Going to Mass in Paris need some information

[DonnaNoble]

I posted a while back that I will be going to Paris with my mom and daughter. I tried to find that thread with no success. I can’t even remember if it was mine or another one that I added to.

Our trip is just a few weeks away! Originally, we were all going to go to Mass at Notre Dame in Paris, but now I am having second thoughts.

My first question (that I couldn’t find online) is, “does one kneel at Notre Dame in Paris?” I’ve seen pictures and it’s filled with chairs and no pews or kneelers. This question isn’t too critical because I would just do what everyone else does. But I am curious (which is why I was looking for an answer).

Looking for that answer lead me to find out that during Mass, tours are still going on. In fact, we’d have to stand in line with the tour groups to go to Mass. It sounds too distracting (and who knows if we will be late, waiting in line). So I thought maybe we’d just do see Notre Dame in Paris, but go to Mass someplace else, someplace less famous/touristy but still rich in history.

Does anyone have any suggestions? There is an interesting looking Church/Abby near where we are staying called, Saint Germain de Pres. I found out it’s the oldest church in Paris (built in 543, over 1475 years ago!) Another cathedral, Sainte-Chapelle looks beautiful and inspiring and isn’t too far away either. But any advise or suggestions about going to Mass in Paris are much appreciated.

 

[Irishmom2]

Maybe @UpUpAndAway can help you out, she lives in France.

 

[LittleFlower]

Attend Mass at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France

It doesn’t look like it’s packed for regular daily Mass. St Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne has maybe 30 people attend it’s daily Mass at lunchtime, and most work for the Archdiocese.

I wouldn’t not go because you are fearful of crowds ruining the experience.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

You do what is the norm for that parish, in this case, Notre Dame Cathedral.

However, you’re in Paris and you can also visit and go to Mass at the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal at 140 rue du Bac in Paris. The norms for the Mass are the same as in the US, except it’s in French.

This is where the incorrupt body of St Catherine Laboure is and you can see her as well as St Vincent De Paul.

I attended Mass there, in 1998, so you’ll have to check the schedule, it may have changed.

Jim

 

[TheLittleLady]

Sit in the middle or back and do what the other parishioners do.

 

[Augustinian]

Sit in the middle or back and do what the other parishioners do.

That’s a good standard rule when you are in any unfamiliar place.

Notre Dame would certainly sound interesting, although its my understanding they no longer honor the tradition of having hunchbacks ring the church bells.

 

[TheLittleLady]

Quasimodo Sunday!!!

 

[LittleFlower]

https://theparisitinerary.com/attending-mass-at-notre-dame

The writer here says it’s magical!

 

[Dan_Defender]

However, you’re in Paris and you can also visit and go to Mass at the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal at 140 rue du Bac in Paris.

That must be quite an experience I would love to visit there someday

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

I went to Mass at Note Dame when I visited Paris. There was no kneeling during the Mass. I went on a Saturday evening and simply walked in and went to Mass. It may be different on a Sunday.

One of the loveliest moments of that Mass came during the Sign of Peace. The woman next to me had apparently noticed my stumbling through the prayers. She turned to me and in heavily accented English said “peace be with you.” I was touched that she made the effort to make me feel welcome.

 

[DonnaNoble]

First, thank you to everyone who answered. But a special thanks to you SuscipeMeDomine for the first-hand information. We plan on going to Saturday vigil too because of out travel plans. Did you have to wait in line like I read on websites? And were the tours going on distracting? Those are my main concerns.

 

[twf]

I was at Notre Dame a few weeks ago. Most did not kneel. I and a few others did anyway for the consecration itself. It was a bit tight but doable.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

I didn’t wait in line, I just walked in and there was no problem. If there were tours going on, I didn’t notice them. They may have ended before Mass began. Or maybe they stayed in the back of the church so they didn’t disrupt the Mass.

I hope you have a wonderful trip!

 

[UpUpAndAway]

Hi Donna,

This is your previous post on this topic.

