Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres

Today was our final morning in Le Mans. We awoke to a beautiful, sun drenched day and set out early for Chartres. Chartres is an ancient city in north-central France known for its breathtaking cathedral.

As our bus climbed over the beautiful hills of the French countryside, the cathedral came into view in the distance. It was an absolutely stunning sight to behold. The Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres shone radiantly in the sun. With it's awe inspiring facade and intricate carvings, the cathedral drew our eyes and hearts heaven ward.

We celebrated Mass in the crypt of the cathedral, known as "Our Lady Under Ground". Fr. John De Riso, C.S.C. presided and reminded us of Father Moreau's unique connection to the cathedral. Father Moreau made a special pilgrimage to the cathedral on foot in order to place his priestly ministry under the protection of the Blessed Virgin. Our Mass concluded with "The Servant Song," reminding us of our own pilgrim journeys and the journeys of so many who came before us and the many who will come after us.

It was immensely beautiful to pray and celebrate Mass in a space where so many pilgrims have prayed before. The crypt has been an important place of prayer for countless women and men over the last thousand years. Some of those people include: St. Vincent de Paul, St. Francis de Sales, and our own Blessed Basil Moreau.

After Mass, we took a guided tour of the Cathedral. We heard many beautiful stories about the cathedral's history And efforts to rebuild it after the destruction of wars throughout the centuries.

We also had the opportunity to see some of the important pilgrimage sites within the cathedral including the Veil of the Virgin Mary.

After the tour, some in our group scaled the bell tower to take in the overhead views of Chartres. This was followed by an opportunity for prayer and reflection. In the shadow of the cathedral, near a picturesque courtyard, we discussed the ways in which the day had moved us and how the places and stories we encountered apply to our work in Student Affairs.

We concluded the day by building fellowship over a delicious meal. After dinner, we departed from Chartres for Paris.

The opportunity to experience the Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres was truly unforgettable. In following Moreau's footsteps we were reminded of how important it is to trust in God and to work toward the vision of Christian family that Father Moreau spoke of.

Today we journeyed from Le Mans, where Holy Cross began, to Chartres, where a newly ordained Basil Moreau placed his priestly ministry under the protection of Mary, Notre Dame. It was such a grace filled opportunity to travel the path where Moreau's vision for the Holy Cross family was formed. Our understanding of Moreau's life and vision of Holy Cross family will always serve as an inspiration for how we can continue to build up the Notre Dame family.