Domes

I hadn't intended to be here on this trip to Paris. I always seem to end up here but this time because others in the party wanted to visit. I'm so glad I did. Because this time I witnessed something I hadn't seen before.

Sacre Couer is 125 years old. Quite young when you think that Notre Dame celebrates 850 years since the first parts were constructed during the next 12 months or so. And other great churches and Cathedrals around the world seem to number the years in centuries.

There are certainly no shortage of domes on the top in addition to the main Basilica but it was not the building itself that made for the new experience.

As we went in, the nuns and clergy filed in and started what I assume was Evensong, or the Catholic equivalent. For the next 20 minutes until we had to leave, we listened to the Nuns singing the prayers, responses and hymns.

I'm not greatly religious but I am certainly a traditionalist when I attend church and can't stand the "Happy Clappy" wing of the C of E. And if I ever moved from the Anglican church it wouldn't be towards Rome, but it is hard not to sit and listen to these services and not be moved.

Back in the 80s I thought the Greenham Common protests were a complete waste of time and would achieve nothing and to a degree my father agreed but he was pleased they were trying. I now find myself using the same rationale that maybe the fact that those nuns and and others around the world spend their days praying for our salvation and for peace for all might achieve nothing and many might think it's a complete waste of time and utter nonsense, but I'm glad they're trying. And if I had to choose between one or the other, beautiful choral music sung by nuns in a great building beats women screaming by a chain link fence hands down.