• Statement on the fire at Notre Dame

    The fire at Notre Dame Cathedral is a tragedy not only for Paris and the people of France but for the world.

    Those who know the building will be unable to see the pictures of the fire without feeling heartbroken.

    So many different things that make up the building are priceless – the medieval roof, the woodwork, the organ, the stained glass, the relics. But this tragedy is more than the loss of them all. It is the loss of the heart of Paris, the loss of a place of pilgrimage and the loss of a place of romance.

    Every day this week, Christians will be reflecting on the heartbreak of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, to whom Notre Dame was dedicated. Every day as we do so, we will be praying for the Paris its people as they face their own heartbreak.

    Notre Dame means Our Lady. Notre Dame doesn’t just belong to Paris, it belongs to us all.

    This was a building that is utterly associated with Paris. But it was an utterly priceless treasure for the world.

    It was truly ours, and this tragedy is our tragedy.

    Our Lady of Paris, pray for us and for all affected locally.

    Our Lady of Paris, we pray for you.

9 responses to “Jane Russell RIP”

  1. fr dougal Avatar
    fr dougal

    She had politics?

  2. Kelvin Holdsworth Avatar

    I believe she described herself as “a teetotal, mean-spirited, right-wing, narrow-minded, conservative Christian bigot.”

    Any more questions, John?

    (Apart from where one might find flesh coloured swimming trunks?)

  3. fr dougal Avatar
    fr dougal

    Well, at least she was honest – and by now she knows she was wrong!

  4. Rosemary Hannah Avatar
    Rosemary Hannah

    Not just the flesh colour but the little dark band on them which is – quite distracting.

  5. kelvin Avatar

    I wondered whether the little dark band was sewn on in order to show, for the avoidance of doubt, that they were in fact wearing something.

  6. Rosemary Hannah Avatar
    Rosemary Hannah

    I think we have to admit the little band does rather more than draw attention to their being to some degree dressed.

  7. kelvin Avatar

    I think its a curious visual paradox. It makes them appear dressed on the one hand and quite undressed on the other.

  8. RevRuth Avatar

    Oh I see!This wasn’t really about Jane Rusell at all…

  9. Kelvin Avatar

    Pay attention, Mother. Pay attention.

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