Remaking an Icon: How Paris's Notre-Dame Cathedral Is Being Restored to Its Former Glory

[Michie]

On April 15, 2019, Michel Picaud watched with the rest of the world as the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris burned. Many horrified spectators felt a connection to the French icon, whether they had seen it in person or only knew it from film and literature. For Picaud, seeing the building in flames carried an additional layer of grief. He was—and still is—the president of Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris, an organization founded in 2016 to conserve the nearly 900-year-old landmark. As the fire blazed, it was unclear if there would be anything left to save at the end of the day.

It’s hard to reconcile Notre-Dame today with images of the church that caught fire two years ago. The structure is still standing, and in just a few years, it will hopefully be ready to welcome visitors again. This is due in large part to the restoration efforts of Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris.

Continued below.
Remaking an Icon: How Paris's Notre-Dame Cathedral Is Being Restored to Its Former Glory

 

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On April 15, 2019, Michel Picaud watched with the rest of the world as the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris burned. Many horrified spectators felt a connection to the French icon, whether they had seen it in person or only knew it from film and literature. For Picaud, seeing the building in flames carried an additional layer of grief. He was—and still is—the president of Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris, an organization founded in 2016 to conserve the nearly 900-year-old landmark. As the fire blazed, it was unclear if there would be anything left to save at the end of the day.

It’s hard to reconcile Notre-Dame today with images of the church that caught fire two years ago. The structure is still standing, and in just a few years, it will hopefully be ready to welcome visitors again. This is due in large part to the restoration efforts of Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris.

Continued below.
Remaking an Icon: How Paris's Notre-Dame Cathedral Is Being Restored to Its Former Glory

My favorite church is just south of Rome, St. Paul Outside the Walls. The original church was built by Constantine and consecrated in 324. This church stood fairly the same until 1823, when a workman repairing the lead roof caused the building to catch fire, nearly destroying the whole basilica. Churches are like phoenixes and can rise from the ashes. The church was rebuilt over the next 30 years with donations pouring in from around the world and is now as glorious as ever. The heart of the church is the people and their will to go on. I have faith that the heart of Notre Dame is still beating.