I was walking across Paris and rested in the Madeleine Church. There was a concert on so I sat awhile to listen.

Eventually, I had to get up. My train was leaving soon. Before leaving, however, I went to the Lady Chapel and stared for a moment at the candles and at the statue of the Virgin. At that moment, the choir struck up Gounod’s Ave Maria. It was a moment of inexpressible beauty.