An article reflecting on the rebuilding of Notre Dame Cathedral and the ordinary people who made it possible, drawing inspiration from John Ormond's poem 'Cathedral Builders'.
Something beautiful happened late last year. As 2024 wound down, the world celebrated the rebuilding of glorious Notre Dame de Paris, which a mere five and a half years before was engulfed in horrifying flames. At the reopening ceremony in Paris, her bells rang for the first time since the fire. The pleasing peal called to my mind a poem that raises up something no less beautiful than the French Gothic monument: her builders.
This memory in turn led to an epiphany, which is fitting as the Epiphany, or Christian celebration of the revelation of God as human in Jesus Christ, fast approaches. 'Cathedral Builders,' written by Welsh poet John Ormond and published in the journal 'Poetry Wales' in 1965, lyrically reminds us of a very simple truth with profound consequences. It is often ordinary people who create the most extraordinary beauty, particularly when the undertaking is grand in scope. Ormond exalts the sanctifying work of countless craftsmen whose identities are known only to history, but whose toil built the great cathedrals of medieval Europe. Most of them knew they wouldn’t live to see the final fruits of their massive multi-generational endeavor. They climbed their ladders anyway. With soaring yet simple language befitting the ethereal work of earthy men, Ormond lionizes unheralded laborers who 'hoisted hewn rock into heaven' by day and then 'came down to their suppers and small beer' in the evening. So understood, a cathedral is no more sublime than her humblest builder. Each is an icon to the other. I thought of 'Cathedral Builders' as I reflected upon the 2,000 or so workers it took to rebuild Notre Dame within French President Emmanuel Macron’s ambitious five-year deadline. Unlike their medieval counterparts, the vast majority of these artisans lived to see their loving mission completed
NOTRE DAME CATHEDRALS POETRY REBUILDING ORDINARY PEOPLE
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Cathedral Builders: Echoes of Notre Dame's RebirthThe reopening of Notre Dame de Paris after its devastating fire serves as a powerful reminder of the ordinary people who create extraordinary beauty. A poem, 'Cathedral Builders,' by John Ormond, celebrates the unnamed craftsmen who built medieval cathedrals, highlighting their dedication and the profound impact of their labor.
Read more »
France in political chaos as Paris gears up for the reopening of Notre Dame CathedralFrench Prime Minister Michel Barnier and his government have been toppled only three months after they were appointed, making his the shortest-lived government in French history. NBC News' Claudio Lavanga has the details of a deep political crisis on Early Today.
Read more »
AP PHOTOS: Then and now, Notre Dame Cathedral's rebirth from fireFirst, there are the images of Notre Dame Cathedral during and after an inferno that raged inside in 2019, toppling its spire and destroying its roof and gripping viewers around Paris and the world.
Read more »
Photos: Then and now, Notre Dame Cathedral’s rebirth from firePhotographers captured the devastating damage and stunning transformation of Notre Dame.
Read more »
Notre Dame organist to reawaken reconstructed cathedralThe Notre Dame Cathedral is set to reopen this weekend for the first time in more than five years.
Read more »
Trump is traveling to Paris for Notre Dame Cathedral's reopening celebration, will meet with MacronPresident-elect Donald Trump is off to Paris on his first international trip since the election.
Read more »