Coucou! Redeux - Sacré-Cœur

More peek-a-boo this week. As you step out of the Abbesses Métro station, this is what you see: Sacré-Cœur framed by two old apartment buildings in Montmartre.

And a Very Merry Christmas from Paris!

Cœurs - Big and Warm

This heart is so full it almost doesn't look like a heart anymore. I photographed this one inside the Église Saint-Séverin. I just love it!

Amour - A Different Kind of Love

Caritas means "lovingkindess" or love that comes from the Spirit. It is the Latin equivalent of the Greek word agape, which seems a good word to meditate on as we move into the season of Christmas. May the spirit of caritas fill you this month!

Églises Interior - Église Saint-Médard

I love the way the sun is shining in above the altar, just above the cross, which looks like a sun. It gives the Église Saint-Médard the feeling of being blessed or lighted.

Églises Interior - Saint-Étienne-du-Mont

Here is the interior of the Église Saint-Étienne-du-Mont seen on this blog on October 17th. Sorry this one is a bit blurry, you can see more here. It's beautiful!

Églises Interior - Saint-Sulpice

The second-largest church in Paris (after Notre-Dame), Saint-Sulpice is a sight to behold. The pulpit, which can be seen here is particularly impressive, though the ceiling as seen above is amazing in its own right.

City of Lights - Many

Outside the churches, the city of Paris seems so secular and cosmopolitan, but inside you realize how many still seek something beyond themselves to believe in, to put their faith in. I have no doubt that all of these candles burning all across the city contribute to the feeling of soulfulness and sacredness that permeates the city.

CIty of Lights - Sacred Heart of Jesus

This altar to the Sacred Heart of Jesus burns brightly with the petitions and prayers of many.

City of Lights - Three

Following on from last week's theme, churches, here are some photos of candles lit at various churches we visited in Paris. I love how one little sprite couldn't resist playing in the sand, leaving a sweet reminder of his/her presence behind. I like to think that these candles burn for him/her.

Églises - Église Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre

The second oldest church in Paris (the oldest is St-Germain-des-Prés) Église Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre 
is a Melkite Greek Catholic parish church built in the 13th Century. It is right next to another Paris landmark, Shakespeare & Company.

Églises - Église Saint-Étienne-du-Mont

A Gothic-style church near The Panthéon (which was closed when we were there), I think this is the church that turned things around for me. At first I didn't understand my (non-religious) friend's obsession with going in every church we happened upon. But going inside this one changed my mind. You can see why here. Gorgeous!

Églises - Église Saint-Augustin de Paris

This week the theme is churches. There are so many beautiful old churches in Paris and we went into many of them on this last trip to Paris.

At first I was not sure about this. My friend who I traveled with is not religious, but he wanted to go into every single church we passed. Having parted ways with the Catholic Church myself in the past few years it made me uncomfortable at first and I thought about hanging back, but they always enticed me and before I knew it, I was going in every one.

This one is the Église Saint-Augustin de Paris, the church which has this statue of Joan of Arc out front.

Statues Anciennes - Jeanne d'Arc

Saint Joan of Arc in full battle mode as she must have looked fighting for her country during the Hundred Year's War. This is not the most famous statue of her in Paris, but it's my favorite. This one can be found outside the Église Saint-Augustin de Paris in the eighth arrondissement.

[I got information about this statue from my new favorite website, parisdailyphoto.com. Check it out!]

Seize the Day in Paris - Sacré-Cœur

This week, some of my favorite ways to "carpe diem" in Paris......
#1 - Climb Montmartre all the way up to Basilique du Sacré-Cœur. (No need for a run today :)