Communion on the tongue - technical question Liturgy and Sacraments

I hope someone doesn’t mind that I piggy back on this question since mine is a bit similar. How does one receive Communion in France? I only just thought of this since our rules come from the USCCB and I am sure there is a different governing body there. My mom is taking me and my daughter there in June and we are going to Notre Dame for Sunday Mass.

And this is my first response.

Communion on the tongue - technical question Liturgy and Sacraments

Yes, the bishops’ conference in France is the CEF (Conférence des évêques de France, or “Conference of French Bishops”). I assume you mean Notre-Dame in Paris. Your usual Communion reception practice will be right at home there. I attend Mass there now and then (I don’t live in the area but go to Paris at least twice annually) and I have seen everything during Communion. In the hand or on the tongue, both are fine. You may receive standing or kneeling. Bow or genuflect before receiving if you …

For your current questions:

My first question (that I couldn’t find online) is, “does one kneel at Notre Dame in Paris?” I’ve seen pictures and it’s filled with chairs and no pews or kneelers. This question isn’t too critical because I would just do what everyone else does. But I am curious (which is why I was looking for an answer).

The vast majority of people stand. You may kneel if you wish but you will do so directly on the floor.

we’d have to stand in line with the tour groups to go to Mass.

NO.

There is an entrance next to the main line for people who come to Notre-Dame for non-tourism reasons. If you are there for Mass, Vespers, Confession, requesting a Mass for an intention, other Church business, etc., walk up to the gate, tell the security guard why you’re there, and he should let you in straight away. You will still go through the security check like everyone else who seeks entrance for any reason, but by proceeding as I’ve described you should jump to the front of the line.

Note that this is my experience during the week. It’s been so long since I attended Sunday Mass at Notre-Dame that I couldn’t say for certain if separating the faithful from the tourists works the same way on that day, but I would be surprised if they don’t do something to facilitate access for Mass goers.

In my observation, all Notre-Dame security guards speak basic English. I can’t confirm that for sure because I speak to them in French.

It sounds too distracting

Tourists still circulate throughout Mass but their movements are restricted to the lateral aisles. During Mass, the nave - the front half during the week, the entire nave on Sundays - is reserved for Mass attendees. The nave is separated from the lateral aisles by a (very long) wooden screen. I don’t find the tourists distracting when I attend Mass at Notre-Dame.

(continued below)

 

[UpUpAndAway]

(continued from above)

Does anyone have any suggestions? There is an interesting looking Church/Abby near where we are staying called, Saint Germain de Pres. I found out it’s the oldest church in Paris (built in 543, over 1475 years ago!) Another cathedral, Sainte-Chapelle looks beautiful and inspiring and isn’t too far away either. But any advise or suggestions about going to Mass in Paris are much appreciated.

Choosing a different church isn’t necessarily going to result in a calmer environment. Any church in Paris is subject to tourist visits. It is difficult to know how many people will be visiting a Parisian church at any given moment… I got married in Paris in a “non-touristy” church; our photographs show that tourists circulated in the church (but outside the restricted areas) throughout the nuptial Mass. Their movements had to be blocked for a few minutes at the end so The Husband and I could exit the church, but if it weren’t for that I would never have known they were there.

The most packed Mass I have ever attended in Paris was the one at the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal on rue du Bac. It was December 8th, though

I don’t have any specific advice on where to go to Mass, only that I would not avoid Notre-Dame or other well-known churches in Paris for fear of the effect tourists may have on the experience. The Parisian churches that tend to attract large numbers of tourists should also know how to balance that with the fact that the church’s primary function is as a house of worship. In fact, given the hordes that invade Notre-Dame every day, I’d say their staff is among the best in the city at doing just that. :+1:t3:

Whatever you decide, I wish you a good trip. God bless!

 

[JimR-OCDS]

I was on a very small tour, only six people counting my wife and myself.

We never waited in line anywhere.

We visited Lourdes, Paris, Lisieux and Nevers. We attended Mass at all the locations, but never at Notre Dame Cathedral, which we visited.

