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My wife let me know at lunchtime that Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is on fire. It seems to be devastating. CNN is reporting (and showing) that the spire has collapsed, and pictures indicate that the roof is heavily involved in flames.
https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/15/world/notre-dame-cathedral-fire/index.html
Update 4/16 7:51 am - News coverage has been all-encompassing. A couple of items from our local newspaper's coverage:
1. A woman from the Chicago area visiting Paris related this incident: "A tourist had attempted to take a selfie with the burning church in the back, but a Parisian girl stopped her to say, 'Do you realize this is a symbol for the French people? Please don't take a selfie.'"
2. Our president demonstrated once again that his ability to elevate and dignify any occasion can only be described as unique. Undoubtedly reflecting on the intertwined history of two great nations - our eternal gratitude to France for the success of our Revolution; our young men lying dead in the trenches of Cantigny and on the beaches of Normandy; France extending the hand of friendship and solidarity in the aftermath of 9/11 - he was moved to tweet the following stirring words: "So horrible to watch the massive fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Perhaps flying water tankers could used to put it out. Must act quickly!" To which the French fire services replied, "Dropping water by airplane on this type of building could result in the collapse of the entire structure.". It seems the reflective mood hadn't yet relinquished its grip on him, for a bit later, the president noted in some remarks, "They don't know what caused it. They say renovation, and I hope that's the reason. Renovation? What's that all about?" Indeed - Renovation, what is that all about? Something to ponder on our journey through Holy Week and in the wake of this great tragedy.
Update 4/17 8:20 am - This Chicago Tribune article lists some of the Cathedral's more important works of art and artifacts, and in what condition they made it through the fire. It uses the word "purported" in describing a couple of relics - a word choice that probably would offend some people but about which I can't really quibble. Regarding the beams that held up the roof, it notes,
The cathedral's roof was built using a lattice of giant beams cut from trees in primeval forests in the 12th and 13th centuries. Experts say France no longer has trees big enough to replace the ancient wooden beams that burned in the Notre Dame fire.They would have to try a different approach with wood (or perhaps import beams of sufficient size?) or replace the lost ones with beams constructed of a different material.
I saw it on TV while in the gym. Looks very devastating. Very sad. I visited Notre Dame in 2004. I wonder what will be left and what will be done about it. Many in Paris are sad, even those who are secular.
ReplyDeleteThat is so sad! It is such a part of Paris. Maybe Claire Mathieu will say something about it.
ReplyDeleteI have never been to France, but if I went, I would have wanted to see Notre Dame. I read "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" when I was young, and it had such a lot of information on the cathedral. I would imagine that a lot of the skills used to build it have been lost.
I have access to France 24 English language broadcasts to the US on PBS. They have excellent vantagepoints to view the fire very up close. The have been interviewed on MSNBC more than once.
ReplyDeleteYes, devastating. Medieval cathedrals are subject to ceilings caving in, walls sagging, vandalism, add-ons, renovations, and people stealing stuff over centuries. But they are places that still serve the function for which they were built. People go to touch and be touched by the past, not just rubberneck at the artifacts like in a museum. Lots of.people don't realize how much wood supports these things. Sadly, sounds like the ND timbers had no fireproofing and there won't be much left when it's all over.
ReplyDeleteWith all the wood, it's a wonder that it lasted 800 or so years. Especially when for most of its history it would have been lit by candles.
DeleteHopefully, the entire cathedral was digitized by 3D laser scan. It will help in the reconstruction. At least the space will still be enclosed by the original stonework.
DeleteStanley, I wonder if 3-D printing technology could aid in replicating some of the carving.
DeleteKatherine, from what I've seen of it, it would still require finishing, as the layering is still visible. Also, it's in plastic usually. But perhaps some kind of casting, a lost wax technique using 3D printed figures, might work. There are techniques for 3D printing in metal but I don't know much about them. In my job, I used alignment tools made by 3D printing. It was great. No machining required.
DeleteApparently it HAS been laser scanned. Good.
Deletehttps://www.cnn.com/style/article/notre-dame-andrew-tallon-laser-scan-trnd/index.html
I am reading now that no one has been seriously injured, and that the main structure is still there. I hope that is true, especially the part about no injuries.
ReplyDeleteIt is reported that one firefighter is seriously injured.
DeleteHere is a touching video of people singing hymns outside of Notre Dame.
I am thinking of Psalm 102:14, "Thy servants think upon her stones, and it pitieth them to see her in the dust."
For some reason the link above isn't working.
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0uXqwNkQ4I
"Renovation, what is that all about?"
ReplyDeleteIt is what his Washington money pot masquerading as a hotel underwent before it opened in time to host foreign governments offering and seeking deals. But, of course, that has to do with real estate development, and we can't expect Mr. Trump to know anything about that.
