A 16-TON BELL
The great bell of the new Basilica was silent throughout the present war, and only sent its brazen tones in sonorous waves far beyond the limits of the city when the armistice was announced and the war ended. The ponderous “bourdon” of the Basilica called “La Savoyarde,” weighing 16,000 kilos (16 tons) and an offering of Savoy, cost 70,000f (about £2,800) to cast, and measures over 10ft in height and diameter. Its solemn music strikes a deeper note than the Great Bell of Sens or the famed “Bourdon” of Notre Dame of Paris.
During the days of the “Anneé Terrible,” the idea ripened in many minds to raise a votive monument to save France, “a monument, it was hoped, that would rival the imposing mass of the Egyptian Pyramids, the majesty of the Temple of Ancient Zion, and the national impressiveness of the Roman Capitol.” The appeal went forth, and the National Assembly voted on July 23, 1873, the building of a monument in honour of the Sacred Heart as an act of public utility. The Archbishop of Paris was empowered to expropriate the necessary ground. Seven millions of voluntary subscribers brought a tribute of twenty-one million francs (£840,000) to build the edifice, and the first stone was laid in June, 1875.
Thus, according to tradition, the two hundredth anniversary of the apparition of the Saviour to the nun’s visitation was chosen to celebrate the first million of adhesions from all parts of the world, and inscribed in the Golden Book of the Basilica. In June, 1891, the inauguration of the minster was solemnised by Monseigneur Richard, Cardinal Archbishop of Paris. The work was laborious and costly; the foundations were dug in crumbling soil, and the subscriptions from all parts were swallowed up. Faith did the rest, for funds were got to build the superstructure. The celebrated architect Abadie planned the church, and devoted his last years to its building. He died in 1884, leaving the task unfinished.
Monsieur Daumet, the architect of the Palace of Justice, was first chosen to replace Abadie but the modifications he wished to carry out were not accepted by a new jury of architects, so M. Daumet retired. The work was continued by M. Rauline, who had worked under Abadie and M. Laisné, professor of architecture at the National Academy of Fine Arts. Another loss at this time was that of Cardinal Guibert, who was called the life and soul of the great national votive offering, an untiring promoter for thirteen years.
Some of the difficulties in the construction of the Basilica may be gathered from these particulars. The foundations upon which this huge mass of granite and marble rests are excavated in the bowels of the Mount, and are sunk as deeply as the dome rises above the crypt. Shafts were sunk to a depth of over 100ft, eighty-three in number, and these were filled with masonry and hydraulic lime. Twenty-five of these supporting pillars measure about 17ft in diameter, and these are linked together by powerful arches, upon which the walls and superstructure stand. Thirty-five thousand cubic mètres of friable soil had to be removed and replaced by the same number of cubic mètres of masonry to bear the weight of the walls and dome.