The burning of Notre Dame de Paris - a metaphor for our time?

Watching the terrible scenes from Paris last night it can be said that the burning of Notre Dame de Paris is a tragedy - for Paris, for France, for European culture & history. But it could also perhaps be a metaphor - for the Church; for faith; for Europe's understanding of itself. 

But in this Holy Week it is truly a reminder that out of death, destruction and grief can come Resurrection. For Christians the church is the living temple of the faithful not necessarily bricks and mortar. 

But Notre Dame de Paris will rise again as she has so many times before through war, revolution and neglect. Hopefully the Great Rose windows will be restored and still inspire and teach, the great relics of France from the Holy Land have been saved and I am sure her bells will ring out over Paris once more - who knows maybe even this Sunday coming for Easter Sunday. 

Ave crux spes unica!
Hail to the Cross, our only hope!

Hopefully it will be a metaphor for renewal, rebirth and Resurrection too in a world calling out for signs and symbols - a bit like St Mel's Cathedral in Longford. We have to remember this too shall pass. And as Julian of Norwich once said all will be well and all manner of things will be well.

• iBenedictines - Notre Dame de Paris in Flames
• CNA - Structure of Notre-Dame saved after major fire
• Catholic Herald - Alexandra DeSanctis, Ross Douthat, Rod Dreher, Constance Grady, Sam Guzman, Robert Hardman, Elizabeth Lev, Clemente Lisi, Douglas Murray, Fr Thomas Reese SJ, Steve Skojec and Fr Hugh Somerville Knapman reflect on the fire at Notre Dame.
• WoF - Notre Dame Cathedral: The Embodiment of the Christian Thing
• The fire brigade chaplain who saved the Crown of Thorns