In 1870, as France faced the ravages of the Franco-Prussian War and the tumultuous Paris Commune, a desperate nation made a solemn promise. If Paris were spared further suffering, its citizens vowed to construct a church dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Miraculously, the city's fate took a turn for the better, and the pledge was fulfilled. The Basilique du Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre rose as a living testament to this National Vow. The plaque, commemorating this promise, reminds all who visit the church of the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of faith in the face of adversity.