This is so heartbreaking! 😭
Since early February, vandals desecrated more than a dozen Catholic Churches throughout France. They’ve looted, burned, destroyed statues, threw consecrated hosts all over the floors, and marked a cross on the wall with human feces.
One of these churches was the Church of Saint-Sulpice in Paris, the second-largest Catholic church in France. It caught fire on Mar. 17 shortly after the Sunday noon Mass.
Investigators deemed the fire as arson, but the suspect’s identity is unknown.
One twitter user posted a video of the church in flames:
THE SAINT SULPICE IN PARIS JUST IGNITED WHILE I WAS INSIDE pic.twitter.com/40PHCZ177w
— lil g (@lili_gasparr) March 17, 2019
The user tweeted, “The Saint Sulpice in Paris just ignited while I was inside.”
Reports said firefighters responded quickly and no one was hurt. The parish website asked for donations, because the damage will cost several million euros.
On Mar. 23, parish priest Fr. Jean-Loup Lacroix said, “We think we escaped the worst…Our church has been darkened: we must give it more light…Our church was stricken. We must better protect it.”
Other desecrated churches included the Church of Saint Nicolas of Houilles, the church of Notre-Dame des Enfants, Cathedral of St. Alan of Lavaur, the church of Notre-Dame in Dijon, St. Nicholas Church in Maisons-Laffitte, France, as well as several others.
The Church of St. Nicolas of Houilles reported three incidences of vandalism within 10 days. The church has “irreparable damage” to the Virgin and Child statue.
Jesus carrying his cross was also thrown down twice.
Here’s a photo of their destroyed statue:
The vandals at the Basilica of Notre-Dame des Enfants drew a cross on the wall with human feces, stole items from the main alter and the tabernacle, and threw Eucharistic hosts in the trash.
Here’s photos from the vandalism at the church of Notre Dame de Enfants:
According to an article in Breitbart, the church of Notre-Dame in Dijon “suffered the sacking of the high altar, and the hosts were also taken from the tabernacle, scattered on the ground, and trampled.”
The archbishop of the diocese celebrated a Mass in reparation of the horrible act of vandalism.
Here’s photos from the vandalism at the church of Notre-Dame in Dijon:
The Cathedral of St. Alan of Lavaur was also vandalized. According to Breitbart, the church “was assaulted by young men, who twisted one arm of a representation of the crucified Christ to make it appear that he was making an obscene gesture.”
Here’s a photo below:
Cardinal Robert Sarah commented on the vandalisms in February tweeting, “The acts of desecration and vandalism in churches are always highly reprehensible.
“They are the sad reflection of a sick civilization that gets carried away in the nets of evil. Bishops, priests, the faithful must keep strength and courage. RS +”
Here’s his tweet below:
Please pray for our persecuted church!
Blessed Mother, pray for us! O Lord, have mercy on us and on the whole world!
[See also: Church Desecrated with Feces in Horrific Vandal Attack, Bishop Leads Purification]
[See also: Feeling Discouraged? Try Mother Angelica’s Prayer for Strength Through Heavy Burdens]