Although today was filled with many knats and mosquitos, the voyage to Le Basilique de Sacré Coeur was not only quite nostalgic in a sense, but also completely and utterly overwhelming. Yet, I say this not in regret or in any negative light, but rather I can't quite describe the feelings that passed through me as I laid gaze on the spectacular monument.
Do you ever have the moments that you feel like you need to cry, but for no rhyme or reason. There is just the overwhelming urge to, not burst into tears, although this is justifiable, but let your emotions take over fully. I find myself more and more becoming a logical person, rather then emotional. I hate how vulnerable emotions make you feel and it almost makes me feel a little unsafe. However, today I couldn't help, but let go.
As I entered the Church I became dizzy and although I love a good drama, I am not kidding when I found myself almost keeling over. The vast, open, and bright cavern was filled with the most amazing silver statues of saints and mosaic artwork crowing the interior of the rotundas. The stain glass windows-very different than gothic architecture- were curved at the top and skinny, but somehow managed to be far more inviting then the ones of her sister's, Notre Dame. The entirety of the church felt more circular and although the space looked bigger, I found myself more comfortable with being uncomfortable, you know, that paradox of a feeling. But, I knew that in that moment, something amazing had found me.
You may be asking what is so sacred and special to me about some basilica I had never been to until today, but it stems actually from a connection I established in lower school at The Sacred Heart Schools Chicago, in the Hardey Preparatory School for Boys (quite a lovely mouthful). The schools are connected through, what we like to call the network: connected through faith all across the globe. And upon the graduation of St. Madeline Sophie Ferat from college in Paris, the congregation of Sisters of Le Sacré Coeur the education of young women became a priority of hers, hence the creation of the religious affiliation of the Sacré Coeur. A couple decades years before the death of the beloved patron of education in Paris, Elizabeth Tucker and a few other sisters of the Sacred Heart came to America and started schools just like the ones in France. Fast forward to 1927, the Chicago Sacred Heart School was built on North Sheridan Road after years constant movement due to continuous growth. Now the schools is home to both boys and girls from kindergarten to 8th grade under the 5 goals:
Goal I: A personal and active faith in God
Goal II: A deep respect for intellectual values
Goal III: A social awareness which impels to action
Goal IV: The building of community as a Christian value
Goal V: Personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom
In these goals we are connected through one another and the network.Upon my graduation I received a pendant with the sacred symbol of the Sacred Heart on it and from this I can be identified as a member of The Network across the globe. And finally getting to see the birthplace of something so global and amazing that I am apart of was overwhelming, yet spectacular. And Knowing that I always had some place to belong to while I travel abroad was incredibly comforting and I could not help but be grateful for the women who set the first stones of what would become a global connection.
Although, we did other things such as walk around Montmatre, visit the home of Picasso and visit the graves of various benefactors of music and dance history, Sacred Heart was the first thing on this trip that felt extremely personal and so forgive me for straying from the normal content where I usually explain my whole day. However, in a moment of true splendor all you can do is try to capture it and hold it close before it slips through your fingers and the life you have moves on.