The Pudge is coming for Easter. That means applause and flashing cell phones when he and his entourage arrive (late) for services at Bethesda-by-the-Sea. And they say Episcopalians have class!
Congratulations on your Easter guest. I see that Don Jr. was Omaha's guest Friday night to speak at a bowhunters' convention. We are so lucky.
DeleteI suppose it's inevitable. Am hearing from Protestant acquaintances comments to the effect that the Church would be able to rebuild Notre Dame 10 times over if it didn't have to pay out so much money to sex abuse victims.
ReplyDeleteThere is also the matter of the relics, particularly the Crown of Thorns, which many see as frauds and hoaxes perpetrated to get money out of the gullible.
It is hard to try to explain these things to non-Catholics, and I usually don't try.
Wonder if others who are the Catholic minority among family and friends are these attitudes.
As I understand it, the French government owns the historic cathedrals, and leases them to the church for a fairly nominal fee. And it is the government which is undertaking the restoration. There are also charitable funds being raised, and of course the Catholics of France will be contributing to those.
DeleteI suppose some will be using the abuse scandals as a stick to beat the church with into perpetuity. Personally I am done listening to it. The best we can do is support the victims and make sure that it never happens again.
There is a neat story about the priest who is a chaplain of their fire department who carried the Blessed Sacrament and the crown of thorns out of the burning building: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/apr/16/notre-dame-fire-fears-over-fate-of-cathedrals-treasures
(I'm not having any luck with the hyperlinks lately, so just copy and paste the url.)
The crown of thorns may or may not be authentic; there is a chain of custody record pretty far back. I feel that if relics such as that help people's faith, fine. If not, they can feel free to ignore them. Personally I was more moved that the Blessed Sacrament was rescued. Of course Jesus is in his resurrected and glorified state; he wasn't going to be die again or be harmed. What would hurt would be peoples' hearts to think of the Sacrament being burnt.
The Chicago Tribune article Jim linked is a bit confusing about the crown of thorns. It says it is a relic, but then says it is made of rushes wrapped with a gold filament. What I have read elsewhere says it is purported to be the real deal. The rushes and the gold filament are visible in the pictures of it. Could they have been placed around the crown, or what is left of it, to protect it? It seems odd that they would go to any great trouble or risk for something that is known to be only a replica.
DeleteWell, the Church might have maintained its churches better if it had kept the European faithful. It lost them before we found out what Popes Benedict and St. John II failed to while keeping the doctrine pure and the faithful at arm's length.
DeleteAs to the relics. I've been told there is enough wood from the True Cross in Europe to build a couple of churches the size of Notre Dame. Then there is Our Lady's breast milk at several locations. And St. Peter's teeth.
The story is that Constantine's mother Helena found the True Cross by going to Golgatha and having a sick person lie on the various pieces of wood scattered around. When the sick person was cured, St. Helena shouted "Eureka" and the relic industry was born.
Christopher Buckley (William F.'s son) wrote a semi-historic spoof called "The Relic Master" (2015). My famous scene is when the hero, a relic broker, exposes St. Peter's boat as a fake because it has worm holes from Mediterranean sea life that doesn't exist on the Sea of Galilee. But there are other good parts that you should probably wait until after the Triduum to read.
Just interested/sorry that something like this brings out anti-Catholic feeling, and surprised at how one's family and friends seem to blithely express it. Being a convert can try your patience. Even as a bad Catholic, it bugs me when people are both ignorant and insulting.
DeleteFr. James Martin merely said The Crown has been an "object of veneration" for centuries without going into whether it's legit. The cross we kiss on Good Friday isn't real, either. Doesn't make the veneration any less sincere.
"The Relic Master" was irreverent and very funny. But, yes, save it for after Holy Week.
Good point about the cross on Good Friday, Jean. It's the thought that counts.
DeleteThe rooster has been found, but I do not know if the relics that were inside are still there.
ReplyDeleteClaire, are you a member of the Notre Dame parish? I wonder where they are having their Holy Week liturgies.
DeleteI'm so glad no lives were lost. I hope the firefighter who was injured is recovering.
No I am not, I live in Versailles. Also, Notre Dame is not a parish. The Holy Week liturgy is taking place at Saint Sulpice and the Easter day Mass will take place at Saint Eustache.
DeleteOne more thing, and then I'll shut up. I didn't know there were bee hives on the roof of Notre Dame. But they weren't burned, and the bees are buzzing about, according to this article: https://www-m.cnn.com/2019/04/19/europe/notre-dame-bees-fire-intl-scli/index.html?r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bing.com%2F
ReplyDelete