Fire in sacred spaces

A good friend of mine from the other side of the world pointed out that on the same day as the cathedral of Notre Dame was almost destroyed by fire in Paris (which I've visited and worshipped in twice), a fire also broke out in Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque, the third most holy site in Islam (Gulf news report) (which I visited in my teens). My learned friend asked, “Is Somebody trying to tell us something?”

Ever cautious and innately sceptical, my reply was, “I don't know about that. I appreciate the comment of theologian at St Paul's Cathedral in London, Paula Gooder: ‘”Our holy and beautiful house, where our ancestors praised you, has been burned by fire and our pleasant places have become ruins” (Isaiah 64.11). In times like this, the only possible response is lament.’ Incidentally Christopher Wren found a stone from the old St Paul’s after the great fire in 1666 and the word ‘Resurgam’ (I shall rise again) appears in his cathedral along with carvings of the phoenix. Appropriately hopeful this week.”

I believe Resurgam came from an old tombstone and, of course, the phoenix is the mythical bird which emerges from the ashes. I must say when I first saw the Notre Dame fire raging on Channel 4’s news on Monday night I was appalled and later, after a meeting, watching the spire collapse and the flames’ seemingly unquenchable thirst, I wondered whether anything could survive the inferno. Well, it has. And some very brave firemen risked their skins to save most of the precious artefacts and relics. Yesterday it transpired that the three rose windows and the great organ had survived as well as the main structure. The full extent of the damage is yet to be assessed, but I suspect that President Macron’s ambition for its restoration by 2024 may just be realised.

Two things which stuck with me from the reports was an interview with computer engineer, Jean François, an atheist (“I hate anything with religion, but I love this church”), sitting looking at the cathedral with tears on his cheeks (Channel 4 interviews), and then the picture from the west door looking past the firemen and seeing a gold cross catching the light through the huge slender gothic columns.

Well, last night, I was annoyed to hear BBC analysts trying to extract some political story from the tragedy, such as Emmanuel Macron using it to relaunch his flagging popularity. So let me not use it to be overly pious either. However I did notice the irony that the fire took place on the Monday of Holy Week and I wondered where all those who were hoping to worship in Notre Dame this week would be over Easter. For thousands it is a "place where prayer has been valid".

In the meantime, I will recall again the ancient poet’s words, “Our holy and beautiful house, where our ancestors praised you, has been burned by fire and our pleasant places have become ruins,” and, while lamenting, take comfort in the hope of resurrection, however it comes.