Several hundred faithful participated this Wednesday, December 25, in the six Christmas masses organized at the basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde and in the crypt.
Hundreds of faithful went this Wednesday, December 25 to the basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde for Christmas masses.
The Good Mother offered religious services all day long to allow as many Catholics as possible to celebrate the Nativity. In total, six masses were organized in the basilica or in the crypt between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Provençal Catholics and faithful from elsewhere were among the visitors.
“It's a great day, we're taking advantage of it. We have beautiful sunshine. We absolutely wanted to take part in the Christmas mass. We couldn't go to yesterday's mass so what could be better than Notre-Dame de la Guard to go there,” explains Kavita, a resident at the microphone of BFM Marseille Provence.
Share this joy together
“This is the first time in my life in fifty-four years that I have come to a Christmas mass at Notre-Dame de la Garde so I am particularly happy this year to come here,” considers Florence, another Marseille resident.
“It’s Christmas, it’s the day of glory, it’s the day of the birth of Jesus. It’s important that we share this joy together,” said Gilbert, originally from Lebanon.
Chloé, a student from Toulouse took advantage of a visit to her grandmother in Marseille to go to the Good Mother. “I have my grandmother who lives here, I had never come to Notre-Dame de la Garde, in 20 years I wanted to see her so, I took my mother and we came. There’s sun and the weather is nice.”
These Christmas masses took place in the notable context of the imminent renovation of the religious building. Restoration work is due to start in February. The basilica will remain open to the public during this work.
Lucas Brousse with Florent Bascoul
