Notre Dame in Paris, France
The world recently marked the one-year anniversary of the horrific fire at one of its foremost cathedrals – Notre Dame de Paris. I’m particularly mindful of this anniversary, as I was in Paris the week before the fire and I walked by this magnificent church numerous times.
In a matter of hours on that fateful day last April, Notre Dame Cathedral became a towering inferno. The iconic spire fell, the roof collapsed, the art and relics became a smoldering rubble. Notre Dame Cathedral, the beloved Gothic symbol of Paris dating to the Middle Ages, was gone. It had survived the French Revolution, two world wars, the ravages of time, only to succumb to fire.
How could this be?
We would later learn that the fire was the result of an accident: an electrical short circuit triggered by long-overdue repairs and glacially slow renovations.
One of the painful lessons of Notre Dame de Paris is the dangers of deferred maintenance. We neglect the care of our churches and historic landmarks at great risk and peril. The restoration that was underway was simply too little, too late.
Parisians, Francophiles and people from around Europe and the world were quick to respond to this great tragedy. Within 24 hours philanthropists pledged nearly a billion dollars to support the reconstruction of this national treasure, a church that embodies their faith, their culture, their heritage and their nation.
What if? What if donations had poured in sooner? We will never know, but there’s certainly a good chance that this national and international landmark could have been spared.
The Abbey Church in Collegeville, Minnesota
In many respects, the Saint John’s Abbey Church is analogous to Notre Dame de Paris. Designed by the prominent Hungarian Bauhaus architect Marcel Breuer, it is an internationally renowned church. The Bell Banner is majestic, a bold statement of faith and fortitude. It is the iconic symbol for Saint John’s.
The Abbey Church is widely considered one of world’s great works of art and architecture. The prominent and acclaimed architect I.M. Pei called it one of the greatest architectural achievements of the 21st Century. It is the outward manifestation of the liturgical renewal movement, which began at Saint John’s and spread across the globe. It is part of our national heritage and the patrimony of the Catholic Church.
Like Notre Dame Cathedral, the Abbey Church is in need of major repair and restoration. The plaza is sinking, concrete is crumbling, stairs have been cordoned off, lights are flickering, mechanical systems are old and worn out. A conservation study funded by the Getty Foundation revealed that unless the foundation underneath the bell tower is shored up, the banner could one day topple. The need is immediate and formidable. Action must be taken soon to allay further deterioration.
The cost to renovate the Saint John’s Abbey Church is considerable, but it pales in comparison to the steep price to rebuild Notre Dame de Paris.
Sixty years ago, in commissioning the design of the Abbey Church, Abbot Baldwin Dworshak wrote: “We are interested in building a church which will be truly an architectural monument in the service of God.” Cleary, this vision was fully realized by our forebearers.
Today, at stake is the preservation of an architectural wonder, a divine treasure, a sacred space, a holy place of worship.
It is now up to us. It’s in our hands to preserve and revitalize this architectural monument in the service of God. With good will, prayers and generous financial support, and with the grace of God, it can be done… it will be done.