On Monday, the day after Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week on the Christian calendar, marking Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem, flames engulfed the Cathedral of Notre Dame and shot into the air.  The spire fell. The structure was collapsing before our eyes.  Embers and ash rained down from the sky.

As I watched the images on TV, I was reminded of 9/11 and couldn’t help but compare and contrast the two catastrophes.  One was a terrorist attack, the other a tragic accident; one a place of profit, the other a sacred space..  The Twin Towers in NYC fell, but the iconic bell towers of Notre Dame still stand. The attack on the World Trade Center took three thousand lives, but fortunately no lives were lost in the cathedral fire.

However both events caused similar reactions. People of every creed and color, gender and generation were united in their sorrow.  Most stood in stunned solemn silence, some prayed, some sang, many cried.  They shared the emotions of their humanity. The disasters brought people together.

In the past, God has used fire to communicate with His people:  Moses was given the ten commandments at the site of a burning bush on Mount  Sinai (Exodus);   the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were  destroyed by fire because of their wickedness (Exodus);  the Holy Spirit was sent to the apostles and other disciples in the form of tongues of fire,  marking the beginning of the Church’s mission in the world (Acts of the Apostles).

The cathedral of Notre Dame is considered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture.  It is also the home of numerous works of art and artifacts of history.  It even contained sacred relics. Begun in 1160, it took over one hundred and fifty years to complete.   Although frequently modified over ensuing centuries, it suffered desecration during the French Revolution when much of its religious imagery was damaged or destroyed.

Popular interest in the cathedral blossomed after the publication of Victor Hugo’s novel,  The Hunchback of Notre Dame, in 1831, prompting a major restoration project between 1855 and 1864 at which time the iconic spire was added.  It survived Nazi bombardment during the war, but subsequently age and use took their toll, and in recent years renovations were begun to remedy the damage. 

The cathedral of Notre Dame is one of the most widely recognized symbols of the city of Paris and the nation of France. Twelve million people visit annually, making it a  public monument.  Although still the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Paris, what began as a house of worship is now a major tourist attraction.  It is majestic, it is beautiful, it is inspiring, but the edifice is not the church. THE PEOPLE are THE CHURCH.

Is there a message or a lesson for us in this event?  At Lourdes in 1858, Our Lady appeared to Bernadette Soubirous seventeen times in a cave that was that was a mile outside of town; in 1917 Our Lady appeared to three shepherd children at the Cova de Iria, in Fatima.  Each time her message was one of peace and love.  Could it be that Our Lady now spoke to the world through the miracle of instant worldwide communication?

Before the last embers were extinguished, the  president of France announced that  Notre Dame will be rebuilt, stating “It is part of the fate, the destiny of France, and our common project over the coming years.” There was no mention of  spiritual significance.  Estimates to rebuild the cathedral have been made in the hundreds of millions of dollars, even a billion.  Is that the best use of our resources?  Would they not be better used to feed, clothe, shelter and comfort God’s children?  What remains of the structure and artifacts can be secured and left as a reminder  of its glory days.  People still visit the ancient ruins of Greece and Rome and remember their history.         

Mother Teresa said:  Our intellect and other gifts have been given to be used for God’s greater glory, but sometimes they become the very god for us.  We are losing our balance when this happens.  We must free ourselves to be filled by God. In Ephesians 4:32 we are told Be kind and compassionate to one another.  St. Teresa of Avila tells us: The nicest thing we can do for our heavenly Father is to be kind to his children.

I’m not a scriptural scholar, but I don’t believe God  ever handed down  structural blueprints; He did however, give us a blueprint for our lives in John 3:16 : God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. and Jesus said   A new commandment I give unto you.  That you love one another as I have loved you.  By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another.

It was awe inspiring to see that among the charred ruins, the gold cross still hung above the altar and to hear that the crown of thorns had been saved from the flames.  Symbols of our faith through the centuries remained.  This Sunday we will celebrate CHRIST’S RESURRECTION and OUR REDEMPTION and RENEWAL.

Blessings for this Holy Week and a Joyous Easter!

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