Notre Dame Reminds Us to Hold Tight to Our Heritage

What was it about the fire at Notre Dame that touched us so much? Transcendent beauty, the symbol of a nation, and connection with the divine—to many, Notre Dame represents all of these.

The cathedral of Notre Dame, situated on the Île de la Cité in Paris, drawn and engraved by Deroy, circa 1850. Hulton Archive/Getty Images

I was born about a 30-minute walk from the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris. To me, the cathedral, sitting serenely on the banks of the Seine, had always seemed as solid and enduring as the stone it was built from.

At more than 850 years old, the cathedral has been not only the heart of Paris but of France itself. It has been witness to the coronation of an emperor and the making of saints. The years ushered in the Hundred Years’ War, the French Revolution, the Paris Commune, and recent terrorist attacks, and yet still it stands.

And after the fire of April 15, it stands now, even if charred and spireless.