The Bishop, Priests and Faithful of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon are among those around the world saddened by the loss of so much beauty and history.
Catholic News Agency
[Paris, France (CNA)April 16, 2019] – When the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Parish caught fire April 15, most predicted the worst. It seemed unlikely the structure could survive, or that some of the treasures inside might be saved.
Indeed, a full two-thirds of the cathedralís roof was destroyed in the blaze, as was the famous spire. But despite the images of devastation, the cathedralís main structure has been saved, along with many of its most priceless contents.
Even as firefighters worked to extinguish the last of the flames early Tuesday morning, there was already a massive commitment of resources dedicated to the rebuilding of one of the worldís most recognizable churches.
Before the fire was out, French president Emmanual Macron committed himself and the nation to rebuilding Notre-Dame, and he announced a fundraising effort to ensure its success. In response, by Tuesday afternoon more than 700 million euros had been pledged to the project.
Bernard Arnault, CEO of luxury fashion company LVMH and the third richest man in the world, has pledged 300 million euros in support, with other major figures in business and finance making similar commitments.
President Macron has said that he hopes that work can begin as soon as possible, offering the possibility of some kind of reopening in as soon as five years. While talk of a reopening appeared unthinkable to many just hours ago, Paris firefighters are now confident that the main cathedral structure has been saved, and the stonework remains sound.
While the images of the exterior suggested nearly total devastation, inside the cathedralís vaulted stone ceiling mostly held, and protected many of the cathedral’s religious and historical treasures from the flames.
Notre-Dame de Paris is home to several irreplaceable relics, most notably the crown of thorns, a piece of the true cross, and one of the nails used in the crucifixion. There are also many relics of French saints.
While a final inventory of what survived the fire may take weeks to compile, much good news has already been announced.
Relics and art were saved
Despite the speed with which the fire appeared to spread across the cathedral, a standing emergency plan was in place to save the most important relics and artwork in case of a disaster, and it appears as though that plan was largely executed effectively.
The majority of the relics were rescued from the fire in what the Paris mayor described as a ìformidable human chain.î
Fr. Jean-Marc Fournier, the chaplain of the Paris Fire Department, accompanied firefighters into the cathedral to rescue the crown of thorns and the Blessed Sacrament from the tabernacle.
There were, however, several relics stored in the spire of the cathedral, including one of the thorns from the crown of thorns. These are believed to have been destroyed along with the spire.
The Rose Windows survived
As images of the fire spread, many assumed to worst for the cathedralís three stained glass gothic rose windows. Dating from the 1200s, the windows are some of the most recognizable images not just of Notre-Dame but of Gothic architecture, still containing some glass from their original construction.
Initial reports all but assumed their destruction severe damage in the fire, with many fearing that the lead used to set the windows must melted due to the heat, or that the glass would have been shattered by the water pumped in to try to control the blaze.
Despite these fears, pictures published Tuesday appear to show all three windows are intact. They will be inspected for any damage, but appear to be relatively unscathed.
The organ was untouched
The cathedralís grand organ, which was built in the fifteenth century, was not touched by the flames. While it is not yet known if it remains in playable condition, it may have been damaged by the firefighting efforts, hopes for restoration were given a significant boost by the news.
The altar and cross are still standing
In what has become one of the more breathtaking images of the cathedralís destruction, the gold cross behind the main altar remained standing throughout the inferno. The area around the altar appears to be relatively untouched, and some photos even show rows of chairs still neatly stacked.
The bells and bell towers are intact
As emergency responders worked to fight the blaze, firefighters warned that there was an imminent risk that fire could compromise the north belfry of Notre-Dameís historic front edifice. The overwhelming danger, they warned, was that the main bell could crash through the body of the building, fatally compromising the stonework.
At one point, officials said there was only a 90 minute window to save the towers. These efforts were successful.
The main bell, dubbed Emmanuelle, has served as a national punctuation for historic moments. It has rung to mark the coronation of kings and emperors and the end of two world wars.
Despite the outpouring of support and public commitment of political will, there is not yet a timetable or cost estimate for the extensive repairs. However, with the entire cathedral feared to be a loss just hours ago, the amount that was saved is being hailed as victory and progress in itself.
Earlier Coverage:
Fire engulfs Notre Dame in Paris
[Catholic News Agency – PARIS, France, Apr 15, 2019 / 11:33 am] –
Firefighters at Cathedrale Notre-Dame brought a devastating blaze under control, after the Paris cathedral caught fire April 15.
The roof of the French cathedral collapsed along with its spire, but local officials say they belive the main bell towers and historic edifice of the building are now safe.
The fire broke out shortly before 7 p.m. local time, April 15. Multiple eyewitnesses shared photos and videos of the cathedral with visible plumes of smoke and flames across the cathedral’s roof.
