The Old Girl Is Back

It was 2018 when we first visited Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Some of the woodwork was remarkable. In addition to the indescribable stonework, there were wood carvings of Jesus and the apostles that were almost lifelike, though the style showed that they had been done almost 1000 years ago. And then tragedy struck. We all saw the television pictures of Notre Dame Cathedral, burning, with hot lead from the roof melting and pouring into the nave below. When I saw those pictures on television, my heart sank. Of course, burned stone can be cleaned and re-used. How I hoped that all of those wood carvings survived! I am sure they could never be replaced. We went to see the old girl again today, and she is coming back, though she's not quite there yet. I understand that some people are being allowed into the nave to see the restored cathedral. Today, however, workers were still hard at work, the first floor was closed, and the bells were being installed in the belfry. Construction vehicles are all around the church, and no one could go inside. Plans are in the works for a carillon concert on Friday. Several of the old bells that were destroyed by the fire have been recast. All of the old bells that survived the fire are in place again. Three new bells, including one made, especially for the Paris Olympics, have been installed. And all of them will be sounding off Friday. I just hope we'll be able to come back and see the inside sometime soon. The last time we saw it, it was spectacular. How wonderful it will be to see a medieval cathedral all cleaned up and shiny. It will be magnificent!Read more