It felt more French than France
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
This past fall, I went on an amazing Europe trip that included multiple stops in France-
Lourdes, Toulouse, Rocamadour, Mont Saint Michel, Lisieux, Nevers, Chartres, Paray Le Monial and Paris. I went to Mass 10 times during that span and all the Masses, even at Notre Dame De Chartres and Notre Dame De Paris, were in English.
Today's Mass at Notre Dame De Montreal was entirely in French. Kind of Ironic. I have officially been to Mass on 18 consecutive ''first Fridays'' (Friday April 3rd is skipped over by church dispensation since it was Good Friday and there is no Mass).
The Devotion to the Sacred Heart officially calls for 9 in a row and my current cycle of 9 started on Friday October 3rd in Paray Le Monial, France in the actual chapel where Jesus appeared to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque.
How fitting that it would wrap up in the chapel of the Sacred Heart in Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal.
This Basilica had been on my bucket list for years since I first saw pictures of it. It lived up to the expectation. The only eye sore is that one of the towers is under restoration so the scaffolding and netting doesn't look too good.
Parking is a real pain. Spots are very limited and you can only pay for them 2 hours at a time. The experience of driving there was challenging. In France, all the signs seemed to be more English friendly but, then, someone else was driving.
It is impossible to convey how magnificent this church is. God has blessed me to see some of His most magnificent shrines and cathedrals- Fatima, Lourdes, Chartres, Paris and Washington DC to name a few. This one ranks up there with any of them.
Like so many, the pipe organs are incredible.
The stone roads remind me of what I saw in Portugal and Spain.
After leaving Notre Dame Basilica, I made my way to Saint Joseph Oratory, about 20 minutes away. The largest church in all of Canada, it reminded me of Mont Saint Michel and Rocamador because it is incredibly tall and incredibly high up. It is hundreds of steps to get to the summit.
The oratory was founded by Saint Andre Bessette and I was so blessed to touch my relic crucifix to his tomb.
Like Notre Dame, it has a magnificent pipe organ.
The way of the cross at this church is incredible.
You can see for miles from the top of this church.
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