IWKnights Corner (Bulletin Insert) for April 28, 2019 (Divine Mercy Sunday)

Did you know this about the IW Knights of Columbus?

The following is the beginning of a letter from Supreme Knight Carl Anderson:

"I am writing this message while a massive fire is still engulfing our beautiful Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.  I say “our” because this magnificent structure has been for centuries an artistic patrimony of humanity, a place of prayer for millions of Catholics in France and throughout the world — and, more recently, a special place for the Knights of Columbus.

In May 2017, I joined a delegation of brother Knights from Paris to attend Mass at Notre-Dame Cathedral and to participate in a special exposition and veneration of the relic of the Crown of Thorns.  Later that year, the Knights of Columbus was one of the major sponsors of a light show on the cathedral’s façade.  Titled “Dame de Cœur” (Queen of Hearts), the light show depicted the history of the cathedral in commemoration of World War I.

From the two-volume history The Knights of Columbus in Peace and War (1920), we read this: 'In Paris on Good Friday 1919, the most impressive religious service held in the history of the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe took place when the Knights of Columbus … held a service there for the public adoration of the cross.  Ten thousand Americans packed the great edifice; the Cardinal Archbishop of Paris, Mons. Amette, presided.'

Much has been said about the significance of this tragic fire.  It is difficult to grasp its significance for the French people and especially French Catholics.

Perhaps “The Virgin at Noon,” a poem by Paul Claudel, can help us understand.  It is noteworthy that Claudel’s conversion took place in Notre-Dame Cathedral during the singing of the Magnificat on Christmas Day 1886."

There is more to this article - including the words of the poem "the Virgin at Noon" and a link to the video of the light show "Dame de Coeur" - the find the link to the entirety of this article featured on the KofC.org web site at www.IWKnights.com/bulletin or at facebook.com/IWknights9981 and NOW on Twitter at twitter.com/IwKnights.

Links Related to this week’s column:

• WE WILL REBUILD
  By Supreme Knight Carl Anderson (4/16/2019)
  • THE TRAGIC FIRE AT NOTRE-DAME CATHEDRAL EVOKES BOTH OUR HISTORY AND OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS CATHOLICS
    • http://www.kofc.org/en/news/releases/we-will-rebuild.html

• “Dame de Cœur” (Queen of Hearts) Light Show
  By Knights of Columbus (5/2017)
  • Notre-Dame Cathedral is illuminated during a light show titled ‘Dame de Cœur’ (Queen of Hearts). The Knights of Columbus in France supported the event as part of the commemorations marking the centenary of World War I.