The Catholic bulletin., 1915-11-06
A STATUE WITH A HISTORY
CHURCH IN PARIS HAS STATUE
OF THE MADONNA RICH IN
HISTORIC ASSOCIATIONS.

On the sunset side of the City OF
Paris sits dusky old church dear to
archaeologists, yet more dear to the
pious folk that love to come and
kneel round it's affairs, says the cave
Maria" For st. German-des-Pres
holds real treasure-a statue of the
Madonna with centuries of history
and pious association Wreathed
around it. Even the casual visitor
strolling through that ancient pile and
knowing nothing of it's wonderful
story, must be struck by the sweet
old image-the reposefulness and
mother love of our Lady, and the di-
vine mysteriousness of the Child, with
His right arm thrown about her neck
and holding a little bird tenderly in
His left hand.
No age but the Middle Age could
have wrought SO devotional a statue
and to the thirteenth century we
must go for the origin of this one
At that time the Abbey of st. Denis
near Paris, being in need of a statue
for the new altar of its Lady Chapel
the Princess Blanche de France
daughter of st. Louis, resolved tc
supply the want. So she sought Out
skilful artist-whose name, alas! is
not so immortal as his work-tc
chiSel in stone a statue of our Lady
and the Divine Child. But she
longed also to impress the fealty
which the House of France ever helC
toward the Queen of Heaven. In &
moment Of inspiration she com
manded that the features of the
sanity Queen Blanche should stand
for the semblance of Our Lady, and
that the Divine Child should wear
the features of the son of Blanche
ST. Louis whose picture as an infant
was happily preserved. Thus, while
rearing a shrine to Our Lord and His
Mother, she perpetuated in the no
liest and tenderest way the memory
of another son and mother whose
names will ever be as benedictior
upon France.
During the five centuries that fol
lowed the statue was in great venera
tion, and amid all the vicissitudes OF
war it alone escaped hurt. But
when the fury of the French Revolu
ton burst forth, it was Wrenched
from it's pedestal and carried as sc
much stone to the Mussee Francais
There it remained for ten years, en-,
tirely forgotten amidst the desecrated
spoils of many churches.
In 1903 the affairs of st. German
des-Pres we're again prepared for the
worship of God: but the sacred yes
sells and vestments had been stolen
and the whole church was deploraDly
naked of ornament. However the
venerable Able Levi who had once
been preacher to the royal court
and Vicar General of AK, knew where
the treasures of the Church had gone
and demanded leave to choose from
the ruins in the Mussee Francais q
suitable statue of Christ's Mother. His
eye was at once caught by the beauty
of the statue stolen from the Abbey
of st. Denis; and, though he knew
nothing of it's history, he lost no time
in securing it.
Once restored to honor in a Partisan
church, the story or the statue coult
not long be hidden, and accounts oi
the many yicissitudes it had under
gone were published in the various
| journals. The canons of ST. Denis
sent a deputation to reclaim it; but
no eloquence or persuasion could be
equal to such an occasion. The par
ishioners of st. German-des-Pres were
already so much attached to the
beautiful Madonna that they protested
strongly against its removal; how
ever, the canons we're allowed tC
make plaster cast of the Madonna
of st. Blanche; and this may still be
seen, where the original stood SO long
in the Lady Chapel of the Abbey of st
Denis.
Thus in church which few trav
elers ever visit stands statue Ten
dered dear by centuries of devotion
and doubly interesting to Frenci
Catholics because it perpetuates the
| features as well as the remem
brance Of two great saints of theil
country.
"A AHHFF AF N F m R