From Reims to Paris

We made our final stop before Paris in Reims.

In our hotel room getting ready for church.

Our first stop was to attend Sacrament meeting with the Latter-day Saint Reims Ward.  We missed the actual sacrament being given do to a potty stop and more that a few wrong turns.  (Sorry Olsons and Mom & Dad!)

The chapel in Reims.

Reims a city we have discussed much during our time in France.  This city holds great significance to the country of France as every king in the history of France has been coronated at the Cathedral in Reims.  We learned from reading the Children’s DK Biography of Joan of Arc about the significance of Reims. 

Our family has been inspired by Joan of Arc’s life.  As a young girl she was inclined towards spiritual pondering and prayer.  Joan was raised by faith-filled parents, who discussed their concerns of the country and prayed for France’s independence from England.  As a teenage girl she was inspired by the lives of Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret and when she began hearing their voices she knew she must follow their guidance.  Joan felt she was given the mission of crowning the next rightful heir to the French thrown, Henry the VII.  She then gathered, trained and commanded an entire army at the age of fifteen.   Though met with great challenges she was successful in her mission and then was betrayed and killed as a martyr in the town of Rouen (which we traveled through a few weeks ago).  Her death came because those who wanted to control the newly crowned king were afraid of her continued influence on the throne.

Joan of Arc Church in Ruen, on the site of the city
square where she was burned at the stake.

The site of where the burning took place.

Next stop, the cathedral.  The cathedral itself is magnificent, but the history behind the building is still what fascinates us most.  Grace kept saying things like, “Remember how Joan of Arc stood on the steps of the main alter when Henry the VII was being coronated and everyone got mad at her because that was not tradition and was improper?”  They have really internalized Joan of Arc’s story. 

Even 2 year old Audrey Olson called out, “Hey, there is Joanie on the Pony!” when she saw a young girl out on a country road riding her horse a few weeks ago.

In almost every city and cathedral we have visited, there is some type of tribute to Joan of Arc: a statue, a stained glass, a shrine or a plaque.

This is a human treadmill which helps to lift the giant stones
by pulley to build these enourmous cathedrals.
Leonardo Di Vinci perfected this system.

What a kind mother to post a photo which is
good of everyone but herself!

Also, the children’s knowledge and understanding of cathedrals has been fun to watch.  George took his Grammie and Papa to the baptismal altar and asked, “I’ll bet you don’t know what this is?”  He then proceeded to tell them, because we have toured so many Cathedrals that the children’s understanding of the Catholic faith is growing.

The Baptismal Font

George understands that this is a special reverent place to pray.

We the drove straight to Paris, taking the freeway to the center of downtown.  We literally drove next to Notre Dame and the Louvre.  It was unbelievable to all of us.  Fortunately is was Sunday so the traffic was manageable.  We found our various apartments (we are one block away from the Louvre and hotel and got settled.  We are excited for this portion of our trip, yet sad because it means our experience in France is coming to an end.

A view from our apartment windows.

After Matt and Erik made the three hour round trip to the airport to return the rental vans (with only one minor stratch on ours) he made it home a little after 8:00 and we headed out to grab a quick bite to eat.  Oh, yeah, nothing is quick in Paris, except the drivers!

We are excited for the week ahead.