Following in the Footsteps of the Saints, Part 4: Arrival in Paris

November 6, 2025

As difficult as it was to leave Lisieux, we were all excited to be heading back to Paris where we spent our next three nights.  Our bus had a 7:30am departure which, when announced the evening before, brought forth a collective groan from the group.  In the end, the early start was so worth it!  

Commissioned by Napoleon in 1806

As our bus entered Paris, we found ourselves unexpectedly circling the Arc de Triomphe via the Place Charles de Gaulle roundabout not once, but a couple of times!   What a thrill!  This is not any ordinary roundabout!  Place Charles de Gaulle has the distinctive title of being the largest roundabout in the world.  Rules for this massive wagon wheel are different from any roundabout I’ve ever driven on, as vehicles entering the roundabout have the right of way.  Just to make things a little bit more of a challenge, there are no lane markings on the enormous roundabout.  Place Charles de Gaulle is super wide.  In fact, it is twelve lanes wide!  In addition, entrances/exits are frequent as there are twelve avenues radiating from this circle.  NO lane markings?!  As impossible as this all sounds, it seems as though everyone gets along and works things out.  I didn’t see a single crash or hear any horns angrily blaring.  I wish our world got along this well.  This all being said, there must be a line in here somewhere, though, about our bus driver having every right to have “tooted his own horn!”  He’s going to deserve a big tip!

If the Arc de Triomphe wasn’t surprise enough, a few minutes later the bus driver was pulling over and we were all excitedly hopping off the bus to pose for quick photos a short distance from the Eiffel Tower!  This wasn’t on the day’s agenda either!  What fun, spontaneous additions!  Say “Cheese” or maybe “Brie”!

St. Catherine's incorrupt body

What was on our agenda for the day was Mass at the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.  We were about to follow in St. Catherine Labouré’s footsteps!  Catherine was born May 2, 1806 in France.  Like Saint Therese, Catherine was a very faith-filled child. Catherine determined at a young age that she wanted to enter the convent and, by 1830, she had made her dream come true. She chose to enter the seminary at the Motherhouse of The Daughters of Charity in Paris (more on this later), attracted to this particular seminary for their dedication to helping the poor and the elderly.  As a child, Catherine had dreamt being told by an older man her future would be this very mission.  It wasn’t until she entered this seminary and saw a photo of St. Vincent de Paul that she realized he was the man she had seen in her dream.  

While in the seminary, Catherine had several Marian apparitions.  One night, Catherine was awakened by a young boy who asked her to follow him saying, “Come, she is waiting for you” and led Catherine to the chapel.  It was in the chapel the Blessed Virgin Mary asked Catherine to have a medal made with the images she revealed to Catherine during the apparition.  Mary also told Catherine, for those who wear the medal, great graces will be received.  Since then, many healings have been attributed to wearing this medal.  The greatest miracles gifted from the medal have been the virtues of patience, forgiveness, repentance and faith.  I feel it’s important to point out that this medal represents the power of trusting prayer and the strength of your faith in God.  The medal is not a lucky charm, but rather a loud “I believe!”  

It was in the very same chapel of Catherine’s apparition where we held Mass that day.  It was such a powerful setting for Mass!  It wasn’t hard to imagine Catherine sitting at the feet of Mary, listening to her instructions as we prayed.  I loved the vestments Fr. Chinna wore as he celebrated Mass.  They were adorned with the images found on the miraculous medal.  So beautiful!

Following Mass, we had time on our own to explore the area and experience our first meal in Paris.  Charlotte, our tour guide, had mentioned a department store, Le Bon Marché, where we would be able to find lunch.  I had originally been picturing a corner café for a Parisian lunch but, since weather was providing a light off-and-on drizzle, something indoors sounded wise.  It turns out Le Bon Marché is not any old department store.  Originally opened in 1852 by Aristide Boucicaut, what started out as a small fabric shop quickly expanded.  By 1888, the store turned into what is widely accepted as the first department store in the world, taking up the entire block.  I’m telling you, one can find anything in there!  I certainly wish I had realized at the time what a historic spot this is.  On the second floor (considered the first floor by all European standards), we found La Table where Jane, Steve, Renea and Craig joined us for a delightful meal.  La Table sits under a huge glass canopy in the very center of the building.  Even on a rainy day, this place was immersed in light. 

La Table! 

The day wasn’t over yet!  We had another saint’s footsteps to track down.  This time, it was St. Vincent de Paul we were going to be learning about.  Born in 1581, St. Vincent lived his life dedicated to helping the poor and the elderly.  He is widely remembered for the two religious communities he founded -- Congregation of the Mission and Daughters of Charity.  Several pieces of art show St. Vincent as he experienced a mystical vision of his religious communities ascending to heaven as red globes.  Today, most anywhere you go, you will find St. Vincent de Paul thrift stores, food pantries and education services continuing his work of helping the poor. Yes, I do believe St. Vincent’s communities have been blessed by God!

St. Vincent de Paul Communities are at work in 150 countries today.

Chapel of St. Vincent de Paul

Dinner that evening was a group meal, served at the restaurant attached to our hotel, Hôtel Novotel Paris Tour Eiffel.  Following dinner, Dick and I couldn’t resist taking a stroll around our new neighborhood where we discovered the Statue of Liberty was just a half block down from our hotel!  This one quarter-scale Lady Liberty was one of the original working models of the statue and was gifted in 1889 from Americans in Paris to France during the centennial celebration of the French Revolution!  As requested by the artist, it faces west to be looking toward its “sister”, the full-scale version gifted by France to the United States in 1884.

Our hotel is in the background

Not only this, but we discovered the Seine River was literally across the street!  And, in the opposite direction only one mile away sat the Eiffel Tower, twinkling in all her glory!  It’s strange how disorienting getting driven around can be.  When we stepped off of the bus, I hadn’t realized any of this.  Talk about a convenient location!

Next up:  Notre-Dame de Paris and Musseé du Louvre!