Mass at Notre Dame-Paris

In my experience, worshippers are always welcome for any public mass. It's the tourists that need to be controlled. I'm not sure about the Cathedrale de Notre Dame de Paris but large churches and cathedrals we have been in will keep tourists outside of the pulpit and pews during mass. Some even rope them off and keep the tourists out of the area entirely. Here's a link to the website. http://www.notredamedeparis.fr/spip.php?rubrique2

Last year I was in Paris on a rainy Sunday. We were looking for indoor things to do, and decided to attend mass at Notre Dame. I'm not catholic, but I found it very enjoyable. We were able to walk right in. It was in October, so it may be more of a problem in the height of tourist season.

Thanks for the information.

Hi Todd, We attended the Sat. vigil mass and while the line for "tourists" to enter was quite long; anyone there to "worship" went to the left of the line and did not wait at all. Inside, it is roped off and tourists walk around the sides taking pictures while we sat inside the ropes and experienced a beautiful mass. It was quite full for the mass so arrive a little early to be sure of a seat. The missal printout is in 4 languages - French, English, Spanish and German, as I recall so it's easy to follow along - except for the homily unless you speak French. You should do it - Jean

Any religious building in the world will let you in to worship. No ID required. Gawkers have their own problems.

When you get inside, via the nontourist line, you'll likely find the central nave roped off. But even if you don't see an opening, there's always a guard nearby. Just say 'messe' and he'll let you in. And the chanted Gregorian mass is beautiful. The website of the cathedral provides the full liturgical schedule. Also, there typically is an organ concert on Sunday, I think around 4. When I was there a few months ago, they were restoring the organ. If that's completed when you are in Paris, you may want to attend the concert.

We were at the Duomo in Florence just before Mass was to start. There was a guard at the side door not allowing tourists in. We said, "Mass", and he waved us thru. We not only experienced a beautiful Mass but the interior of the Duomo. Same thing happened at St. Peter's. There was an area around the main altar ( not the center alter the Pope has mass at ) that was roped off. We again said, "Mass" and the guard let us in. Mass at St. Peter's . . . what a thrill.

We went to Sunday mass at Notre Dame last month. We selected the 11:30 mass, which was billed as the "international" mass, assuming that some of it would perhaps be in English. Don't assume this! We did get a translated program that was in English, but the spoken mass was in French. It was great, and I definitely recommend going. Beware that just because there is mass going on in the roped-off nave doesn't mean the place is closed for tourists...and as i'm sure you've guessed, not all tourists are terribly respectful of the mass that is occurring right next to them. so expect background noise.

We made the Christmas Day Mass at Notre Dame last year. It was crowded, but we managed to finally get inside and get a seat. They also had a big screen outside you could watch. Since it was Christmas Day, and there was not much else to do, it was well worth the wait. We had no problems getting in. You just need to be patient.
Thanks - Bill

My daughter and I went to Paris last March. We arrived late on a Saturday; Sunday, we got up and began our wandering. We arrived at the Notre Dameit was crowded on the outside and on the inside-just tourists like ourselves looking around. It did not even occur to me that (a) It was a Sunday, and (b), that Mass was about to take place. Then I noticed the Mass-goers all seated in a roped off area. I had my DUH moment, and we went and attended Mass. You just go in! It was so lovely; even though I knew very very limited French, I was able to participate in the ceremony, making the appropriate responses (in English).
There are ladies who pass out the Mass Missals, so that was our first "souvenir" from Paris.