Notre Dame des Sablons

“Things both old and new…”

Notre Dame des Sablons saw Saint Louis embark for that ill-conceived venture known as the Crusades, and it is the oldest public building in the town. The original chapel was rebuilt in the 13th century, has undergone a number of disasters, was confiscated by the Revolution and was finally allowed to be a church again in 1804. But it was the 1960’s that saved it, and we can see now something of its original beauty.

Originally, the church had no glass in its windows, and the decision was taken to put in 20th century glass. What could have been a disaster has been a remarkable success.

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O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!
Bow down before him, his glory proclaim;
with gold of obedience, and incense of lowliness,
kneel and adore him: the Lord is his Name!

Abbatiale Saint Trophime, Arles

“Christ, enthroned in heavenly splendour…”

The See of Arles is one of the most ancient in France. The first bishop of Arles in the 5th century was Trophime who transformed the existing basilica into a cathedral. This was destroyed by the Saracens, and a new cathedral was built in the Carolingian era. Several restorations took place in the 10th and 11th centuries, and the magnificent west façade was realized between 1190 and 1200.

In 597, Augustine returned from his mission in Britain to Arles in order to be consecrated Archbishop of the Angles.

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Be our strength in hours of weakness,
in our wanderings be our Guide;
through endeavor, failure, danger,
Savior, be thou at our side.

Augustinian Priory of Serabonne

“Late have I love you, O Beauty so ancient…”

The Augustinian Canons founded a Priory at Serabonne in 1082, using a church that already existed there. But much work was done on it and a largely new church was consecrated in 1151. The Canons served the people of this region well into the 15th century. The capitals of both the experior cloister and the interior tribune are remarkable.

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Abbaye Saint Michel de Cuxa

“Ora et Labora”
Founded in 878, Saint Michel de Cuxa was rebuilt in the 940’s, but was much refurbished under Abbot Garin (a Cluniac monk) and the high altar was consecrated on Michaelmass Day in 974. It is this church that we see today – one of the masterpieces of early Romanesque architecture. Over the next two centuries, it was added to sumptuously.

By the 16th century, a decline was underway, and the abbey was sold at the time of the Revolution. From then on, its physical condition got worse, and bits of it were sold off to collectors and museums, especially in America.

In 1919, a Monsieur Trullès purchased the property with the intention of relodging a Cistercian Community there, who had been at Fontfroide but had been expelled as the result of the scandalous laws of 1905. This community came to Saint Michel de Cuxa in the 1920’s and stayed there until replaced by the Benedictines in 1965.

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Not forever by still waters
would we idly rest and stay;
but would smite the living fountains
from the rocks along our way.

Saint Martin du Canigou

Eagle’s Nest of Faith

Mount Canigou has had a religious significance for the Catalans since time immemorial, but it was not until 1005 that the Benedictine Order decided to found an abbey there. The first church was consecrated in 1009, then rebuilt and re-consecrated in 1026.

This was badly damaged by an earthquake in 1482, and was but slowly repaired. However the abbey declined as a result of the Commende, and was closed in 1785. Its state declined over the subsequent century. In 1902, the bishop of Elne and Perpignan, proud of his Catalan patrimony, began, out of his own resources, the rebuilding of the monastery.

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Not for ever in green pastures
do we ask our way to be;
but the steep and rugged pathway
may we tread rejoicingly.

Ancienne Cathédral Saint Pierre, Maguelone

“Half as old as time…”

Maguelone’s history reaches back into antiquity. It was one of the “seven cities” (today’s Elne, Agde, Narbonne, Lodève, Béziers, Nîmes and Maguelone) of the Roman province of Galia Narbonensis, which became part of the Visigothic kingdom after the fall of the Empire. Christian legend tells that the area was evangelised by Simon the Leper, who having been cured by Christ, came with the three Marys and Lazarus to southern Gaul. The area was invaded by the Saracens in the 8th century, and Maguelone was destroyed in the Frankish-Moorish wars. So depopulated ws the area, that the See was moved, and it was not until 300 years later that Bishop Arnaud rebuilt the ruined cathedral, which gives us the powerful Romanesque cathedral of Saint Peter seen today.

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Father, hear the prayer we offer:
not for ease that prayer shall be,
but for strength, that we may ever
live our lives courageously.