The most special Mass for me was at Never, where St Bernadette’s incorrupt body is.

Of course Lourdes is what drew me to France in the first place.

Jim

 

[1ke]

My first question (that I couldn’t find online) is, “does one kneel at Notre Dame in Paris?”

Maybe my memory is faulty… but I was there last year (among several other times) and I thought they had wooden kneelers on the back of the chair in front of you. I didn’t kneel. (Maybe that was other church we where there several weeks).

Looking for that answer lead me to find out that during Mass, tours are still going on.

Sort of. The nave is blocked off and you cannot walk around like at other times.

In fact, we’d have to stand in line with the tour groups to go to Mass

This is not correct. Go up to the front and go to the area where they are letting people in for mass. Tell them you are going to mass. Dress appropriately, they dress there. And no pictures during mass.

There is an interesting looking Church/Abby near where we are staying called, Saint Germain de Pres

St. Germaine de Pres would be fine. It’s not touristy.

Another cathedral, Sainte-Chapelle looks beautiful and inspiring and isn’t too far away either.

Saints-Chappelle is no longer a Church, it is only a historical site. It was not a cathedral but rather the private chapel of the King and Queen when they lived in the palace there. Definitely go see it. But you can’t go to mass there.

But any advise or suggestions about going to Mass in Paris are much appreciated.

The English speaking Catholic Church in Paris is near the Arc de Triumphe. Not historic. But in English.

St Joseph: http://www.stjoeparis.org

French speaking: just pick any church. But Notre Dame is certainly worth going for mass.

 

[Rob2]

I posted a while back that I will be going to Paris with my mom and daughter. I tried to find that thread with no success. I can’t even remember if it was mine or another one that I added to.

Our trip is just a few weeks away! Originally, we were all going to go to Mass at Notre Dame in Paris, but now I am having second thoughts.

My first question (that I couldn’t find online) is, “does one kneel at Notre Dame in Paris?” I’ve seen pictures and it’s filled with chairs and no pews or kneelers. This question isn’t too critical because I would just do what everyone else does. But I am curious (which is why I was looking for an answer).

Looking for that answer lead me to find out that during Mass, tours are still going on. In fact, we’d have to stand in line with the tour groups to go to Mass. It sounds too distracting (and who knows if we will be late, waiting in line). So I thought maybe we’d just do see Notre Dame in Paris, but go to Mass someplace else, someplace less famous/touristy but still rich in history.

Does anyone have any suggestions? There is an interesting looking Church/Abby near where we are staying called, Saint Germain de Pres. I found out it’s the oldest church in Paris (built in 543, over 1475 years ago!) Another cathedral, Sainte-Chapelle looks beautiful and inspiring and isn’t too far away either. But any advise or suggestions about going to Mass in Paris are much appreciated.

Those attending Mass don’t have to join the queue used by tourists .

Sainte-Chapelle is not a place of worship .

Have you thought of the basilica of Sacre Coeur on the top of Monmartre ?

A video of last Sunday evening’s Mass in Notre Dame…

 

[Augustinian]

There is an entrance next to the main line for people who come to Notre-Dame for non-tourism reasons. If you are there for Mass, Vespers, Confession, requesting a Mass for an intention, other Church business, etc., walk up to the gate, tell the security guard why you’re there, and he should let you in straight away

Is there any communication problems in talking to the guards? Can you speak ordinary English? Or do you have to speak English in your best French accent?

 

[UpUpAndAway]

Ordinary English, but I’d choose simple words.

Again, YMMV. I speak French so don’t need to speak to the guards in English. I could try the next time I’m in Paris, but that won’t help @DonnaNoble because she’ll be back from France long before then. I’m not scheduled to be in Paris again until September.

Alternatively, just saying one of the following would suffice:

• If alone: Je suis venu pour la messe. (I have come for the Mass.)
• If in a group: Nous sommes venus pour la messe. (We have come for the Mass.)