Basilique Notre-Dame-des-Victoires

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Statue above the East transept altar of Notre-Dame-des-Victoires in its eponymous Basilica.

Located at 6, rue Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, 75002, Notre-Dame-des-Victoires is one of ten minor basilicas located in the Île-de-France region of France.

The closest Metro station is 'Bourse'.

1 History
2 19th Century
3 Ex Voto
4 Ex Voto Gallery
5 Links

[edit] History

In 1619 the Discalced Augustinians (colloquially referred to as the "Petits Peres") established their convent, Notre-Dame-des-Victoires on three hectares of land they had purchased the Bourse (Market) located at the intersection of the Place des Petits-Peres and Rue de la Banque.

On December 8, 1629 the foundations were blessed by Archbishop Jean-François Gondi. The next day, King Louis XIII himself laid the cornerstone in the presence of the Court's 'seigneurs' and the city's officials.

The construction was funded by King Louis XIII on the condition that it be dedicated to his victory of King Louis XIII over the Protestants at La Rochelle which he attributed to the intercession of the Blessed Mother.

The first church being too small, reconstruction commenced in 1656 according to the plans of Pierre Le Muet. Libéral Bruant, Robert Boudin, and Gabriel Leduc oversaw this work. The new church, not yet completed, was consecrated in 1666.

Work was finalized in 1737 under the supervision of Sylvain Cartaud. He oversaw the expansion of the nave, the construction of the façade as well as the construction of the transept's striking spherical roof.

The sanctuary is graced by several paintings by the French painter Louis-Michel van Loo [1707-1771].

The church was converted into the home of the national lottery and a stock exchange during the Directory, but was returned to the practice of worship under the Empire.

A large garden and a double-cloister existed at the site until the Revolution. At that time, they were confiscated and fell into disuse. The remnants of the monastery were destroyed in 1858 and a police station as well as an office for the mayor of the arrondissement were constructed in their place.

[edit] 19th Century

For much of the middle of the 19th century, Notre Dame des Victoires was the spiritual power-house of Paris. After the Blessed Virgin appeared to the pastor, Fr. Desgenettes in the early 1830s, he consecrated the parish to her, provoking a spontaneous revival of an almost dead parish, and the foundation of the Archconfraternity of Our Lady, Refuge of Sinners. Many of the famous French Catholics of the period maintained a connection to the Church. These included the Ratisbonne brothers, Ven. Francis Libermann and the refounders of the Holy Ghost Fathers and a whole host of Foreign Missions seminarians and priests, including St. Theophane Venard. Venerable John Henry Newman went there to give thanks for his conversion, which had been the subject of prayer there. Later, the young Therese Martin prayed before the same statue for Our Lady's help in realizing her vocation.

[edit] Ex Voto

Notre-Dame-des-Victoires is famous for the ex voto offerings left there be the faithful. Over 10,000 devotional plaques, silver and gold hearts, as well as military decorations have been left at the Basilica. The faithful leave these items at the Basilica in thanksgiving for favors received from the Blessed Mother. The Basilica once served as a stational church along the pilgrimage route to Compostella. As such, many of the ex voto offerings have been left by faithful unable to make the long journey to the Shrine of Compostella itself.