INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
A French priest who helped comfort the wounded after the worst terrorist attack on Paris this century has emerged as the hero of the
Notre-Dame fire.Jean-Marc Fournier, chaplain of the Paris Fire Brigade, saved the Blessed Sacrament and the Crown of Thorns from the burning
cathedral on Monday night when he bravely went in with firefighters.It had been feared that both religious artefacts would be lost to the
raging fire which engulfed the iconic building."Father Fournier is an absolute hero," a member of the emergency services said."He showed no
fear at all as he made straight for the relics inside the cathedral, and made sure they were saved
Fournier "went with the firefighters into Notre Dame Cathedral to save the Crown of Thorns and the Blessed Sacrament".This is not the first
time the priest has served the people of Paris during a national tragedy.Image:Jean-Marc Fournier saved the Crown of Thorns from the
cathedralHe went inside the Bataclan music venue in Paris on 13 November, 2015, after Islamic State terrorist murdered 89 people using guns
and explosives.The priest prayed over the dead and comforted those who were injured or had lost loved ones."I gave collective absolution, as
the Catholic Church authorises me," Fournier said at the time.Father Fournier, who is in his 50s, started his career as Catholic priest in
Germany, and then moved to the Sarthe department of France.He joined the Armed Forces diocese in 2004, spending seven years working with the
army all over the world.Image:A monstrance is sometimes used with the Blessed SacramentIn Afghanistan he survived an ambush in which 10
soldiers were killed.The Crown of Thorns is purported to be a relic of the wreath of thorns placed on the head of Jesus Christ at his
It was brought to Paris in 1238 by French monarch Louis IX.The hallowed object was contained in an elaborate gold case which was stored in
the cathedral's treasury and is only occasionally displayed for people to see.The Blessed Sacrament is a devotional name for the body and
blood of Christ in the form of consecrated bread and wine
It is often shown in a monstrance, an ornate golden container.
