APR 19 WHY DO WE LOVE NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL SO MUCH?

APR 19  WHY DO PEOPLE LOVE NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL SO MUCH?

Disbelief. Shock. Sorrow. Worry. These are the many emotions we all felt upon first seeing the first photo of Notre Dame Cathedral engulfed in flames. Just about every traveler has a fond memory of Paris' venerable icon. As a twelve-year old, I remember scampering up the stairs in search of a gargoyle. I also fondly remember taking my own son there when he was twelve. Although I have aged considerably between these memorable visits, Notre Dame is...reassuringly...always the same.

This belief is not whimsical. Notre Dame is one tough hombre. It has survived barbarian raids, religious fanatics, the Third Reich, floods and selfie sticks. Prior to the current structure, the divine island in the middle of the Seine River was the site of Roman and Christian temples. Then, in 1163 the Isle-de-la-Cite was chosen for a massive new cathedral. What really got things soaring was a radical new invention called the 'Flying Buttress.' With this ornate support, taller walls could be achieved. In fact, up until the Eiffel Tower in the nineteenth century, Notre Dame was the tallest building in Paris.

Naturally, these grand and ornate walls became the site for many elaborate ceremonies. Bishops crowned French Kings here, including sixteen named Louis. Sometimes, the monarch's rule over Notre Dame was challenged. For example: In 1548, Paris was besieged during the savage Wars of Religion. Persecuted Huguenots sought revenge and overran Paris. They stormed Notre Dame's hallowed gates and smashed everything they could. This group felt all altars, sculptures and paintings were evil idol worship. God commanded them to destroy.

Yet this was nothing compared to the insanity of the French Revolution. During the Reign of Terror, a group called the Cult of Reason admonished all things religious, social and political. After killing the king, they reorganized all of French society. In 1793...or Year Zero as they called it...they renamed the cathedral the "Cult of the Supreme Being.' All 28 gilded statues of the Biblical Kings were hauled off to the guillotine. Yet Notre Dame would recover, proudly hosting the wedding of Napoleon and Josephine Bonaparte a mere decade later. Over the next century, these sturdy walls outlive occupations from both the First and Third Reich.

Sadly, none of these horrific eras is as destructive as a "computer glitch" in the year 2019. Oops! It's still too soon to come to any conclusion. The finest Gendarmes in the Paris police force are currently interviewing 40 people regarding the incident. Meanwhile, the rest of us are still stunned. We're searching through our photo albums, reminiscing and reliving...just like we did when the World Trade Center went up in flames back in 2001. It's true: We humans love our buildings. They keep us united, secure and safe!