The Feast of the Assumption on August 15th commemorates the belief that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was taken body and soul into heaven and it’s called the Assumption. It’s marked worldwide with special Masses, processions, Marian hymns, and local customs such as blessing herbs or first fruits. This was the first year celebrated at Notre Dame since the fire. The crowd was enormous, with people pushing and shoving, all trying to get a good viewpoint and participate in the activities.
So, let me try to explain. We arrived around 2:30PM. The crowd was already large and growing. People wanted to participate and they wanted to see the statute of the Virgin. It was hot and it was sweaty; body pressed against body, sweaty, hot and tightly packed, all, standing on tippy toe, seeking a glimpse of the small statute.
I’m not really sure how long we stood in the crowd before things started happening in the cathedral.
I took this shot, of the statutes over the entrance of the facade as, pressed like a sardine in a can, we stood there.
Gradually our focus changed to the enormous doors of the cathedral as the clergy was exiting and, once again, the crowd was becoming excited. They were coming!
Before I knew it a silver statue of the Virgin and child was only meters away, facing me.
Historically, the men would grab the handles of the platform and lift it onto their shoulders. I guess, however, that the statue was very heavy and the weight too much for them to manage. So, they rested the arms of the platform on their shoulders and began to trudge toward us with the Virgin safely ensconced on a rolling platform.
As they progressed toward us the crowd parted, like Moses at the Red Sea. And, lo and behold, as the crowd parted I was next to the chosen path. The clergy and statute passed right in front of me. I could, if I wanted (and I did but resisted), reach out and touch it but I didn’t. The crowd was pressing in from every side, everyone wishing to follow as the clergy made their way. The crowd collapsed in and started singing and following Mary and the Christ child and we were left behind. We made our way to a seat at a cafe on the other side of the Seine and a cool beverage. We had been here before with our friends, Jimmy and Barbara, on our last visit to Notre Dame. Then the cathedral was covered with scaffolding and still being restored.
Those are my glasses on the table and my beer, in the tall green bottle, was waiting for me. Oh boy, was that seat and that beer comfortable and refreshing.
After resting a while, we decided to stroll around the area. Here are a few shots taken as we explored. This area in the vicinity of the cathedral, on the left bank, is a warren of small streets with shops and bistros scattered around.
Then, we found ourselves in the church of St. Severin.
The interior, light and airy, was lovely and the stained glass very interesting. The window on the right is traditional, telling a biblical story while the one on the left is recent, installed between 1964 and 1970. The blue suggests water and what better place to install it than behind the baptismal font.
Now my favorite window in St. Severin. I loved the light flowing in projecting color and brightness.
And then, my favorite photo of the painting of the last supper. There is something about this photo with the light dancing off the “canvas” and the slight etherial feel due to the soft focus. I just like it!
On our way to dinner we stumbled across a group of folks enjoying a tango or two. What a sensuous dance. It’s like making love, swaying to music.
It was a great way to end our day.
Just unbelievable
Thanks Jim for the nice comment.