'THE BEST IN ALL OF US'

The fire that nearly destroyed Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris has had a world-wide effect.

Tears were shed. Prayers were offered. People of all races and religions shared photos of their visits to the most famous Cathedral in the world. One that has stood for 850 years and seen the the Reformation, French Revolution and the Nazi occupation of Paris during World War II.

Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger of the Diocese of Albany was no different.

On Twitter, while the fire raged, the Bishop tweeted out “We unite our prayers with those of the people of Paris today as we witness the tremendous loss of Notre Dame Cathedral. #NotreDame #NotreDameFire” on his @AlbBishopEd twitter account.

Catholic News Services reported “up to 500 firefighters battled for 15 hours to save the Cathedral after flames erupted in the structure’s attic. The blaze quickly consumed two-thirds of the 13th-century oak roof and brought down the Cathedral’s 300-foot spire. Authorities said much of the Cathedral’s wooden interior was destroyed and its masonry was seriously scorched.”

French President Emmanuel Macron and Archbishop Michel Aupetit have both vowed to rebuild and have received nearly a billion dollars in pledges from individuals and countries so far. 

“Notre Dame de Paris is our history, our literature, our imagination, the place where we have experienced our great moments, the epicenter of our life,” Macron said. “We built this Cathedral over centuries, raising it up and improving it, and I now state solemnly that we will, all of us together, reconstruct it. This is undoubtedly part of the French destiny.”

Although no cause has been determined yet, it is believed the fire may have started from the recent renovations. There was a collective sigh of relief for, as Bishop Scharfenberger said, the Cathedral speaks to us all.

 “It’s more than just a Catholic thing. So many people felt a part of this and I think it’s the power of the human spirit,” the Bishop said. “If those walls could speak of all the pilgrims that have come; people of faith, people of no faith that have found something here.

“(The Cathedral) brings out the best in all of us. You walk into something like that, regardless of where your spiritual journey may or may not be, and you say ‘Wow, if heaven has a place, this is a good place for it to begin.’”

When Bishop Scharfenberger was studying to become a priest at North American College in Rome, he traveled to Paris to see the Cathedral.

“In my student days when I was in seminary studying in Rome, one of the first chances I was able to get out of The Vatican I went to Paris to see Notre Dame and it was stunning,” he said.

Bishop Scharfenberger also wrote a letter to Archbishop Aupetit expressing his solidarity. 

“Our hearts are broken. We are with you in this time of inestimable loss and suffering,” the Bishop began in the letter, which was written in French. “No word can transmit our sorrow. But our deep spiritual fraternity will continue, even strengthen, in the face of such devastating adversity. We are united in prayer and the communion of our precious faith in the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, always in our midst.”

French Jesuits brought the Catholic faith to this region, the Bishop continued in the letter, and celebrated the first Mass in New York State and are still commemorated and remembered at the shrine in Auriesville.

Donation information: The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., has set up a fund for Notre Dame Cathedral.

Funds collected or received can be sent to: Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Attn: Monsignor Walter Rossi, Rector, 400 Michigan Avenue, NE, Washington, D.C. 20017. Checks should be made payable to “Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception”; indicate “Cathedral of Notre Dame Fund” in the memo portion of the check.