By Paul de Neuville, Paris correspondent, for Eurasia Business News, on December 8, 2024. Article no. 1325.

Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral hosted its first Mass since the fire of 15 April 2019 on Sunday, December 8th, 2024.

This “inaugural” mass is held in the presence of the head of state and brings together 150 French bishops as well as priests from the 106 parishes of Paris, with access by invitation.

During this ceremony, Mr. Laurent Ulrich, Archbishop of Paris, blessed the assembly with water and sprinkled it, then the altar and the tribune called “ambo”, a sign of purification marking their sacred use.

At the beginning of the Mass, Archbishop Ulrich greeted the faithful “with intense emotion,” “whether you are present in this cathedral or in front of a screen, even perhaps in the rain.”

“I also pray for our country which is scrutinizing its future with concern,” he added.

For this first mass since the fire, the public, who had access to the ceremony by invitation, arrived more than an hour early, not missing a crumb of the celebrated mass that they watch in front of large screens, sometimes making the sign of the cross.

Inside, everyone has found, placed on the minimalist chairs, a small blue booklet decorated with a representation of the Virgin and summarizing the liturgy of this inaugural week.

At 6:30 p.m., the first mass open to the general public will take place. However, it will be necessary to register beforehand via an application.

The day features two significant services.

The Morning Mass was a closed ceremony attended by clergy, dignitaries, and invited guests. It was led by Archbishop Laurent Ulrich. The morning mass included the consecration of a new bronze altar containing relics of five saints. This mass symbolized the cathedral’s spiritual revival and resilience.

The Evening Mass is open to the public. Approximately 2,500 people with pre-booked tickets can attend the mass. Tickets were claimed within 25 minutes, demonstrating immense public interest.

Restoration Highlights

Nearly $1 billion in global donations funded the reconstruction of the cathedral. The restoration was completed in five years. New features include cleaned limestone walls, restored stained-glass windows, advanced fire prevention systems and state-of-the-art lighting.

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© Copyright 2024 – Eurasia Business News. Article no. 1325.