The historic spire of the cathedral, which stood 226 feet tall, fell shortly before 8 p.m.
The entire cathedral roof was seen to collapse while the fire continued to burn unchecked within the main structure.
Efforts by more than 400 firefighters focused mostly on the north belfry, with Paris’ chief firefighter highlighting the risk to what remains of the structure if the main bell should fall through the tower.
Shortly after 11pm, news service AFP reported that firefighters said that they believe Notre-Dame’s main structure can be “saved and preserved.”
Following a visit to the site, President Emmanuel Macron vowed to restore the cathedral, which belongs to the French government.
“We will rebuild Notre-Dame,” Macron said, according to AFP.
Earlier, the French president released a statement on Twitter expressing the “emotion” of “the whole nation.”
Macron said his thoughts were with all Catholics and French citizens.
“Like all our compatriots, tonight I am sad to see a part of [all of] us burn.”
Archbishop Michel Aupetit of Paris said that “firefighters are still fighting to save the towers of Notre-Dame de Paris. The frame, the roof and the boom are consumed.”
“Pray,” the archbishop told the priests of Paris, he also invited them to ring church bells as a public invitation to prayer.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that the major religious and artistic treasures of the cathedral were removed as the fire began, including a relic of the crown of thorns.
As flames spread, locals reported buring debris from the fire falling in the immeadite vicinity of the cathedral. By 9pm the fire was contained within the cathedral building itself.
Firefighters cautioned Monday night that although the height of the flames had abated, the fire within the cathedral itself was not yet fully under contol. Efforts were initially hampered by the height of the cathedral roof, which prevented emergency services from reaching the flames.
No announcement has yet been made concerning any injuries or fatalities resulting from the fire.
Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo issued a series of brief statements via Twitter saying that emergency responders are fighting to control the flames and appealing to local residents to keep the area clear to assist their efforts.
“There is no word strong enough to express my sorrow,” Hidalgo said.
Outside the security cordon, Parisian Catholics have gathered in large crowds, kneeling to pray and singing devotional hyms to Our Lady.
Officials have not yet determined what caused the fire, which is still burning. Both the fire department and the office of the public prosecuter in Paris have confirmed that invesitgations into the origin and cause of the fire have been opened.
Built between the twelfth through fourteenth centuries, the landmark cathedral in the French capital is one of the most recognizable churches in the world, receiving more than 12 million visitors each year.
The cathedral was undergoing some restorative work at the time the fire broke out, though it is unknown if the fire originated in the area of the work.
Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, president of the U.S. bishops’ conference released a statement on behalf of the American hierarchy calling the fire “horrific.”
“This particular cathedral is not only a majestic Church, it is also a world treasure. Noble in architecture and art, it has long been a symbol of the transcendent human spirit as well as our longing for God,” DiNardo said.
“Our hearts go out to the archbishop and the people of Paris, and we pray for all the people of France, entrusting all to the prayers and intercession of the Mother of God, especially the firefighters battling the fire.”
5 things to know about the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris
Paris, France, Apr 15, 2019 / 02:57 pm (CNA) – Catholics around the world watched with horror as the roof of Cathedrale Notre-Dame was engulfed with flames on Monday afternoon. The blaze began shortly after the church closed for visitors, and everyone was evacuated safely, though the entirety of the roof collapsed into the church.
Here are five things you may not know about the church that has often been called the “Queen of Cathedrals.”
1. Building was an 182-year process
Rome was not built in a day, and neither was Notre-Dame. Construction of the cathedral began in 1160 and took nearly two centuries. While most work was done by 1260, it was finally completed in 1345.
2. It’s home to many relics
The most famous relic located in Notre-Dame is the crown of thorns believed to have been placed upon Jesus Christ during his scourging. The cathedral also contains a piece of the true cross and one of the nails used in the crucifixion, plus relics of many French saints. Initial reports suggest that the relics were saved from the blaze.
3. It’s not actually owned by the Archdiocese of Paris
Due to France’s laws regarding secularization, the French government owns all churches built before 1905, including Notre-Dame. The government lets the Archdiocese of Paris use the building for free, and will continue to do so in perpetuity. The Archdiocese of Paris is responsible for the upkeep of the church, as well as for paying employees.
4. It is the most-visited site in Europe
With 12 to 13 million visitors annually, Cathedrale Notre-Dame has more visitors than anywhere else in Europe.
5. It has been destroyed before
While Monday’s fire was certainly the most extensive damage ever done to Notre-Dame, this is hardly the first time she has undergone structural trauma. In WWII, nearly all of the glass was broken when Paris was bombed, and Huguenots destroyed icons and statues during the sixteenth century.
During the French Revolution, Notre-Dame was ransacked and re-dedicated to the “Goddess Reason.” The building itself was used at that time for wine storage. The Church resumed use of the building in 1801.
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