours included a “walkabout“ stop for a coupe de champagne at St. Regis café on Ile St. Louis & lunch at Ma Bourgogne restaurant at the Places des Vosges. Meeting tonight for dinner with L’Abbé Laurent of Saint-Roch church, brother of L’Esprit’s eminent host.
Today I had the good fortune of being part of an extraordinary Easter Mass in the newly reopened / restored Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris. There’s still exterior work underway since its great fire of five years ago — the replica spire recently was put in place, for example — but the interior seems to have been exquisitely restored (though many lament the loss of its legendary patina of accumulated soot, dirt, & grime).
Through circumstances, I was fortunate enough to be seated in the third row from the altar, so was situated to savor the spectacular panoply of adult & children’s choirs, new/contemporary (foreground) & old (background) altars, powerful organ music, beautifully restored stained glass windows, solemn ceremonial service, & enough incense to choke a horse!
Post-Mass hours included a “walkabout“ stop for a coupe de champagne at St. Regis café on Ile St. Louis & lunch at Ma Bourgogne restaurant at the Places des Vosges. Meeting tonight for dinner with L’Abbé Laurent of Saint-Roch church, brother of L’Esprit’s eminent host.
