Day in Paris

Another day of travel began in the morning as we flew from Toulouse to Paris. We arrived in the early afternoon and had the great gift of being given a bus tour around Paris by our wonderful bus driver, and longtime friend, Alain. He took us to see all the major sights of downtown: Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre, Champ de Élysées, the Eiffel Tower, and much more. It was a gift because we would have never been able to see so much in the short time we have in the city.

After our tour, we were dropped off in the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. Here, over 150 years ago, the Blessed Mother appeared to St. Catherine Laboure and revealed the miraculous medal to her, asking her to spread it throughout the world. It became named so because of the many miracles that would continually happen through its presence and the intercession of Our Lady. Today the Lord and Our Lady promise a flood of many graces to all those who come with confidence before her and this image. We had the immense gift of celebrating Mass in the Chapel of Apparitions. Afterwards we were able to go kneel before the altar and the image and the actual chair in which she sat during her apparitions. It was a moment of great grace for our hearts. The Lord desired to do miracles in us today....He only needed our faith. 

As always, Our Lady prepared the way for her Son, for after leaving Rue du Bac and the Chapel of the Miraculous Medal, we went onto Montmartre and the church of Sacre Couer (Sacred Heart). Very beautifully, this Church dedicated to the Sacred Heart, just like in Barcelona, sits atop the highest point in Paris and over looks the city. Here in this extremely beautiful and majestic Church, the Blessed Sacrament has been exposed and adored in perpetual adoration for 125 years. How powerfully and how beautifully enthroned was our Eucharistic Lord in that place! We were all very moved at how powerfully we were able to sense the Lord's presence in this place. Yet again, the Lord brought us to his Sacred Heart and called us to enter there and remain. What another powerful confirmation of his call and invitation for our hearts and lives. May we be always be planted firmly within his Heart. 

Finally, we finished our day with a trip to the Eiffel Tower. We went down at night to the beautiful tower and were thrilled to see a light display coming forth from the tower. After taking pictures, we gathered in the grass at its base and enjoyed the scenery as we sang praise and worship music. 

Overall, it was a very joyful day in which we simply enjoyed being together and being a family, experiencing together the profound graces both from the Heart of our Mother in Rue du Bac and the Heart of our Lord in Sacred Heart. We simply pray that all the graces we have received remain and bear fruit.