Yes, in case you did not know, Notre Dame is French for “Our Lady” or “Our Mother” as in the Blessed Virgin Mary. So it’s no wonder that the Christian world stopped for a moment as the French watched horrified as this over 800-year-old edifice, the Notre Dame was gutted by fire just over a week ago.
The Christian world and indeed Catholics all over lamented the loss of not so much the physical structure which withstood centuries of wars and natural disasters but more so its significance of the irreplaceable historical artifacts within its doors: paintings, the crucifix, Jesus’ crown of thorns, stained windows, architectural treasures, monuments, medieval relics, literature, hidden-treasured manuscripts, all encased within its doors. Over 8000 visitors a day, millions a year, its only competitor as a French landmark is the Eiffel Tower built about seven centuries later.
We in Dominica have our own Catholic equivalent, simply referred to as the Cathedral which has been languishing for years now due to damages caused by hurricanes. Not the Notre Dame, which is expected to open its doors again in five to six years if the French president has his way. Hundreds of millions of dollars are pouring in from billionaires, rich families, the religious, those who relish what this world landmark represents, the pious, and devout and of course those who see it as an investment or ticket to Heaven.
Catholics in Dominica for obvious reasons do not possess resources, financial or otherwise, seem to be content with the St Gerard’s Hall as the new Cathedral as fund-raising efforts or refurbishment is at snail’s pace or have come to a proverbial halt. If more value was placed on the nostalgic, spiritual and the sentimentality of this edifice, I am sure there are persons on island who could contribute more recognizing that the faithful are not big on tithing. I am sure much more will come out of the kit of many to help fund the coming general elections. This, I dare say, is a matter of conscience for every man but I do marvel, by comparison, how miniscule congregations of other religious persuasions can do so much with supposedly much smaller collection plates.
Whatever the message is being sung by the destruction of Notre Dame, in Holy Week just after Palm Sunday is probably best left for the Pope, his cardinals, bishops, and priests and world congregants to decipher but as the smoke lifted to the heavens, I have conjured another story.
This article is copyright © 2019 DOM767