A sign of ‘renaissance’ in Paris: Notre Dame Cathedral to reopen Dec. 8

Rome Newsroom, Dec 5, 2024 / 06:00 am (CNA).

The reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, five years after the fire that devastated its roof and spires and made it unusable, is “a renaissance,” Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich told CNA.

The Paris cathedral reopens on Dec. 8, but the celebrations for the cathedral’s return to worship will last until Pentecost next year. 

The restorations have produced a cathedral with brighter walls but intact in its original structure. In the rooster at the top of the spire, the relics of the saints of Paris — St. Louis, St. Genevieve, and a piece of Jesus’ crown of thorns — which were miraculously saved from the fire — are displayed. 

On Dec. 8, Notre Dame will not yet be fully accessible. But the reopening is a sign that France is coming to life again. Over the last century, the cathedral has become a symbol of national unity. 

Victor Hugo’s novel “Notre Dame de Paris” brought the cathedral back to center stage in the 19th century. The architect Viollet Le Duc renovated it by inserting the famous gargoyles into the structure. Then, starting with Napoleon — who chose Notre Dame for his coronation — the cathedral has increasingly become a national monument. 

Speaking to CNA, Ulrich stressed that the reopening of Notre Dame is “a renaissance, a rediscovery for the priests and faithful of Paris who have been waiting for this moment for five years.”

“About 40 recently ordained priests have never had the opportunity to celebrate or attend a celebration in our cathedral,” Ulrich explained. “That day will certainly be memorable. It will be a day of profound joy for Paris, France, and the world. Notre Dame is also a reference point for those passing through the Archdiocese of Paris. Everyone knows Notre Dame; even foreigners are very fond of it.”

According to the archbishop, the cathedral has “balanced architecture.” Above all, it is “a symbol of Christian Europe and medieval Europe,” which has “surpassed the centuries” and taken on a national dimension in the last century, especially after the celebration held at Notre Dame to give thanks for the liberation of Paris in 1944 and for the end of the war in May 1945. 

Ulrich noted the differences between the rebirth after World War II and the current reopening of Notre Dame, although “the national sentiment is the same.“ But “in 1944-45, many French were still regular churchgoers, attending Mass regularly. Today, it is no longer the same. For many, going to Notre Dame is a discovery, sometimes spiritual, but above all cultural.“ 

The archbishop said he wishes “that people who come to Notre Dame discover not only a national monument but a place of Christian prayer, and that the tour route — which we have redesigned for this reopening — makes everyone know something about the Christian faith. Not everyone will become a Christian, but everyone has the right to hear about the Christian faith.“ 

For this reason, in the reconstruction process, the identity of Notre Dame has been forcefully defended. There was talk of turning the cathedral into a museum and regulating access through a ticket, but the Church of France strongly opposed this. Although the state is the “concessionaire” of the building, President Emmanuel Macron can only speak outside the cathedral on Dec. 7 when he symbolically hands over the renovated cathedral. On Dec. 8, he will participate in the inauguration Mass, but the focus will be entirely on the Church of Paris and France. 

Upon his entrance, the great organ will be rekindled, and the office of the Maîtrise de Notre Dame will be sung by the choir led by Henry Chalet, culminating with the Magnificat. 

The archbishop will then give a final blessing, and the Te Deum will be sung. In the evening, a cultural program with giant screens and performances outlines a “great mystery of the Middle Ages.” 

The inaugural Mass will be held on Dec. 8 at 10:30 a.m. The new high altar designed by Guillaume Badet will be consecrated. Nearly 170 bishops from France and around the world will participate in the Mass, as will a priest from each of the 106 parishes of the Diocese of Paris and a priest from each of the seven Eastern-rite Catholic Churches. 

The Mass will be full of symbols: Holy water will be sprinkled on the people, then on the altar and the pulpit as a sign of purification of these elements intended for sacred use. 

The rites of consecration of the altar will take place in five phases. The first is the deposition of the relics of the saints on the altar. Five saints are linked to the Church of Paris: St. Marie Eugénie Milleret, St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, St. Catherine Labouré, St. Charles de Foucauld, and Blessed Vladimir Ghika. 

The second phase will be the prayer of dedication of the anointing with oil. Then, incense will be offered, and the altar will be ornamented and lit. 

After the inauguration, there will be a special eight-day period during which each day will be a solemn celebration with a dedicated theme. This will involve, in particular, those who supported Notre Dame during the reconstruction period.