A Sabbath in Paris

Since I knew we would be in Paris on Sunday I checked into the worship service schedule at Cathédrale Notre-Dame and found out that they have an International Service every Sunday at 11:30 AM.  We let the kids sleep in as long as possible (to recuperate from the fireworks adventure), then shortly after 11 AM we all headed down to the Metro.  We arrived at Notre Dame and discovered a very long line already formed.  Upon further investigation the long line was to "Visit" Notre Dame, there was another line with no one in it marked "Messe". Well we were there for the service so we went in that door.  The service was already started but an usher showed us where we could enter the worship space, and after a little looking around we found some empty seats off to the left side about half way to the front.  These were not great seats, we couldn't see anything happening at the front (except for the odd glimpse of a priest moving around).

The seats where we sat for the service, the pillars on the right pretty well blocked our view of everything.

The International Service was supposed to be in both French and English, but the only English we heard was a few petitions during the Prayers of Intercession.  For me the most worshipful part of the whole experience was the organ music - after all music is the truly international language.  The bulletin had some parts in English and German, and the explanation about communion in English said communicants should be Christians who believe in the living presence of Christ in the sacrament (whereas the French explanation used the word 'Catholic' in the same spot).  Beth and I decided we were comfortable enough with that explanation, so we went up for Communion (the kids however did not feel that would be okay for them... perhaps all those years receiving a blessing only at the Saint Francis School Masses).

All throughout the service the "visitors" to the cathedral walked around the periphery of the worship space, looking, taking pictures and whispering to each other (there were large electronic signs that displayed the request to be silent in many different languages).  Still this struck us as an unusual way to have a worship service - and we wondered if the priests who serve there ever got used to that.  Ironically we ourselves then walked around the periphery of the worship space before leaving the cathedral (I thought that we had time before the next worship service began, but there was little time between the services).  My favorite thing in Notre Dame is the stained glass, and how the architecture and windows draw the eyes up to the heavens.

The vaulted ceiling and stained glass windows of Notre Dame.

After we left the cathedral we looked for a crepe stand that Beth and I found when we were here three years ago.  Indeed it was still there, and so we all enjoyed some crêpes (either with lemon and sugar, or Nutella - which is a big thing over here).  We were just beginning to walk around the area when a sudden downpour struck, fortunately a souvenir shop was right there so we avoided getting wet.  It was a short shower, and afterwards we could see the real purpose of the gargoyles - they are rain spouts directing water away from the building.  I took a few pictures to illustrate this and to me it almost looks like the gargoyle is salivating.  A little creepy, and not the image of happy friendly gargoyles from Disney's version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame.  I've determined to read Victor Hugo's novel soon, I don't think I ever have (just watched movie versions).

Is this gargoyle salivating as it spies some victim down below?

After a little more wandering on Île de la Cité we returned to the Metro station and made our way back to the apartment.  we stopped in at a local grocery store and bought some baguettes, meat and cheese - this became our supper.  The rest of the day was a day of rest.  People napped, relaxed, read, did crosswords - we all needed a down day.  So that was our Sunday in Paris, a sabbath break in our European adventure.