Lunchtime in Paris, August 15, 2025

Sleep came to us leisurely and restfully the day we arrived. We finally woke around 10:30 AM and around noon made our way to the Auburn for a light lunch. The Auburn, a quaint spot in the Hotel Indigo, serves inside and out on its terrace. We opted for a table under an umbrella (I always opt for an umbrella) to enjoy lunch and protect us from the noonday sun.

Our goal that afternoon was to arrive at Notre Dame around 3:00 PM to take part in the Feast of the Assumption. After all, the whole reason for our trip was to see and experience Notre Dame again and what better way than to participate in the Feast Day activities.

But first, with time to kill, we were off to visit La Madeleine in Paris, a neoclassical church built , with its 52 towering Corinthian columns, to resemble a Roman temple. Commissioned under Louis XV, its construction was interrupted by the Revolution and later reshaped under Napoleon before being consecrated in 1842. Napoleon intended it to be dedicated to the “Glory of the Grand Army.”

After the fall of Napoleon in 1814, the new King, Louis XVIII, resumed construction on the unfinished church. He intended to make a chapel for the sins of the Revolution and the execution of Louis XVI. This idea was dropped, however, and the new church was instead dedication to Mary Magdalene, a follower of Jesus who witnessed both the Crucifixion and the Resurrection of Christ.

Inside, the richly decorated chapels and sculptures are outstanding. Today it is known not only as a place of worship but also as a venue for major concerts and state funerals. We tried to schedule an evening organ concert but tickets were sold out.

The bronze door panels are extraordinary, depicting the ten commandments. I took photos of four of the panels plus a fifth photo with a young girl studying with the one about the 10th commandment, not to covet what your neighbors have.

The doors were truly beautiful. And to think that most people just rush past without giving them a second thought.

Inside, the church was just as outstanding. The doors were, as it was, just an appetizer. What we found was a feast for our eyes. The church was dimly lit which provided the art work a dramatic affect. Let’s start with a sculpture in a side chapel. I love the lighting.

There is a lot going on over the alter; a painting of Christ with the Apostles and Mary Magdalene at top and below is a painting of Napoleon and Pope Pius VII signing the Concord of 1801 which marked the reconciliation of the French church and state and allowed Catholic churches to re-open in France. Below the painting is a lovely mosaic depicting Christ with a group of Saints who had connections with France.

The alter is just gorgeous. It depicts Mary Magdalene kneeling in prayer, being lifted or carried toward heaven by three angels.

From there we were heading to Notre Dame for the celebration or the Feast of the Assumption.