Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

Notre Dame

Notre dame empty

 

Utter sadness, beyond scope, a tragic loss. 

Notre Dame survived hundreds of year, touched millions, was a beckon of faith.

More than any other monument Notre Dame is the one I had visited the most.

Countless Masses and prayers, visits with nearly everyone I ever knew who came to Paris with me. 

I wish words were magic, and that this would simply be a bad dream.

Words seem shallow in the depths of this moment.

 

I took the above photo on a rare evening where I waited to be the last person to leave Notre Dame.

 

 

Notre dame empty

 

 

 

And the grace and courage of the brave 400 hundred plus firefighters.

 

Notre dame empty

 

Notre dame empty

 

 

Notre dame empty

 

Sad day.

 

 

Sacha

Comments

21 responses to “Notre Dame”

  1. robin williams

    You hadn’t even posted when I heard and saw the devastation, so I waited until you did post. Words cannot express the sadness I feel for all of France. I feel very fortunate to have been to the cathedral, to see its glory, and to understand its majesty. Know that I am thinking of you and your family. Robin

    Reply
  2. Diogenes

    A loss for all of humanity. Art, architecture, and the symbol of a city. From the news, it’s hard to understand the extent of the damage. I’m hoping that the stone vaults in your first picture survived and that the fire was limited to the roof structure above. A great tragedy.

    Reply
  3. Kathie B

    I can only hope that everyone there at Notre Dame, visitors and first responders alike, are all safe.

    Reply
  4. g

    I know that you prayed for my family-my dad and myself there-and I gratefully that you–I am utterly devastated….and on this – Holy Week….my heart is breaking-

    Reply
  5. Jackie

    Our hearts are breaking.

    Reply
  6. Bev S.

    It makes me so sad. I couldn’t even watch it burn on the television.

    Reply
  7. Ann of Avondale

    So heartbreaking. A huge loss for France and the world. Blessings to all in France and the world who understand Notre Dame’s great significance in history, art, architecture and especially religious. Praying it can be rebuilt to its former glory as Pres. Macron committed. Very sad day indeed.

    Reply
  8. Kathie B

    For those interested in sharing further, the Washington Post is seeking reminiscences from people who have visited Notre Dame:
    https://hosted-washpost.submissionplatform.com/sub/hosted/5cb4fbdfc1c5b6002bde45cd?tid=sm_tw

    Reply
  9. Wendy in Kennewick

    My heart breaks for the loss of the beloved Notre Dame, displaced residents and injured firemen. I hope it will be possible to rebuild. I cherish my memories of my only visit to this place of beauty.

    Reply
  10. tammy

    Sad & terrible loss..I had to turn off the tv images. 🙁

    Reply
  11. Jacklynn Lantry

    Unspeakably sad. My daughter and I visited several times. We loved walking up the hundreds of steps to get close to the gargoyles. The steps, worn to a dip in the center from 800 years of foot traffic. Heartbreaking.

    Reply
  12. Iverna McAnulty

    That Notre Dame should have survived through wars, through the vicissitudes of hundreds of years, only to perish this way … the history, the art… our son, hearing of the collapse of the tower, ‘the rose window is gone, then’. In view of things like fund raising to rebuild local landmarks like the Honey Run bridge in Butte Creek canyon that burned when Paradis did last summer, it might be possible to rebuild a cathedral. But those old monuments were built in an age of such faith, of turning artisans & artists hands in devotion, in worship, to tangible works in stone & metals, like the Israelites who built the tabernacle & temple… and we live in an age & places of such pervasive unbelief. To re-build a cathedral without the beliefs behind it, worked into the construction… seems it would only be a beautiful, soul-less shell. To lose Notre Dame is indescribable, but it feels like an end of a vital part of the world.

    Reply
  13. LeighNZ

    Totally devastating g and Dee; I’m finding it difficult comprehend such a massive loss and all the consequences. Heartbroken XX

    Reply
  14. Susan

    It’s a loss for the world, and my heart breaks especially for Paris. Incredibly sad. But I’m hopeful for restoration.

    Reply
  15. Ana Maria

    I cried when I heard the news. I am heartbroken. I pray for France.

    Reply
  16. Jeanne

    All our hearts are saddened. Love prayers and a thousand blessings to you all
    Why has the burning of Notre Dame moved so many? Because we believe in beauty, majesty, faith, art, history, and the human expressions thereof. We recognize in this cathedral our common humanity. A scar now emerges in our connections to our past, our future, and each other. – Dan Rather

    Reply
  17. Cynthia Thompson

    The hurt and sadness of this loss is griping. Love and prayers.

    Reply
  18. g

    OH LEIGH me too! I am reading all the papers here and boy oh boy…it is as you say a massive loss!

    Reply
  19. Mardog

    It’s amazing how this French monument has touched so many lives deeply. Many want to help. If you find a source for people to donate towards the restoration, let us know.

    Reply
  20. TerriNTexas

    So sorry I didn’t ever get to see it in all its glory. The whole world should contribute to the rebuilding of this global icon.

    Reply
  21. Chris Wittmann

    Here in America our hearts broke with this news. So much history there, and such beautiful architecture. I get my news from radio and Fox, not CNN….sadly, not many people are aware just how many churches in France have been damaged and desecrated over the past few months. Very very sad for the French people and the world.

    Reply

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