French church demolition

Following on from last week's shocking murder - indeed martyrdom - of Fr Jacques Hamel near Rouen a friend has sent me a link to other disturbing scenes in Parisian church. Not, mercifully, another murder in hatred of the Faith but violent scenes to expel those resisting the demolition of the church for redevelopment of the site as a car park.

The illustrated report can be read at here.

Marcel Proust on Cathedrals and Liturgy

With France and, in particular, attitudes to religion in that country being in so much the news, Rorate Caeli has what might be described as something of a scoop or exclusive in publishing an article written in 1904 by Marcel Proust about what seemed the likely fate of French cathedrals and churches under the impending Law of Separation, which was enacted in 1905. The article has not been available in English hitherto, but has been translated specifically for Rorate Caeli by Dr John Pepino.

Proust's fears may not have been entirely realised - though not a few great churches in France do feel like cold and dead museums these days - but he makes many telling points in his prescient and insightful article, which can be read at THE DEATH OF CATHEDRALS - and the Rites for which they were built - by Marcel Proust (first full English translation)