On Sunday, December 8th at 10:30 AM, Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Paris will preside over a solemn Mass and consecrate the main altar of this cathedral which, despite trials, remains the center of the Christian faith in France.
An Exceptional Mass in the Heart of Paris
This celebration, which will take place on the Notre-Dame forecourt – Place Jean-Paul II, will bring together an exceptional assembly. President Macron will be present, alongside nearly 170 bishops from France and abroad. Each of the 106 parishes of the Diocese of Paris will be represented by a priest, as will the seven Catholic churches of the Eastern rite. The faithful and clergy will gather to mark this crucial step in the restoration of this Gothic masterpiece.
The Order of the Celebration
Here are the key moments of this Mass:
- The Sprinkling of Holy Water: This opening rite will be an opportunity for Archbishop Ulrich to bless the assembly, the altar, and the ambo, symbolizing purification and consecration for sacred use.
- The Liturgy of the Word: The readings, proper to the 2nd Sunday of Advent, will be proclaimed from the new ambo. This will be a moment of universality, as the texts heard that day will resonate in all churches worldwide.
- The Homily of Archbishop Ulrich: The Archbishop will explain the profound meaning of this celebration and of the Word of God for this time of awaiting Christmas.
The Consecration of the Altar
A particularly moving moment will be the consecration of the altar, carried out in five steps:
- The Deposition of Relics: Five saints, deeply linked to the history of the Church of Paris, will find their place there: Saint Marie Eugénie Milleret, Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat, Saint Catherine Labouré, Saint Charles de Foucauld, and the Blessed Vladimir Ghika.
- The Prayer of Dedication and the Anointing with Oil, the heart of the rite.
- The Offering of Incense, symbolizing the ascent of prayers to God.
- The Adornment of the Altar, magnifying its sacred vocation.
- The Illumination, which recalls the light of Christ.
Sacred music will play a central role. The choirs of the Maîtrise Notre-Dame de Paris will accompany the liturgy, while Olivier Latry, Vincent Dubois, Thierry Escaich, and Thibault Fajoles will play the great organ. Yves Castagnet, at the keyboard of a provisional instrument, will complete this magnificent ensemble, pending the restoration of the choir organ.
In the evangelical spirit, this Mass will be followed by a fraternal buffet to welcome the most needy, as well as volunteers from the charitable associations of the Diocese of Paris. A simple but profound gesture, reminding us that the Church always remains close to the weakest.