Paris honors its queen during the Assumption Festival
In the heart of Paris, Notre Dame Cathedral hosted a solemn outdoor procession on August 15, 2024, marking the feast of the Assumption for the first time since its reopening in December 2024. Approximately 3,400 faithful participated in the procession, which was led by Auxiliary Bishop Emmanuel Tois of Paris.
The procession began on the Ile de la Cite, winding its way through the cathedral district. The highlight of the procession was the veneration of a silver statue of Our Lady, holding an Infant Jesus. This statue, created by goldsmith Charles Nicolas Odiot in 1826 during the reign of King Charles X, has a rich history. It was initially conceived by King Louis XVIII, who reigned from 1815 to 1824.
The statue, which was saved from being melted down in 1847, was thrown out of a window during the sacking of the archbishop's palace in 1831. It was later rediscovered and restored, and has been carried during Notre Dame's processions until the cathedral's fire in 2019. A crown and necklace were added to the statue in 1929 by jeweler Boucheron.
Bishop Tois stated that processions like the one for the Assumption help reach people who may not be able to attend Mass or enter a church. For him, the Assumption processions at Notre Dame have always been popular, and there has been a resurgence of popular piety in France in recent years, with more people attending religious events.
The vigil procession included a veneration of the crown of thorns and an exit onto the cathedral square. The rector solemnly read the "vow of Louis XIII" during the vigil procession, a historic text consecrating France to the Virgin Mary in 1638. The vow was associated with the prayer of Louis XIII and Queen Anne of Austria for the birth of their child, Louis XIV.
In the Jubilee Year, a vigil procession inside the cathedral was held on Aug. 14, with the rector of the cathedral, Father Olivier Ribadeau Dumas, presiding. The bishops of France published a special prayer for France on the occasion of the Assumption, inviting the faithful to pray for senators examining a bill on "aid in dying."
Bishop Tois also noted an increase in the number of catechumens in France. This is a positive sign of the resurgence of religious interest and participation in France. The Assumption processions at Notre Dame are a testament to the enduring power of faith and the importance of religious traditions in the lives of the French people.
