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“This morning the verdict of April 15, 2019 was canceled,” – said Archbishop Laurent Houlrich of Paris during the celebration of the first Mass this Sunday in the restored Notre Dame. Those who witnessed the consecration of the altar and other rituals inside the temple also experienced this with historical happiness.

“It brings great joy to my heart that I can once again celebrate in Notre Dame Cathedral, which we all saw go up in smoke five years ago. “Now the joy is maximum” explained to the agency EFE Father Jean Louis, Madrid-born vicar at the Church of Our Lady of La Salette and one of 2,500 guests at the first full service at the Gothic temple since 2019.

Following the official opening of the doors last night, which was attended by dozens of heads of state and government, including US President-elect Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Prince William of Wales, This Sunday’s events celebrate the return to activity of the cathedral. with a mass in the morning and another in the afternoon.

The morning service was the most important because The consecration of the new altar took place there. ahead of an audience led by French President Emmanuel Macron and attended by 150 bishops.

Other places They occupied guests from the diocesemembers of Parisian parishes and representatives of various charitable associations who came to the Gothic temple, accompanied by people in a dangerous situation.

“I feel like I really lived through a great moment in history,” indicated on EFE Alix, head of an organization that works with the Church to help vulnerable people, and who found the restored cathedral “sublime”.

The feeling was “overwhelming.” for his part he assured EFE American businesswoman Gail Benson, owner of the New Orleans Saints football team and the NBA Pelicans team.

“It’s amazing what they’ve achieved in just five years.” she said, making a note for New Orleans, where she is helping to restore the city’s 200-year-old cathedral, which is the oldest active cathedral in the United States.

He was also able to return this Sunday to Notre Dame, where he wasPeruvian Antonio Morales was ordained a priest 22 years ago.

“To see him again pure, bright, full of life, Well, yes, it’s an emotion.” Leaving the Ile de la Cité in the Seine, where Notre Dame is located, he told EFE that this weekend it was a real security bunker.

Consecration of the new altar

Morning Mass accompanied an imposing organ that has been “awakened” last night the archbishop’s call to call again for sacred reasons began with a procession of the banners of the 113 Parisian dioceses.

Its main action was the rites of consecration of the new altar, which is a necessary step to note that this is not just a piece of furniture.

Firstly, relics of five figures associated with the history of the Church Paris: Saint Marie Eugenie Milleret, Saint Madeleine Sophia Barat, Saint Catherine Labouret, Saint Charles de Foucault and Blessed Vladimir Ghika.

This is done following the ancient traditions of Christians, who even at the beginning of the Church We celebrated the Eucharist at the graves of the martyrs. who gave their lives for their faith.

Then there was prayer of dedication and anointing with oil (holy myrrh), which is the main point of initiation.

Ulrich poured it first on the central cross on the table, and then on four others in the corners (representing the nails of Christ on the cross), before spread it over the entire flat surface.

This was followed by the offering of incense, and then the covering of the new modern altar table with a white cloth, reminiscent of the clothing of those about to be baptized, and its lighting by lighting six candles on one side and another on top of the table. At the same time, the artificial lighting of the temple increased.

Before this, Archbishop Ulrich delivered a short sermon in whichremembered the sadness of 2019 and how, despite everything, since the day of the fire there had already been a “sign” of hope, manifested in the “prayers” that were said on the banks of the Seine and in “hundreds of millions of hearts” around the world.

Regarding the reading of this first Mass in the restored Notre Dame, those corresponding to the second Sunday of Advent were used.just like any other church in the world.

Another highlight of the morning service, which began at 10:30 and lasted just over two hours, was the first Eucharist, during which Macron, as president, abstained from participating. but his wife Bridget still received communion.

Tonight there will be a new mass, for the first time open to the faithful in general and to the inhabitants of Paris.

“Notre Dame rises from the ashes!: Today the iconic cathedral, one of the symbols of Paris, history and heritage, reopens. What an incredible achievement after 5 years of titanic work! “A great testament to the human spirit and international solidarity,” said the former French ambassador to Mexico. Jean-Pierre Asvazadourian, who shared two images on his X account showing what the cathedral looked like after the fire that destroyed it in 2019 and the restoration work carried out.

(according to information from EFE And Aristegui News)