“Yes, I have a special devotion to the Virgin Mary”

Under the direction of Philippe Villeneuve, assisted by architects Rémi Fromont and Pascal Prunet, an international team of 2,000 craftsmen achieved the feat of restoring Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, an emblem of Gothic art and symbol of the Catholic faith in France, ravaged by a devastating fire in April 2019, in a record time of five years.

“The Virgin Mary inhabited me, protected me and carried me through the entire project,” the chief architect of this reconstruction told Le Pèlerin newspaper. In this interview, published on January 4, 2025, Villeneuve explains that, as a child, he already carried Our Lady in his heart. The Lady of Stone (note: the statue of Our Lady inside Notre-Dame) was a source of great inspiration to the man who was destined to become an architect. And when the terrible fire struck, he decided to devote his life to restoring the cathedral's beauty!

Having become the orchestra conductor of this colossal reconstruction project, the architect expressed his deep devotion to the Virgin Mary, explaining how she supported him throughout the trials tied to this historic undertaking. “I've never stopped feeling help from above”. These words resonate as a testimony of faith in a context where the secular nature of the state often imposes discretion on personal beliefs.

During five years of intense work, Villeneuve remained silent about his faith, striving to respect his status as a civil servant in a secular republic. But today, he affirms with conviction that his special bond with the Mother of God gave him the strength and determination to carry out this titanic mission.

“I have to say it: yes, I have a special devotion to the Virgin Mary. I've never stopped feeling support from above. I don't think this project would have been possible otherwise. I think it gave me the strength and determination to carry on,” he told EWTN News.

His words testify to the close relationship between faith and art, two dimensions that come together magnificently in sacred architecture.

Excerpts from: www.lepelerin.com and www.lecatho.fr