Girls’ France Trip: Paris!

Ellie and I had two full days in Paris before heading to Lourdes.

After visiting Notre Dame Cathedral (two days before the fire), we walked a block or two to Sainte-Chapelle.  I had never been here before, and after reading parts of Bishop Robert Barron's Catholicism book (of which the front cover is him entering Saint-Chapelle) I was really excited to go.  Here's what Bishop Barron had to say about the chapel:

"I don't know any other place on earth that evokes the power of prayer more than the magnificent Sainte-Chapelle in Paris.  Built by King Louis IX (Saint Louis) in the thirteenth century as a grand repository for the relic of Jesus's crown of thorns, the Saint-Chapelle is a jewel box of stained glass and gothic tracery.  When you enter the building you have the distinct impression of having stepped across a threshold into another, higher world.  Lord Kenneth Clark, the great twentieth-century art historian, said that when the light pours through the colored glass of the Saint-Chapelle, it sets up a kind of vibration in the air, an electrical charge.  It is, if you will, the artistic representation of the electric meeting of two spirits, human and divine.  It is what a  human heart, elevated to and by God, looks like: transfigured, luminous, radiantly beautiful."

I'm not sure I was able to fully experience the chapel the way Bishop Barron has, but it was amazing to be surrounded by all this beauty, history, and spiritual significance - as this was built solely for Our Lord's Crown of Thorns!  The chapel is where the Crown of Thorns had been housed before it was moved to Notre Dame Cathedral's Treasury, which is where it was the day we visited.  Two days later, during the fire, it was one of the first treasures rescued and moved to another location (I'm not sure where).

From Sainte-Chapelle we walked along the River Seine, stopping for lunch and dessert!

Notre Dame Cathdral's towers & spire (pre-fire) in the background

It was about a 20 minute walk along the river to Musee du Louvre.

In the Louvre we saw:

Mona Lisa

Winged Victory

Venus de Milo

Royal Apartments (Napoleon III)

Then outside the Louvre, we spent time relaxing and having fun in Jardin des Tuileries (Tuileries Garden).

After dinner, we made our way to Place du Trocadero, where I had read was the best spot to see the Eiffel Tower!  We agree :)  The tower "sparkles" every hour on the hour for five minutes after the sun sets.  The sunset was around 8:50pm, so we were there and ready in the 'front row' for the 9:00pm sparkle show!  Ellie said this was her favorite part of our Paris trip!  So I guess it was worth keeping her awake past her bedtime :)

The next morning was the start of Holy Week.  We slept in and then went to Chapelle Notre Dame de la Medaille Miraculeuse (Miraculous Medal Shrine) on Rue du Bac for Palm Sunday Mass.

Quoting from Our Lady of Lourdes Hospitality North American Volunteers 'Pocket Guide to Parisian Holy Sites':

"The Daughters of Charity Convent is on a 'back street' ('rue du Bac') of Paris.  This is where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared in 1830 to a young novitiate, Catherine Laboure.  The Mother of God had the words 'O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee' encircling her and directed the novice to 'have a medal struck after this model; all who wear it will receive great graces; they should wear it around the neck and graces will abound for those who wear it with confidence.'  Medals were made and distributed.  So may miracles and extraordinary conversions occurred that the Immaculate Conception medal became known and is still known as the Miraculous Medal!"

Ellie and I both got miraculous medals before Mass began.

Rue du Bac

Inside the Chapel of the apparitions, where we attended Mass

St. Catherine's incorrupt body

Reliquary holding the incorrupt heart of St. Vincent de Paul,
above the chair where Our Lady sat during the apparitions

After Mass, we walked two blocks down to the Chapel where St. Vincent de Paul's incorrupt body rests (above the high altar).  St. Vincent de Paul is a model of charity and lover of the poor.

Then we strolled (while Ellie counted every white line in the crosswalk... she was up to 100 and something...) over to the famous Jardin du Luxembourg (Luxembourg Gardens).

Mini Statue of Liberty :)

Old-Fashioned Parisian Carousel

Trying to get the metal rings on the stick as she went around

Got one!

Success!!

Swings :)

Cotton candy :)

Saw the floating sailboats in the Grand Basin duck pond

Hot dog :)

Then we walked to the formal garden of the Jardin des Plantes and went to the Natural History Museum - The Grand Gallery of Evolution.

After our day of churches and gardens, we headed to bed early so we could set off for Lourdes the next morning!  A great way to start Holy Week :)

On the plane from Paris to Lourdes

Girls’ France Trip: Notre Dame Cathedral Before the Fire

Ellie and I (and baby in utero, 25 weeks at the time) had an amazing trip to France, visiting Paris and Lourdes!  We called it our "Girls' Trip" even though we still do not know if the new baby is a girl or a boy -- but Ellie is quite convinced it's a girl :)

Training to Vienna Airport (so easy travel without a stroller!)

Brian surprised me with his idea that I take a trip somewhere after his trip to Rome earlier in the semester with all the students.  He suggested going to Lourdes and so we made plans that I would fly into Paris and stay there for a couple of days before heading to Lourdes.  We had no idea that our visit to Notre Dame Cathedral on Saturday, April 13 would be one of the last visits of the cathedral for the time being as the roof caught fire on Monday, April 15.

The pictures below are the ones I took on April 13.  The pictures from April 15 are ones I found on the internet.  We left Paris on the morning of the 15th to travel to Lourdes so I did not see the cathedral after it caught fire.

I gave the following quote to a news source in Iowa after sharing some of my pictures:

“Our trip to Paris this past weekend revolved around our visit to 

Notre Dame Cathedral. 

Knowing the line is always long to climb the tower, 

we purchased our tickets first thing on Saturday morning. 

Climbing the stairs to the top of the tower 

you could feel the connection to those who had journeyed there before. 

Taking in the breathtaking views of Paris from the top, 

the spire stood out against the bright blue sky 
drawing our gaze even higher. 

As we watched the video of the burning spire topple less than 48 hours later, 

there is great sadness in knowing others won’t share our experience 

of standing in the famous bell towers. 

Notre Dame Cathedral was, and still remains, 

the most exquisite jewelry box of Paris 

holding the ultimate jewel central to our faith - 

the Most Holy Eucharist. 

I’m told that the people witnessing the church burning 

broke out in song to Our Lady - singing Ave Maria on the streets. 

This news brings me hope that the devastating fire will unite us, 

Christians and non-Christians alike, 

who see the cathedral as a sign of what is 

true, good, and beautiful.”

I was in Lourdes when I provided that quote.  I got the idea of Notre Dame Cathedral as "the most exquisite jewelry box of Paris" containing the Most Holy Eucharist - from Our Lady of Lourdes Hospitality North American Volunteers' description of the cathedral.  I will write more about these volunteers in my post about our trip to Lourdes!

Fire picture two days later

Fire picture two days later

Fire picture two days later

Fire picture two days later

Luckily Ellie is not a suspect in starting the fire :)
It appears to have been caused by electrical short-circuit

The Crown of Thorns in the Treasury

Where we sat for noon Mass on Saturday

Fire picture two days later

Beginning the climb to the top of the towers

 Picture made after the fire

Our Lady (Notre Dame), pray for us!