The consecration of Notre Dame Cathedral’s new altar was marked with a Mass that included five steps, during which relics of five saints were placed and sealed within the altar. Archbishop Laurent Ulrich blessed the altar, and the relics belonged to three women and two men significant in the history of the Church in Paris. A prayer of dedication, anointing with oil, offering of incense, and adorning and illuminating the altar followed, filling the cathedral with the scent of incense. The reopening ceremonies also included services throughout the week to celebrate Notre Dame’s reawakening after the devastating fire.
The mayor of Paris Center, Ariel Weil, expressed that the weekend’s celebrations were a major success and emphasized that Notre Dame is not only a religious place but also for the secular. He highlighted that everyone agrees that the cathedral is open to everyone, regardless of their religious beliefs, and that this is its nature. Despite its religious significance, Notre Dame is seen as a place that welcomes all, both religious and nonreligious individuals. The ceremonies and celebrations surrounding the reopening of the cathedral were seen as a unifying event that brought together people from all walks of life to celebrate this historical moment of renewal.
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