Reflections on Montreal's Notre Dame Basilica
By Vanessa Santilli-Raimondo, The Catholic Register
MONTREAL - Planning a weekend trip to Montreal, there was one place I really wanted to visit: Notre Dame Basilica. While I had been to St. Joseph’s Oratory before, I never had the opportunity to visit the world famous Notre Dame in Old Montreal. I was expecting it to be beautiful.But stepping through the doors, what I saw surpassed all my expectations.
The high altar, a very tall backdrop, looked like a small city itself — an intricate structure which seemed to wind all the way up to the ceiling.
Blue and yellow lights illuminated various parts of its magnificent construction, with statues of saints surrounding Jesus, along with built-in choir stalls designed in the 1870s by Montreal architect Victor Bourgeau.
Completed in 1683, the basilica was dedicated to Our Lady the Blessed Virgin or “Notre Dame” under the direction of the Sulpician Fathers.
Simply put, it was unreal.
But while the beauty of the basilica was undeniable, it was the feeling the environment evoked inside me which left the strongest impression.
Inside the basilica, I felt close to God. Amidst the numerous areas filled with votive candles and different statues of saints, I wanted to be quiet and reflect. It truly felt like a place of sanctuary. In the presence of such holiness and beauty, I felt overwhelmed.
But while I could feel God’s presence amidst the grandeur, the experience made me realize that God is equally present in less grandiose places, too. God is always with us, if only we are open to that reality. Amidst our busy lifestyles, it is all too easy to forget.
Given this feeling, it was odd to pay the $5 admission fee to enter, as if I were going to see a show. It was stranger still when a group of tourists came to sit nearby me and their tour guide spoke only of the architecture. They saw it only for its outward appearance — which is undeniable — but not any deeper feeling.
But religious or not, I find it hard to believe they felt nothing.
Throughout the basilica, people sat in silence. Some prayed, others simply looked around taking in the majesty of it all.
As Catholic youth, it is easy to get caught up in the fast-paced world which we have no choice but to be part of. But slowing down and truly allowing ourselves to feel God’s presence will bring us some much-needed clarity — as it brought me.
My visit showed me that whether it’s in a world-famous basilica or the quiet of your own room, taking time to reflect away from the noisiness of everyday life is crucial for our spiritual growth and self-awareness. With so many barriers to God put up in our secular world, we have to make our best efforts to let Him get close to us.
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