I’ve been watching the news regarding the fire that engulfed Notre Dame Cathedral, and I can’t help feeling as if I just saw humanity lose a great work of art. And yes, I realize that it was also a thousand year old place of worship, but the fact of the matter is that all of the component parts that went into making this building so great were also precious in and of themselves.
I had the good fortune to visit Paris in 1993 whilst I was still in the Army, and this cathedral was high on my list of places to visit. Granted, much of it was draped with horrid looking netting, and you weren’t allowed to take pictures inside the building (ask me sometime if that actually stopped me…), but I was fascinated by all that I could see.
To be brutally honest, I preferred the Cathedral in Reims. This is not a slight on Notre Dame by any means, it is just an expression of my personal preferences.
I’m sad that neither my wife, nor my daughter will ever get to visit this wondrous edifice in the heart of Paris. My memories of it, like everything else from 20+ years ago, are faded. I lost most of the pictures I took in a flooded basement, and now I can never retake them on a future trip…sigh. Ah well, c’est la vie.
What little is known about the fire at this time indicates it was an accident, but that remains to be seen pending an investigation. I do know the spire is gone, as is the roof, and I suspect that little, if anything, will be salvaged when all is said and done. Thirty tons of thousand year old roof beams tend to burn fast, and very, very hot. In fact, they aren’t even sure that the ten bells won’t come crashing down at any time.
The tragedy here isn’t just for Catholics, but rather anyone who can appreciate a building of great beauty and historical value. Whether you are Protestant, Muslim, Hindu, or any other flavor of religion, the loss of Notre Dame is monumental. I would feel just as much horror and sadness if the Taj Mahal was destroyed. Religion has nothing to do with the ability to mourn the loss of a great monument.
I really do hope it was accidental and not a blaze that was set on purpose. An accident is something that happens, and I could live with that, but if it was an act of arson…well, lets just say that some crimes deserve capital punishment. Notre Dame is irreplaceable and will be sorely missed by any traveler who visits Paris.
Adieu, Notre Dame.