Notre-Dame Cathedral Averted Worst Case Scenario

Image courtesy of ben.snider's Flickr page - Notre Dame South Glass; France: https://www.flickr.com/photos/13012027@N04/2073417549/in/photolist-4adNNr-cvQnhf-nZbmw1-jvSPF6-e1ZJRk-qx7ff-etH5FJ-7d4jUs-K61XV-98LiUp-ZxSn8k-29nmV5W-57b8nd-bqFMdi-4HX6AX-ohiTRK-4tDtBH-oAjbQv-pjEZh-9EKzhP-2c9nxQW-K63Zc-bqFGT4-K62Cn-247t3YC-6PwFmt-tHzud-4HX6Qa-8oHLNd-dAUqHd-54z6U7-4Je762-66x6VL-4tHwiG-57b921-upaPY-fcmhfa-ohWdN9-K62QT-ax5G9j-4Qk3hx-9ENw2s-4XZGfz-ndH5w9-ax2Umn-54zawE-bqFEjg-4VCa6Y-57b8iC-cSKHSb

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Image courtesy of Pedro Szekely's Flickr page - Notre-Dame Cathedral: https://www.flickr.com/photos/pedrosz/28198464088/in/photolist-JXNuXj-279v5B9-5gX1JR-xAu3K-6dSqnu-JPqPFy-7dixfF-HMPkfi-kshKXo-8EcaEZ-o476mS-Wkr3Nb-2erDrFb-o8251s-kqW3iN-sv9Kaa-xAy5n-tHDft-6hJS9r-jphU4a-auFpD8-24MY9yy-6hJS8i-tHDfC-aejX58-tHDfv-9EKzfk-tHzua-269d6nT-4adNNr-cvQnhf-nZbmw1-jvSPF6-e1ZJRk-qx7ff-etH5FJ-7d4jUs-K61XV-98LiUp-ZxSn8k-29nmV5W-57b8nd-bqFMdi-4HX6AX-ohiTRK-4tDtBH-oAjbQv-pjEZh-9EKzhP-2c9nxQW

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Image courtesy of Celso FLORES' Flickr page - Paris - Notre Dame: https://www.flickr.com/photos/celso/2701644331/in/photolist-57JCJF-d89ixW-auFqQr-7d2zaw-eusNi4-k5YA4s-K5Y1F-eTeJWP-5FbH6c-drsxSC-7P7XZc-5RVhJd-q6dATN-7uHAxA-auJ785-54zafG-auJ5jh-jpTZSz-4gZsZJ-drs79i-5ZezE4-2erUkQJ-auFr8n-K5YwR-UE2dfm-6qAF6B-K67qP-4xRfqp-N67uDv-4xf5mj-7PbYpy-HL6Rc-9KbPGb-Qj6CDN-7KX5k8-7P7YZX-7tdEfW-5ZpvyJ-8Efn33-5PVksf-opVhJX-aaxo6F-7P7WDv-k61gbc-5RYPCw-9uG6uN-6eDruU-2b5RWtD-nZboiN-WxS2D4

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Image courtesy of David Merrett's Flickr page - Cathedral of Notre Dame  Paris, France: https://www.flickr.com/photos/davehamster/8164290385/in/photolist-drs86k-7Tdz61-drsxSC-8hjNne-ohQyht-drsNcd-fp6vMS-oAjbQv-9TZr1r-37UmJi-sv9Kaa-7TajDe-o8wjDH-7TakZK-68RUm6-eMAQ3N-o8v5Uo-8j32mn-53Hzja-ohWdN9-auFpD8-d89ixW-oWo8Mx-7N1Fzx-cbWgVG-9RVUKM-6FMbRc-2eTZ5gP-2erUkQJ-dvobRE-82TaKK-drsBEB-6HPRsz-2aQ56Cq-9UrP5o-ahwbEL-9U8Nae-6qAF6B-6FzZN6-24PFeSU-2376yCo-7oogRD-esYHyS-wrRA4-Zb8TBh-6FAzuP-82Wmt5-dyW1h4-82T7Yt-6FzTr2

