Paris, France - Charlemagne et Ses Leudes (Notre-Dame Cathedral); Shirley, MA - St. Anthony's of Padua and Whiteley Park

Notre Dame de Paris Charlemagne-2.jpg
Jones Jon - St Anthonys.jpg

Title

Paris, France - Charlemagne et Ses Leudes (Notre-Dame Cathedral); Shirley, MA - St. Anthony's of Padua and Whiteley Park

Catalog Entry

Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral started its construction in 1163 and finished in 1345, the exact dates are unknown. It is a well-known medieval Catholic church located in Paris, France. It is well-known for its French Gothic architecture and stained glass windows. Outside of the cathedral is a statue of "Charlemagne et ses leudes," or "Charlemagne and his guards." The piece was made of bronze by two brothers Charles and Louis Rochet and installed in 1882. Charlemagne was king of the Franks and united Europe during the beginning of the Middle Ages.

St. Anthony's of Padua in Shirley, Massachusetts is a Roman Catholic church. The rural archdiocesan parish was originally established in 1905. Beside the church is Whiteley Park, a veterans park named after John Whitely, the last Shirley Elder of the Shirley Shaker community.

The medieval text, the Heliand or the Anglo-Saxon Bible, translates Christianity into something they can relate to through their previous religion. It tells a similar story to Genesis and was written by an anonymous monk. Instead of being a gentle healer, the son of God is portrayed as a warrior. Often times they refer to God as the Cheiftain of the people.

The concept that connects these three is the idea of religion and war, how they affect the community not only individually but together. In order to convert the pagans to Christianity, the Heliand made the Son of God a warrior. This idea of religious figures being warriors is what connects the three. The local site being a war memorial in front of a Christian church reflects the French site of the Charlemagne statue in front of Notre-Dame Cathedral. Charlemagne helped to unite Europe, the French included, and John Whiteley helped unite the people of Shirley, Massachusetts.

Bibliography

“About Our Parish.” St Anthony Church, stanthonyshirley.org/parish-life/about.

"About Shirley." Town of Shirley Massachusetts, www.shirley -ma.gov/Pages/ShirleyMA_WebDocs/about.

“Building history.” Our Lady of Paris, notredamedeparis.fr/en/la-cathedrale/histoire/historique-de-la-construction/.

Krogt, René van der, and Peter van der Krogt. “Charlemagne et ses leudes.” Statues – Hither & Thither, http://vanderkrogt.net/statues/object.php?%20webpage=ST&record=frif004.

Catalog Entry Author(s)

Deanna Wood, Student, Fitchburg State University

Research Assistant(s)

Holly Elworthy, Student, Fitchburg State University

Photographer(s)

Kisha G. Tracy
Jon Jones, Adult Learning in the Fitchburg Area (ALFA)

Citation

“Paris, France - Charlemagne et Ses Leudes (Notre-Dame Cathedral); Shirley, MA - St. Anthony's of Padua and Whiteley Park,” Cultural Heritage through Image, accessed March 28, 2024, https://culturalheritagethroughimage.omeka.net/items/show/27.

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