Catholic Church Services – Mass
On the Eastern end of the Île de la Cité, everyone knows that Notre Dame is one of the most popular Paris tourist spots.
But also, to this day, this is a very popular Catholic Cathedral in Paris that holds services. Yes, you can go there for mass!
Popular Catholic Cathedral
This is one of the most visited monuments in Christendom. Each year around 13 million visitors across the globe enter this Cathedral. In terms of Gothic architecture, it’s one of the masterpieces of this style. You can visit this cathedral on your own or you can come in a group. The CASA Association will help arrange a trip to this cathedral when you can learn about the spiritual message of God and these tours can be arranged on request. To help facilitate everyone the visits are arranged in around 10 languages.
The Notre Dame Cathedral will also arrange for schools to come and see the cathedral. The root in the cathedral will be adapted to the age of the visitors and the tour guides are trained to help the students understand the cathedral and what it’s all about. Each tour will last around an hour and a little less if the children are younger. you won’t be charged for these tours as they free.
Church Services
Notre Dame address and telephone here.
There are many different services at this cathedral which are as follows:
- Weekdays, Monday to Saturday noon (8:00 Mass In the choir)
- 9:00 Mass In the choir but not during summer
- 12:00 Mass at the altar
- 17:45 Office of Vespers
- 18:15 Another mass at the main altar
Saturdays
- 17:45 The offices of first Vespers of Sunday
- 18:30 Mass Sunday located at the grand altar
Sundays
- 8:30 Mass
- 9:30 Office of the Lauds
- 10:00 Mass Gregorian
- 11:30 Mass Polyphonic
- 12:45 Mass
- 17:45 Office of Vespers
- 18:30 Mass
Priest Meetings
Each day you have an option to meet a priest at the Cathedral. You can meet the priest in the reception Chapel to meet all of your spiritual needs and you can also receive the sacrament of forgiveness if you so choose.
Languages
The cathedral has several different languages including English, French, Italian, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Chinese, and Japanese.
Hours
The church is open weekdays and Saturdays from 10 to 12:30 and from 14:30 to 19:00.
On Sunday, the church is open from 15:00 to 19:00.
Is the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris a Catholic Church?
Yes. They have mass throughout the week which all can attend. The Church, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Paris belongs to the same class of churches as the Cathedral of Chartres and was built in the same period.
Church of Notre Dame – History
The majority of the history is covered in other places so we will do an overview of the Church’s history.
This cathedral was built upon the ruins of two churches that stood there prior to the construction of this Cathedral. There was even an older Galo Roman temple in the same area which was dedicated to Jupiter.
When he was Bishop of Paris, Maurice de Sully, decided to convert two earlier basilicas into one single larger building. This was conceived about 1160 and the first foundation stone in 1163 was put down by Pope Alexander III. In 1189, the high altar was created. By the year 1250 there was the Western facade the choir, as well as the nave were finished. or the next 100 years there were other embellishments added to this Cathedral.
The Notre Dame Cathedral itself has an apse, choir, knave, and a short transcript which is flanked by Square chapels in double Isles. During the 19th century the central spire of the cathedral was added during a restoration. Inside the cathedral the interior is 427 it by 157 ft or 130 by 48 meters. The roof is 35 M or 115 feet high. On the western side are too large early style Gothic Towers these are divided into three stories and the doors have some early Gothic style carvings and you’ll also find decorations that depict Old Testament kings in this location. These two Gothic towers are 68 or 223 ft high.at the East End of the cathedral there is the apse enlarged windows were added here around 1220-1270.
In its history, the Notre Dame Cathedral has suffered deterioration and damage. Napoleon wanted to save this Cathedral after the French Revolution and in the cathedral he declared himself emperor of France in 1804. In the mid-nineteenth century, E.-E. Viollet-le-Duc a French architect helped with major Restorations of the cathedral. In the historical novel Notre-Dame de Paris (1831), it’s one of the major locations of Victor Hugo’s book.
Facts of Note
- Built between 1163-1345
- Located in the heart of Paris on the Ile de la Cite
- One of the biggest religious building in the entire world
- Built using a Gothic style