I was moved to tears by the response of Parisians as their beloved 800-year-old cathedral burned. They gathered on the banks of the Siene and sang hymns. The sound of the Ave Maria, so sorrowing and yet so beautiful, haunts me. I have listened to it so many times this morning. I'm not sure what it evokes in me, but it is something sad yet also hopeful about the human spirit, maybe also about reverence, about resilience, about love.
It's good to know that I was not the only one to mourn this fire.
ReplyDeleteLily, I believe the world mourns with you. And the mourning is simple in a way, because it is the result of an accident, not malfeasance, which allows our sorrow to be purely felt.
DeleteI'm still stunned by this event. It seems so impossible. So otherworldly. Talk about something I never imagined I would see happen. But you're right that the reaction of the Parisians is touching and shows that faith -- the raison d'etre of the cathedral -- is stronger than stones and mortar.
ReplyDeleteSteve, so impossible that an edifice that has stood through eight centuries and countless wars should suffer this devastating fire. But it will be rebuilt, I am very sure. The main structure is still intact. Still, so much loss of art and history. I can barely wrap my mind around it.
DeleteSo sad that it burned. I hope to see it restored in my lifetime.
ReplyDeleteDrita, me too. I hear French president Macron has said it will be rebuilt within two years!
DeleteI spent most of yesterday in tears over this. It's so surreal that it burned, you just don't think it will ever happen. I will be interested to see how they get the roof covered, and how they rebuild the roof supports.
ReplyDeleteAllison, it will be such a major undertaking, but apparently donations to the cause are flooding in.
DeleteThere was something about seeing that beautiful cathedral on fire that just pulled my heart and brought me to tears. I've never been there, but to see 800 years of history in flames... no words.
ReplyDeleterobin, it was deeply emotional, wasn't it. It is such a landmark in the life of the entire world. Those soaring spires, and yes, 800 years of history. It is humbling.
DeletePrayer in song. I believe in that.
ReplyDeleteI love what Obama said.
"Notre Dame is one of the world’s great treasures, and we’re thinking of the people of France in your time of grief. It’s in our nature to mourn when we see history lost – but it’s also in our nature to rebuild for tomorrow, as strong as we can."
Yes.
Mary, for some reason I just keep listening to those people singing that hymn. It moves me so. And Obama always has the right words.
DeleteStill reeling from this horrible thing -- and also reeling from how quickly the fire became another chapter in the "culture wars." How did you process that? I found myself very irritated by those who brought up other things -- I'm so exhausted by everything in our world right now -- and my exhaustion manifests as irritability. Thank you for posting this video -- it was magnificent.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, it was despicable, really, they way some factions tried to turn this truly awful accident into something ugly and sinister. I tried to shut them out, honestly. I am exhausted too, and sometimes I just need a break from the cynicism and hate. I know it will still be there when I turn back, sadly. Love to you.
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