October 23
We were back on the streets of Paris by 9:00 waiting for our bus. Since it was stuck in Friday morning traffic on the other side of the city, we hiked to the Metro station to catch a subway train to the Church of the Miraculous Medal. Our pilgrim group welcomed the adventure.
Fr. Frank was to say a Mass there at a side chapel on the second floor at 9:00, but we were late. Plan B was to walk to the Church of St. Vincent de Paul. Our guide showed us around. A wax replica of the Saint containing some of his relics lies in state above the main altar. We listened to our guide, spent some time in prayer, took pictures, and visited the gift shop.
Then we walked back to the Church of the Miraculous Medal. Our Dutch tour guide, Daphne, told us the story of St. Catherine Labore and gave us some time in the gift shop while Fr. Frank prepared for Mass. He was jumping for joy that he would be saying Mass at the main altar of Our Lady next to the incorrupt body of St. Catherine. His mother who almost died when he was a little boy asked Our Lady to spare her life so that she could raise her only child, Frank. After she recovered, she said the Miraculous Medal Novena every month until she died nearly 50 years later. Fr. Frank was crying for joy as we left the shrine. He had visited this shrine on several other pilgrimages and always dreamt of the special privilege of saying Mass at the main altar. What a blessing. He said he felt his mother’s and grandmother’s presence at Mass and for the rest of the day.
By now the tour bus had caught up with us. For several hours we toured the city with Daphne as our guide. We hit most of the usual tour spots: Arc de Triomphe, Opera Garniere, Champs Elysees, L’Obelisque, Notre Dame, The Louvre, and the Eiffel Tower. The bus stopped across from the Moulin Rouge.
There we hopped on a cute little train that wound its way up the steep hill through the Mont Marte area to the Basilica of Sacre Coeur. A massive mosaic of the Sacred Heart over the main altar dominates the Cathedral. Outside, all of Paris is a panoramic view below.
For lunch we had spaghetti Bolognese and some red wine. Anna Maria, our Italian pilgrim from New York, insisted that spaghetti Bolognese is made with a white sauce without meat. Ours consisted of short, uniformly cut spaghetti noodles stuck together covered with a weak tomato sauce and ground beef. The red wine saved the day. After lunch, we wandered around an art show crowded with caricature artists and touristy water color prints then took the train and bus back to the hotel.
Tonight is the last supper for our group. Everyone except us will be flying home early Saturday morning. Then we will be on our own until our flight leaves on Tuesday morning.
PARIS - ILE AUX CYGNES - panorama