Basilica place to venerate Sacred Heart

Canada gave the statue of Sacred Heart to mark the death of Bishop de Laval

Sacred Heart – June 23

- Photo by Ted Fitzgeraldt The Basilique du Sacre-Coeur de Montmartre in Paris dominates the skyline.

By TED FITZGERALD
Special to the WCR
Paris

Most people who spend time in the City of Light will experience the awe of standing at the foot of the Martyr's Mountain and gazing upwards at the sublime profile of Sacre-Coeur. Visible from many parts of Paris, its white domes dominate the skyline above the Seine's right bank.

It is difficult to imagine a more commanding site for an enormous church, possibly the best known and most recognizable shrine to the Sacred Heart, a thoroughly familiar city landmark.

Traditional access to the Sacre-Coeur de Montmartre is a seemingly endless series of steps or by means of a fast-moving funicular which whisks pilgrims painlessly up the hill in a few minutes.

Most Sacred Heart

Once on the plaza before the great shrine, visitors are impressed with colossal bronze equestrian statues of Ste. Jeanne d'Arc and St. Louis dominating a terrace above the three great entrances to the church. Much higher on the fa‡ade, right hand raised in blessing, is the most important statue of Montmartre, the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Veneration of the Sacred Heart existed in the Church from earliest times, associated with the immeasurable love that Christ has for humanity.

References to the relationship between the heart of Jesus and the Christian community are found, for example in the writings of second century St. Justin, St. John Chrysostom, 200 years later and by 11th century St. Peter Damian.

- Photo by Ted Fitzgerald The statue of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus adorns the façade of Sacre-Coeur.

Bernard of Clairvaux and Gertrude the Great devised prayers specifically honouring the Sacred Heart and more recently, Margaret-Mary Alacoque, after experiencing apparitions of Christ, was the first to urge that a feast day be instituted.

Solemn festival

St. John Eudes later promoted the devotion and in 1899, Pope Leo XIII consecrated all humanity to the Sacred Heart and established a solemn festival which is now celebrated on the Friday following the feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) - June 23 in 2006.

The basilica is situated in an auspicious place, on the mountain where tradition maintains that third century Saint-Denis and his companions were slain for their faith. The present church, of Romano-Byzantine design, was begun in 1875, but was not consecrated until after the First World War in 1919.

The vast interior of the basilica is a treasure trove of works by many famous artists. Noteworthy are portrayals of the Sacred Heart in glory in the great mosaic of the choir ceiling, in a solid silver statue and in stained glass with St. Margaret-Mary.

Historic figures associated with veneration of the Sacred Heart and many French saints are also given prominence here.

Canadian connection

There is an interesting Canadian connection in the form of an impressive statue of Our Lady of the Cape, "the Madonna of Canada," a replica of a statue of Canada's premier Marian shrine in Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Que. The basilica acquired this work of art in 1959 as a gift from the people of Canada on the occasion of the tercentenary of the death of Bishop de Laval.

For a site of its importance it's not surprising that le Basilique du Sacre-Coeur de Montmartre enjoys an extremely full parish life. Perpetual adoration exists in the church that also sees four Masses celebrated each day, including Sunday with some dedicated to pilgrims. Accommodations for those on pilgrimage are present on site and many of the Masses are sung by the renowned Montmartre Benedictine Sisters.

Following prayers or attendance at the Eucharist in the great basilica, most visitors will spend some time admiring the city view and the outdoor displays of art that the area is famous for, or relaxing in one of Montmartre's regional eating places.

Copyright © 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 -- Western Catholic Reporter