Red Baron visited Paris' Notre Dame Cathedral in 1955 for the first time and was
not much impressed. The nave was dark, the walls and ceilings blackened by
centuries of candle soot. The indeed impressive stained glass windows provided
only dim lighting inside the church.
Then disaster struck. On April 15, 2019, a major fire broke out in the oak
roof truss, spreading across the entire roof within an hour.
At 7:56 p.m., the tallest part of the church, the wooden crossing tower,
collapsed, smashing part of the burning roof truss above the central nave.
Many of you remember the dramatic live pictures on television.
After five years of construction, the cathedral now shines again in new
splendor and is a magnet for visitors, with sometimes long waiting times to
get in.
That's why we decided to attend early Mass at 8:30 a.m. on Friday,
the day after we arrived in Paris. Only true worshippers are allowed to attend
services, and sightseeing visits are then not possible.
We churchgoers, after entering the cathedral through the main door, were
welcomed by the celebrant but not allowed to proceed into the nave. He introduced us to the upcoming Mass. The sight of
the restored interior takes visitors' breath away.
The uniquely shaped altar for
versus populum Masses stands at the
entrance to the choir.
The celebrant gave the sermon with the statue of the church's patron saint,
Mary, in the background.
After Mass, we admired the rosette windows.
Then we looked at the Biblia pauperum, the Bible of the Poor, in the
choir loft. On the right side, the history of salvation begins with Mary's
visit to her cousin Elizabeth and extends only as far as Gethsemane.
On
the left side, only appearances of the risen Christ are depicted. The
Passion, including the Resurrection, is omitted.
Left side:
And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste,
into a city of Judah;
And entered into the house of Zacharias, and
saluted Elisabeth.
And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard
the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled
with the Holy Ghost.
Luke 2:6–7And so it was that, while they were there,
the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she
brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and
laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch
over their flocks at night.
An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone
around them, and they were terrified.
But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good
news that will cause great joy for all the people.
Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is
the Messiah, the Lord.
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Note that the "king" presenting his gift to Jesus has laid down his
crown.
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Matthew 2:1 and
12
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the
king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
And
when they came into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother,
and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures,
they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was
exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in
Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under,
according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.
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The donkey carrying the Lord proudly looks at the spectators.
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Matthew 2:13-14 And when they were departed, behold, the
angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the
young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I
bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
When
he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into
Egypt.
Luke 2:22–32And when the days of her purification
according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to
Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;
(As it is written in the law
of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the
Lord;)
And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in
the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
And,
behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man
was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost
was upon him.
And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that
he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
And
he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the
child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
Then he
took him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
Lord, now
lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
For
mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
Which thou hast prepared before
the face of all people;
A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the
glory of thy people Israel.
Luke 2:41–50 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every
year at the Feast of the passover.
And when he was twelve years
old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.
And
when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried
behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.
But
they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and
they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances.
And when
they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.
And
it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting
in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
And
all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
And
when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why
hast thou thus dealt with us? Behold, thy father and I have sought thee
sorrowing.
And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? Wist
ye not that I must be about my Father's business?
And they understood not
the saying which he spake unto them.
Matthew 3:13-17 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to
Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
But John forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest
thou to me?
And Jesus, answering, said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it
becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and,
lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending
like a dove, and lighting upon him: and lo, a voice from heaven, saying,
This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
John 2:1–11
And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the
mother of Jesus was there:
And both Jesus and his disciples were
called to the marriage.
And when they wanted wine, the mother of
Jesus said unto him, They have no wine.
Jesus saith unto her,
Woman, what have I to do with thee? My hour is not yet come.
His
mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
And
there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the
purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
Jesus
saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to
the brim.
And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the
governor of the feast. And they bear it.
When the ruler of the
feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was:
(but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast
called the bridegroom,
And saith unto him, Every man at the
beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that
which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
This
beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his
glory; and his disciples believed on him.
And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and
they set him thereon.
And a very great multitude spread their
garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strewn them
in the way.
And the multitudes that went before, and that followed,
cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the
name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
And when he came into
Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?
And the
multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.
Matthew 26:26-29 And as they were eating, Jesus took
bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said,
Take, eat; this is my body.
And he took the cup, and gave thanks,
and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
For this is my
blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of
sins.
But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit
of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's
kingdom.
John 13:4–12 He riseth from supper, and laid aside
his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
After that, he
poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe
them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
Then cometh he to
Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
Jesus
answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt
know hereafter.
Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my
feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
Matthew 26:36–45 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a
place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go
and pray yonder.
And he took with him Peter and the two sons of
Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.
Then saith he
unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and
watch with me.
And he went a little farther, and fell on his face,
and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me:
nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
And he cometh unto
the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye
not watch with me one hour?
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into
temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
He
went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup
may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
And
he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.
And
he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same
words.
Then cometh he to the disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep
on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is
betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Rise, let us be going: behold,
he is at hand that doth betray me.
Right side:
John 20:14–16
And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus
standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
Jesus saith unto her,
Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the
gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou hast borne him hence, tell me where
thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
Jesus saith unto her,
Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say,
Master.
Mark 16:1–8 and
Matthew 28:9-10
And when the
sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome,
had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
Suddenly,
Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet, and
worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my
brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."
Luke 24:34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and
hath appeared to Simon.
Luke 24:13–35 And, behold, two of them went that
same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore
furlongs.
And they talked together of all these things which had
happened.
And it came to pass that, while they communed together
and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.
But their
eyes were held so that they should not know him.
And he said unto
them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as
ye walk, and are sad?
And one of them, whose name was Cleopas,
answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not
known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
And he
said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of
Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the
people:
And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to
be condemned to death, and have crucified him.
But we trusted that
it was he who should have redeemed Israel, and besides all this, today is the
third day since these things were done.
Yeah, and certain women of
our company astonished us, who were early at the sepulchre;
And
when they found not his body, they came, saying that they had also seen a
vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
And certain of them
who were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women
had said: but him they saw not.
Then he said unto them, O fools,
and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
Ought
not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
And
beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the
scriptures the things concerning himself.
And they drew nigh unto
the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone
further.
But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is
toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with
them.
And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took
bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
And their eyes
were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
And
they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked
with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
And
they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven
gathered together, and them that were with them,
Saying, The Lord
is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
And they told what
things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of
bread.
Luke 24:36–49 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself
stood in the midst of them, and said unto them, Peace be unto you.
But
they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a
spirit.
And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? And why do
thoughts arise in your hearts?
Behold my hands and my feet, that it
is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye
see me have.
And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands
and his feet.
And while they yet believed not for joy, and
wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
And they gave
him a piece of a broiled fish, and of a honeycomb.
And he took it
and ate before them.
And he said unto them, These are the words
which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be
fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in
the psalms, concerning me.
Then opened he their understanding, that
they might understand the scriptures,
And said unto them, Thus it
is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead
the third day:
And that repentance and remission of sins should be
preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
And
ye are witnesses of these things.
And, behold, I send the promise
of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be
endued with power from on high.
John 20:24–29
But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when
Jesus came.
The other disciples, therefore, said unto him, We have
seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the
print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust
my hand into his side, I will not believe.
And after eight days
again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the
doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
Then
saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach
hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but
believing.
And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my
God.
Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou
hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
John 21:1–14
After these things, Jesus showed himself again to the disciples at the
Sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
There were
together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in
Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples of his.
Simon
Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with
thee. They went forth and entered into a ship immediately, and that night they
caught nothing.
But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on
the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
Then Jesus
saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
And
he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall
find. They cast, but were unable to draw it in due to the
multitude of fish.
Therefore, that disciple whom Jesus loved saith
unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord,
he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself
into the sea.
And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for
they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the
net with fish.
As soon as they came to land, they saw a fire of
coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
Jesus saith unto
them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
Simon Peter went
up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and
three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
Jesus
saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who
art thou? Knowing that it was the Lord.
Jesus then cometh, and
taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
Matthew 28:16-20 Then the eleven disciples went away
into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
And
when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
And Jesus
came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in
earth.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching
them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with
you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Acts 1:9–12 And when he had spoken these things,
while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their
sight.
And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went
up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
Which also
said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus,
who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have
seen him go into heaven.
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the
mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.
It is Paul who hammers the here in Notre Dame overabundantly depicted message about Christ’s resurrection into his Corinthian sisters and brothers, "But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep”*, meaning He is the precursor and guarantee that we all will be resurrected.
*1 Corinthians 15:20
On our way out, we were once again impressed by the brightness of the church
interior.
While searching for breakfast, we found what we were looking for just
around the corner. At Café Paris, they served a café with an authentic Parisian
croissant. Delicious!
Later, we met up with the rest of our group under Charlemagne's horse's tail
for a walk through Paris.
Stay tuned.
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