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Image courtesy of Josh Hallett's Flickr page - Notre Dame - Paris, France: https://www.flickr.com/photos/hyku/5338714771/in/photolist-98LiUp-ZxSn8k-29nmV5W-57b8nd-bqFMdi-4HX6AX-ohiTRK-4tDtBH-oAjbQv-pjEZh-9EKzhP-2c9nxQW-K63Zc-bqFGT4-K62Cn-247t3YC-6PwFmt-tHzud-4HX6Qa-8oHLNd-dAUqHd-54z6U7-4Je762-66x6VL-4tHwiG-57b921-upaPY-fcmhfa-ohWdN9-K62QT-ax5G9j-4Qk3hx-9ENw2s-4XZGfz-ndH5w9-ax2Umn-54zawE-bqFEjg-4VCa6Y-57b8iC-cSKHSb-54uTjn-5KRbsk-baaoEX-235a9Ko-K67vH-8ohzP1-7WYyGB-AAcZc-iZVsY8

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Okay, so, there is some good news on the Notre-Dame front. The worst did not happen. The structure of the historic cathedral still stands, and some priceless art works and historical artifacts were saved. That includes some statues and, most notably, the Crown of Thorns that, it is believed, were worn by Jesus. That is absolutely crucial, because Notre-Dame Cathedral officials consider this the "most precious and most venerated relic." Also, there are reports that the Rose Windows - the most famous of Notre-Dame's stained glass windows - escaped catastrophic damage. And at least French media is reporting that the piece of the True Cross, as well as one of the original Holy Nails, was also saved, although it is unclear if these reports have been verified as of yet.

Other works of art were reported saved, as well, such as the copper rooster atop the spire, and the Tunic of Saint Louis. The "Mays de Notre Dame," a large painted, showed signs of smoke damage, but otherwise was saved. It is expected to be taken to the Louvre Museum in the coming days, as will some of the other artifacts.

Also, there was apparently no loss of life. Considering how many people come to visit the Notre-Dam Cathedral - the most visited site in Paris - that is saying something. So, we should count our blessings on that score.

However, that is not to say that this fire was not devastating, or that it will not be remembered as a horrible event. After all, most of the historic roof of the cathedral was indeed destroyed. Many 

So, that is indeed some good news. But there were some questions, as well. Was the True Cross destroyed? This is one of the priceless relics that has not been reported as recovered just yet, and there are concerns, because it is feared that this may have been destroyed by the fire.

Apparently, there were 23 minutes between the first fire alarm, and the second one. Obviously, a lot could have been done in that span of time, and much could have been saved. Possibly even the horrible fire might have been either controlled or averted altogether, if things had been clearer. It is uncertain what exactly happened, and so now, there are investigations to determine exactly what happened, and why.

All in all, I think we should feel thankful that it was not worse. Hopefully, indeed, those relics that the French media reported saved - particularly the True Cross and one of the Holy Nails, were indeed saved. Apparently, quite a bit of money has already been raised towards rebuilding the Cathedral, and French President Emmanuel Macron has made it a goal to rebuild the Notre-Dame within five years, and to make it even more beautiful.

I sure hope so! I was kicking myself for not having taken my son to see Paris, and the Notre-Dame Cathedral, in the immediate aftermath of the fire. This kind of makes me more determined to make sure that I follow up on that and finally take him to see some of the treasures of the "City of Lights," even if it will be a while before anyone can visit the Notre-Dam Cathedral again. 

We should be very thankful and feel very blessed that one of the greatest treasures has been largely saved. Let us hope that they learned a lesson, and that extra measures will be taken from this point onward to save world treasures like this from the threat of destruction from fire, in Paris and, more generally, all around the world. Let something undeniably good come of this.


Rose windows of Notre Dame are safe but fate of other treasures is unclear Emanuella Grinberg-Profile-Image1 By Emanuella Grinberg and Jack Guy, CNN  Updated 7:45 PM ET, Tue April 16, 2019:

https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/15/europe/notre-dame-artifacts/index.html