Crown of Thorns – Saint Chapelle

I had heard that Notre Dame possessed what is thought to be the original crown of thorns worn by Christ at his crucifixion. Whether it is the real thing or not, I have no idea. I have my doubts being a logical, and not very religious, person. I am not Catholic but when a friend of mine, who is, told me about a veneration mass at Notre Dame where the crown of thorns was actually bought out of its vault to be seen, I decided that I wanted to see it. At one time it was only brought out once a year at Good Friday to be seen but recently it has begun to be presented the first Friday of every month. The crown came to Paris in 1238 when Baldwin II, the Latin Emperor of Constantinople, anxious to obtain support for his tottering empire, offered the Crown of Thorns to St. Louis, King of France (who was to become the only French king to become a saint). It was at the time actually in the hands of the Venetians as security for a heavy loan, but it was redeemed and brought to Paris where King Louis built the Sainte-Chapelle (completed 1248) for its reception. There the relic remained until the Revolution, when, after finding a home for a while in the Bibliothèque Nationale, it was eventually restored to the Church and was deposited in the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in 1806. Ninety years later (in 1896) a new reliquary of rock crystal was made for it, covered for two- thirds of its circumference with a silver case. The Crown is preserved now as only of a circlet of rushes, without any trace of thorns.  It is thought that at the time when the circlet was brought to Paris the sixty or seventy thorns, which seem to have been afterwards distributed by St. Louis and his successors, had been separated from the band of rushes and were kept in a different reliquary. None of these now remain at Paris. In fact, there are as many as 700 thorns, supposedly from the Crown of Thorns, out there in various churches where hopeful believers are revering them as holy. Only 50 or so probably actually came from the Crown. Is it the real crown that Christ wore when crucified? It can’t be proved. All that is for certain is that this Crown has been in Paris since the 13th century when King Louis bought it. The fact that something has survived that long is enough for awe, if nothing else. The fact that if it were purchased today, by inflation standards, it would be worth over five million dollars. I met my friend at the front door of Notre Dame on a cold first Friday of December. The middle part of the nave in the interior was lit, which is not the case on most days. We went in and sat down. We then could see the priests (with, what I am sure, are other titles) coming from the direction of the treasury. They all wore white with red sashes. The first person carried an incense holder on a chain, which he swung back and forth causing the cathedral to fill with that holy church scent and quite a bit of smoke causing some to cough. He was followed by altar boys with huge candles, some other men dressed in white robes who were not priests, and then two men, one carrying a small crystal container holding a portion of the “true cross” and finally, on a ornate red pillow, came the crown of thorns. It was in a wreath shaped crystal ring, through which could be glimpsed the crown. I had expected to see thorns on it but it was smooth, looking like intertwined reeds since all of the thorns that had once been on it were dispersed. A mass was then held in French, of course, so I didn’t understand much of it. At the end of the mass people were invited up to see the crown of thorns. I got in line with my friend expecting just the opportunity to see it up close, and then I realized that everyone was kissing it. I thought that maybe I would do this but when it became my turn I simply stepped to the side while my friend bowed and kissed it and then made the sign of the cross on his chest. I didn’t think it would be right for me to kiss it when I had my doubts that it was real.My friend was very moved by the experience, as were many who were attending the mass. It is amazing to me to witness ceremonies like this, especially when it is in a cathedral that is almost 1000 years old. I think it is wonderful that they have the Veneration Mass once a month now so believers can get a chance to see it and to worship. Even those of us who are just curious are welcome.