It was as riveting as it was horrifying . Flames licking the soaring spire of Notre Dame cathedral and finally causing it to fall into the roaring inferno which until hours before had been one of the religious and cultural touchstones of Christianity and western civilization. Even before the final embers are extinguished in coming days, hundreds of millions of dollars have been committed to its rebuilding.
It may be too soon to take stock of Notre Dame's meaning to Catholics, Christians in general and the wider religious and secular worlds. But of course many will try as pictures of the ruined nave and the alter flash around the globe. The Divine Mrs. M and I were lucky enough to have walked the hallowed ground contained in the cathedral during a trip to France and England in 2017. After touring Our Lady's house during the day we attended a concert that night. It was one of the highlights of our trip and inspired a meditation on the place of religion in the 21st century.
Despite its dedication as a manifestation of mankind's fascination with spirituality, the truth is the cathedral had been falling into decay as France and most advanced countries have become less religious and more secular. Without the world cultural landmark status and the hordes of tourists willing to pay for entrance, Notre Dame would have been well on its way to a picturesque ruin.
There is no doubt it will be rebuilt, but what is the motivation for the reconstruction? Are we rebuilding a house of worship, or a cultural icon defining our journey from the Middle ages to modernity.
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