2023-08-16 04:10:48
It is an unmissable event in the town of Longpont-sur-Orge. Like every August 15, a few hundred faithful gathered to celebrate the Virgin Mary and Assumption Day, one of the four non-working Catholic holidays along with Christmas, Ascension and All Saints.
To mark the ascent to heaven of the mother of Jesus, the diocese of Évry organized a procession at 3 p.m. this Tuesday in the Lormoy park in Longpont-sur-Orge. It is the most important in Île-de-France since the Notre-Dame-de-Bonne-Garde basilica, erected in 1913 by Pius X, is the only one with Notre-Dame-de-Paris to be dedicated to Marie de Nazareth in the region. Two masses, one at 11 a.m. and a second at 4 p.m., were also celebrated by Bishop Michel Pansard, bishop of the diocese of Évry-Corbeil-Essonnes since 2017.
“Longpont is the place of the Marian basilica, it is natural to gather here. These processions are in a way a small summary of what our life is, filled with joys and sorrows. The faithful come to say thank you to God, who, as Jean-Jacques Goldman says in his song “At his task every day, you could say of him that he changed lives”, he smiles.
Lots of regulars
In front of the main entrance of the building, the most visited religious monument in Essonne with no less than 55,000 visitors per year, a couple marvels at the sight of the large western portal. Sculpted during the 13th century and dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, it was completely renovated last year. “We couldn’t come last year unfortunately, so we find out the result today, admits Nicolas, who came especially from Yvelines. It’s really superb. »
Throughout the walk, the bishop was accompanied by a guitarist to invite followers to sing songs in honor of the Virgin Mary. If the latter were of all ages and came from all over the region, the vast majority of them were regulars, like Colette. ” Its very important. We all have little things in our hearts that push us to come here. My husband was born on August 15 and my grandmother was called Marie. They’re both up there now and that’s why I love coming here. We always come out enriched by this spiritual world that surrounds us but that we cannot see with our eyes,” she rejoices.
For Monique, the group effect is what is most touching in this type of gathering. “The prayers and songs of each communicate, it’s quite powerful, assures this choir singer. It gives me strength and above all hope for the more difficult days. And then it must be said that the setting is conducive to contemplation, ”she admits, admiring the greenery that surrounds her.
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