The fervor of the builders of Chartres Cathedral

The people of France began building the 34 majestic Gothic cathedrals in the 12^th century that still dot its territory. Recently, in April 2019, a sudden fire partially destroyed one of them, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Medieval chronicler Robert du Mont wrote that Chartres Cathedral (1), built between 1194 and 1220, was built amid deep popular fervor:

"It was at Chartres that we saw for the first time, men pulling with all their strength carts laden with stone, wood, food, and all the provisions necessary for the construction of the church, whose towers were slowly rising.

Whoever has not seen these wonders will never see them again, not only here but in Normandy, in all France and in many other countries.

Everywhere can be seen humility, suffering, repentance, forgiveness of offenses, groans and tears. We can see men, even women, dragging themselves on their knees through muddy swamps, beating their breasts and asking heaven for mercy, all this in the midst of many miracles that elicit songs and shouts of joy."

(1) In 876, King Charles the Bald, grandson of Charlemagne donated to the cathedral the holy relic of the "Veil of the Virgin" (formerly thought of as the "Holy Tunic"). This event made Chartres a prominent shrine.

The Marie de Nazareth team