• 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.

12 responses to “How to be single at Christmas”

  1. […] single or otherwise alone at this time of year can present its challenges. Kelvin has some very wise words to say on the […]

  2. sue Avatar
    sue

    It is not the prospect of spending Christmas alone that I find difficult or scary. It’s managing the family expectations that we have to be together at Christmas, because that’s what we do (as it was in the beginning and shall be for ever, Amen). The bad weather this year meant that there was a good reason for not travelling, so I was able to spend Christmas where I wanted to be. And lovely it was too.

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