CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Bells ring, hearts break, voices sing and souls are praying for the fire ravaged Notre Dame cathedral.
If she could have, France’s gift to the United States, the Statue of Liberty, would have put down her torch and picked up a water hose and sprayed it across the ocean to douse the flames that engulfed the cathedral’s roof. Instead, Americans are repaying the gift of Lady Liberty by joining others in pledging millions of dollars to restore the cathedral.
The fact that the cathedral is 850-years-old was already proof that it is a survivor with ‘good bones’ and the cathedral that commenced construction in 1163, proved it again in 2019.
Notre Dame cathedral has survived Louis XIV, the French Revolution, gross neglect, Nazi occupation, and now ravaging fire. While the oldest and newest structural elements were destroyed in the blaze, the facade, including the iconic bell towers, the interior chamber, statues, holy relics and legendary pipe organ survived, thanks to fate and the work of firefighters.
The wooden roof rafters and attic, built with timbers that predated the construction, fueled the flames that riveted world-wide horrified onlookers. The wooden and lead central spire which collapsed and fell into the cathedral, was a ‘modern’ addition. Modern if your talking about an 850-year-old cathedral. The spire was added during an 1840′s renovation.
The 1840′s spire replaced the original spire torn down during the French Revolution. In addition to destroying the spire, French Revolutionaries destroyed many statues. They renamed the cathedral “Temple To The Goddess Reason” and used it to store wine.
During his reign, King Louis XIV replaced the stained glass with plain glass and demolished a pillar near the entrance so carriages could get through the front doors.
Napoleon had the gothic architecture elements covered over with huge cloths so it would look like a Greek Temple. Napoleon used it for his coronation and relegated it to being used for ceremonial events.
By the time Victor Hugo wrote the “Hunchback of Notre Dame” in 1831, the cathedral was crumbling so bad, some wanted it torn down.
Hugo wrote in his novel:
" One cannot but regret, cannot but feel indigent at the innumerable degradations and mutilations inflicted on the venerable pile, both by the action of time and the hand of man."
Hugo’s novel’s popularity actually spurred a renovation effort the staved off further decay of the cathedral. It was during that renovation that the spire which collapsed in the fire was added.
While still investigating, French authorities believe the fire was an accident related to the current renovations the cathedral had been undergoing. Because of the renovation project, many of the historic statues and other elements had already been removed for safekeeping and restoration.
Ironically, money that had been a struggle to raise for the renovation, is now pouring in since the fire.
Notre Dame fundraising adviser Michel Picaud told NBC News, “It’s very frustrating. The importance of restoring this cathedral is only in the full light today.
“I think if the restoration work had been already carried out it would have minimized the risk of fire, but as long as we do not know the reason for this catastrophe it is too early to say for sure.”
Picard did say he was still happy about the new financial pledges, however belated.
By the end of the week, donations are expected to reach over a $billion. Leading the way are French luxury goods and fashion house moguls.
The family of billionaire Bernard Arnault and his luxury goods company LVMH has committed to donating 200 million euros
Also, the owner of fashion brands Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent, Francois Henri Pinault pledged to donate 100 million euros.
Due to France’s secular laws, Notre Dame cathedral is actually owned by the French government, not the Roman Catholic church.
France spends about 2 million euros a year on the upkeep of the cathedral which is the nation’s number one tourist draw, getting 12 million visitors a year, more than even the Eiffel tower.
French President Emmanuel Macron has announced he will launch a fundraising drive to restore the cathedral with the ambitious goal of having it done in five years, which just so happens to be when France hosts the Olympics.
Watching the fire make history by engulfing history reminded me of where I was when I saw the 9/11 attack unfold, the space shuttle explode and heard President Reagan was shot.
It says something about the state of our society, that we can be relieved that the burning of the legendary cathedral wasn’t caused by a terrorist attack.
But it also says something about our society that the inferno was met by the spontaneous chorus of Parisians and tourists singing hymns in unison that was as moving as the fire was horrifying.