It means it's worth doing something you don't agree with, if as a result you get some excellent outcome. In this case it was supposedly said by French king Henri the Fourth. He was a Protestant Christian but reluctantly joined the Catholic Church in order to win the acceptance of his French subjects. That is to get Paris, the French capital, it was worth saying Mass, the Catholic church service. There is no evidence he ever said this.
'Paris', he said, 'is worth a Mass.' He ended the Wars of Religion by turning Catholic in exchange for entry to Paris and the throne he had inherited.
The kings of France were all Catholic with one exception and even he converted. This King was King Henry IV--first Bourbon king of France(and grandfather of Louis XIV). He was a Protestant and was the king of Navarre, a smaller French kingdom. He married the sister of the French king(Queen Margot)and he was their first cousin. Despite Margot having many brothers, they died one by one and the throne was Henry's. Many of the towns in France refused to be ruled by a Protestant so he had to fight and claim several of them. The last holdout was Paris--the capital. Paris did not fall even after a prolonged siege. When asked if he would convert to gain the capital, Henry is said to have replied that, "Paris is worth a mass" and converted to Catholicism and was crowned as King of France and Navarre.
The phrase "Paris is well worth a mass" suggests that the city of Paris is so valuable or significant that it justifies making sacrifices or compromises, even of a substantial nature. It is often attributed to King Henry IV of France, who converted to Catholicism to gain acceptance in Paris, highlighting the idea that the benefits of being in Paris outweighed the personal cost of changing his religious beliefs. Essentially, it implies that certain experiences or places are so enriching that they merit considerable effort or change.
King Henry IV of France converted from Protestantism to Catholicism in 1593. His conversion was a significant political move aimed at uniting a divided France following years of religious conflict during the Wars of Religion. He famously declared, "Paris is worth a Mass," emphasizing his willingness to embrace Catholicism for the sake of stability and governance. This conversion helped him secure the French throne and promote religious tolerance with the Edict of Nantes in 1598.
Vivendi SA is a French mass media and telecommunication company in Paris. It was originally created in 1853 by decree of Napoleon III.
"Mass" in French is "messe".
King Henry IV of France played a crucial role in ending the religious wars between Catholics and Huguenots (French Protestants) through his Edict of Nantes in 1598, which granted religious tolerance and civil rights to the Huguenots. His conversion to Catholicism helped to unify the country and mitigate the conflict, as he famously stated, "Paris is worth a Mass." Henry's leadership and policies fostered a period of relative peace and stability, allowing France to recover from decades of civil strife. Ultimately, his efforts laid the groundwork for a more centralized and tolerant French state.
No, Paris is not built on top of a mass grave. The city has a long history and has seen many changes over the centuries, but it is not situated on a mass burial site.
At the link below (Mass Times) enter the search term "Disneyland Paris" and hit enter, it will list all the Churches along the rail line and their Mass times and telephone numbers. There is no Mass at Disneyland.
the reign of terror was what the mass executions were called. the reign of terror started with king louis xvi then his wife marie antoinette and so on.
When Henry IV of France declared that "Paris is well worth a mass," he was expressing his willingness to convert to Catholicism in order to unify France and secure his reign. This statement reflects the political pragmatism of the time, as he sought to reconcile the divided Catholic and Protestant factions within the country. By embracing Catholicism, Henry aimed to gain acceptance and legitimacy in Paris, which was a pivotal center of power. Ultimately, it underscores the importance of political stability over personal beliefs in his decision-making.