The Paris-to-Chartres Pilgrimage: Part 3

Cardinal Vingt-Trois and his staff survey the second day’s camp.

A major distinction between the Chartres pilgrimage today and its predecessors 15+ years ago is the increasingly close interaction with the local hierarchs. Whereas the ordinaries of both Paris and Chartres initially ignored the presence of 12,000+ pilgrims, there is now accommodation and even active participation. An unforgettable high point in this development was the presence in the camp at the end of the second day’s march of Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois. As recently as February of this year the Cardinal was reported as leading the charge against Summorum Pontificum and its supporters in France. His presence at the pilgrimage would seem to indicate a revolutionary change of heart – or at least a major softening of attitudes. The archbishop was not only present – he met and blessed pilgrims individually and then led a service of Benediction. Hundreds of pilgrims, stiff and exhausted, knelt that evening on the steep slope below the altar throughout the lengthy service.

This is the schola/choir that sang at the services over the three day pilgrimage.