Carved out of stone, Paris’s Notre-Dame Cathedral is a soaring beauty of exceptional history and incomparable architecture. At the heart of this monument is an influential countenance of religious reverence not only for Paris and the Catholic Church, but the world at large. This is portrayed by how the entire world joined in grief when an inferno tried to claim the historic monumental structure last week. Its influence is also portrayed in its affiliated institutions such as schools, churches, universities and health centres that span continents. But what makes this structure a mystery with medieval magnificence? Bishop Philippe Rukamba, the President of the Episcopal Conference of Rwanda and Bishop of Huye Diocese, says Notre-Dame is a monumental church that has been reigning from the13th century and that it has been around for over 850 years. “The French consider it as a monument; for a long time, this place has preserved beliefs and values for many,” he says. “This building has roots; it arose from combined efforts of people who cared to preserve history. Notre-Dame has a past that so many relate with. It means so much to humanity to have something that brings people together,” he says. Rukamba says the cathedral is more than just a place of worship. “It is a place that promotes unity and love.” Having something that brings people together is important and the cathedral has done just that for over 850 years. Just like some other cathedrals, Father Jean Baptiste Rutagarama of Kibungo Diocese says, Notre-Dame de Paris occupies a very significant position in the Catholic Church. He explains that the building serves as the headquarters of the Archbishop of Paris and a sign of unity which is also symbolised in liturgy led by the Archbishop. “The cathedral is more than stones and bricks; it is a sign of God’s love for humanity. From this place, believers are guided in the right direction towards God as they praise Him. It is a way to heaven for those who live in France and for the rest of the world,” Rutagarama says. He says the cathedral accommodates everyone because it is a house of God, a place where the Father meets His children. And with this, he states, its ruin has effects that ripple throughout the entire world. Rutagarama describes the building as a memorial that preserves immense history for the Catholic Church that dates to over 1000 years back. “The destruction of this structure is a big loss for all Catholics. Its ruin has come with huge consequences for France and for those who visited it. Visiting and merely, looking at the cathedral’s beauty, made most marvel in God’s power and Grace that is depicted in holy symbols.” Could the cathedral’s burning during the Holy Week carry significance? Valérie Mukandayisenga, a staunch catholic, believes that the burning of such a historic building at a time like this clearly sends a message to humanity. “We all know God has mysterious ways of communication. We can trace this way back to the old times of Moses and Abraham. For Notre-Dame to burn during the Holy Week, I think God is trying to send us a message, this one may be about repentance and renewing of our minds and souls,” she says. Rukamba, however, notes that the destruction of the cathedral doesn’t necessarily mean God is speaking because the fire could have been sparked off by anything. What he is certain of, is God’s protection that managed to spare important symbols such as the crown of thorns. “The building would have been destroyed completely but God is always with us, He protects us all the time and the fact that it wasn’t completely destroyed is obvious that God’s hand was there.” “Some may think that God is warning against our sins, that could be possible because God speaks in different forms but what should matter most is the word of God that tells us the good and the bad,” Rukamba adds. Columnist E.J. Dionne Jr. indicates that the burning of Notre-Dame Cathedral, a monument to human creativity and divine inspiration, invites first a mournful silence and then a search for meaning. This often involves efforts to understand the inexplicable by reference to metaphor. “That this ancient place of worship burned during Holy Week invites, perhaps paradoxically, hope. A time when Christians remember suffering and death and then celebrate resurrection speaks to the yearning for deliverance and renewal,” he notes. “Because Notre-Dame was not completely destroyed by this tragedy – or by centuries of neglect, or by political threats – it can be reborn. And the possibility of revival instructs us about tradition and its endurance,” Dionne adds. Rutagarama believes this is a sign that God was sending a message to people, especially in France. “We are guided by two periods in our lives on earth, one that ends (hours, days, and years) and that of salvation that leads us to eternal life. Both periods complement each other and characterise us in our daily lives. We are on the journey and have to understand the signs of the times we are in, this is how we will understand what God is saying to us,” he says. “No one doubts the fact that there is something God is trying to tell us, many believers in France assert this and have decided to take this in prayer, and in faith they are strong and ready to make decisions that will bring them closer to God.” He emphasises that the partial destruction has left with many a gift of faith and a cause for promoting unity for many have sacrificed to be part of the rebuilding of the cathedral. “The cathedral was destroyed but Christians were not, they have continued to show their strength. They are still holding on to faith in God and Notre-Dame’s solid heritage that will always shine a light to the world.” editor@newtimesrwanda.com
