I had looked forward to receiving my ashes on Ash Wednesday at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris ever since I realized I would be there for that day. Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and occurs forty-six days (forty days without including Sundays) before Easter. It is a moveable feast and falling on a different date each year because it depends on the date of Easter.
I really almost fainted when the mass started and nine Priests and two Cardinals came down the aisle. The cathedral was packed to the bursting point and I have no idea how many worshippers it holds.
It was just so moving to be there to mark the beginning of Lent. The smell of incense permeated throughout the church with such a familiar and strong smell.
Books for the Lenten season were given to all in attendance as well as a copy of the itinerary for today's mass. Although it was all in French, it was not difficult to follow along and I did my best. I know the parts of the mass and followed along. The singing was wonderful and I was grateful to have a woman next to me who sang with all her heart and had a wonderful voice. It just added to my happiness of being there.
I received the ashes as a sign of repentance, from the Cardinal of Notre Dame and then received the Eucharist from him as well. I returned to my seat and was so moved by this experience and so very, very grateful that I found myself welling up. My husband told me afterwards that he felt the same way.
After mass, we returned to the Shakespeare & Company Book Shop to pick up some additional books. I needed to climb the ladder to reach what I wanted to buy and there is a photo here.
Planning on having only one meal today, we went out to lunch afterwards. We found a wonderful little place located behind Notre Dame across the bridge on rue St. Louis-en l"Ile. We had the most delicious pumpkin soup with black truffles and scallops as a starter, Roman Catholics must abstain from meat on this day and all Fridays during the Lenten season. This was followed with a delicious fish over a soft bed of leeks and and various shellfish. I had a poached pear, covered in pear chantilly cream with a scoop of pear sorbet topping off this absolutely delicious dessert. Ash Wednesday was everything I had hoped, now I only have to keep my promise of what I will give up for this season of Lent and repent for my sins and faults.
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