– I haven't said anything about it in 5 years. I couldn't due to the fact that I'm a state authoritative in a secular republic. I couldn't say anything like that – said Philippe Villeneuve, the chief architect of the reconstruction of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.
As he revealed, it is simply a secret to entrust the restoration of the Cathedral to the parent of God.
– I gotta go public. I have a peculiar devotion to the Virgin Mary and risking that I will sound completely insane – or like Joanna d’Arc – I never stopped feeling the support that came from her. – stated in an interview with American tv EWTN.
According to Philippe Villeneuve, it would not be possible to reconstruct Notre-Dame without Our Lady's protection.
– I don't think that's gonna work. [Mary's trust] gave me strength and determination to decision forward - He said.
The beginning of the cathedral took place on 7 December; the ceremony ended with the singing of the hymns "Te Deum". 5 years of intensive renovation and maintenance work there after the devastating fire of April 15, 2019.
In a service held by Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, the French president Emmanuel Macron attended. Among them were presidents Sergio Mattarella from Italy, Frank-Walter Steinmeier from Germany, Andrzej Duda from Poland and Volodymyr Zelenski from Ukraine, welcomed in the cathedral with standing applause. There were no shortages of monarchs: King Philip I of Belgium, Grand Duke Henry of Luxembourg, Prince Albert II of Monaco and Prince William of large Britain. The president of the United States was represented by his wife Jill Biden, and the president-elect Donald Trump was besides present.
Among the guests of the ceremony were Cardinals Béchara Boutros Raï of Lebanon, Dominik Duka of Prague and Timothy Dolan of fresh York City, Metropolitan Emanuel (Adamakis) of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople, as well as representatives of religions present in France. The cathedral was besides invited by the sponsors of its reconstruction, French bishops, representatives of Parisian parishes, members of the cathedral chapter and clergy of the capital of France.
The apostolic nuncio representing Pope Francis in France Archbishop Celestino Migliore read his message. "Today sorrow and mourning gave way to places of joy, celebration and worship," said the Holy Father. He wished that "the revival of this admirable church should be a prophetic sign of the renewal of the Church in France." He encouraged “all those baptized who would happily enter this cathedral to feel legitimate pride and to absorb their heritage of faith.” He expressed hope that people “from all backgrounds, religions, languages and cultures” who would visit her, including “many seeking the absolute and meaning of their lives”, in the evidence of the Christian community “have the joy of knowing and loving the Lord who has become close, compassionate and tender.” "Let them, raising their eyes to these vaults that have regained light, share in His dependable hope," the Pope called.
"Paris of Notre-Dame was for centuries the temple of God and the home of prayer of kings and people of France. Even today, despite widespread laicization, the planet of religion connects with the planet of politics. At the same time, 2 centuries ago, it became 1 of the most crucial links in the birth of professional preservation of monuments. He is presently beginning a fresh chapter of this chapter" – Jacek Kowalski wrote about Notre-Dame Cathedral in the magazine "Polonia Christiana".
Sources: opoka.org.pl, KAI, PCh24.pl
Pache
Notre-Dame. Fire, discovery and return to glory
“Republic” beginning Notre-Dame
