Iconic might be one of those words we want to retire for a while. If I heard it once yesterday I heard it a thousand times. The Cathedral of Notre Dame was iconic and that cannot be denied. It danced in the imagination when we read Les Miserables or the Hunchback of Notre Dame. Napoleon was crowned there in 1804, and Henry VI of England was crowned there in 1431. It held the crown of thorns that was placed on Christ’s head before His crucifixion.
When I think of it I have a mental labyrinth that I follow like this. Notre Dame is famous for it’s bells that were all named.
The bell ringer at Notre Dame was a hunchback who had been dumped off at the church as a new born infant.
He was named Quasimodo.
Quasimodo is the first word of the Introit for the Sunday after Easter – hard to translate but it means “like” or “as if in manner”
“As if in manner you were newborn babies” – Quasimodo geniti infantes
Quasimodo rang the bells at Notre Dame which was built over hundreds of years to show the glory of God and proclaim His praises.
Here is the introit for the Sunday after Easter and you can sing it to the points found in the Lutheran Service book.
Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to sal- | vation—*
if indeed you have tasted that the | Lord is good.
Oh give thanks to the LORD; call up- | on his name;*
make known his deeds among the | peoples!
Sing to him, sing prais- | es to him;*
tell of all his | wondrous works!
Glory in his | holy name;*
let the hearts of those who seek the | LORD rejoice!
Seek the LORD | and his strength;*
seek his presence con- | tinually!
Remember the wondrous works that | he has done,*
his miracles, and the judgments he | uttered,
He remembers his covenant for- | ever,*
the word that he commanded, for a thousand gener- | ations,
Glory be to the Father and | to the Son*
and to the Holy | Spirit;
as it was in the be- | ginning,*
is now, and will be forever. | Amen.
Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to sal- | vation—*
if indeed you have tasted that the | Lord is good.
