The restoration of the glorious Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris will be unveiled during the next weeks. This cathedral church represents a high point in Gothic church architecture. The initial pictures of the restored interior are splendid. More work will have to be done on the church exterior, but it takes hundreds of years to complete such grand structures. Several of the new works of religious art that will surely generate comments – including the newly designed main altar and baptismal font which will probably draw favorable and critical reactions – are contemporary works of art now placed in this magnificent church.
When the Eiffel Tower was built at the end of the 19th century, many people disparaged its design and architectural features. It is now arguably the most famous of the Parisian landmarks. The same was true when the glass pyramid structure of the Louvre designed by I.M. Pei was unveiled. New artistic designs often take a while to be appreciated. Even Notre Dame itself initially stood criticized because of its then new Gothic design.
It’s always been a challenge to welcome new moments in history, new art, new ways of doing things. Saint Hippolytus, the 3rd century source for our second Eucharistic prayer, lamented the fact that the then new liturgy was going to be celebrated in Latin rather than the more ancient language of Greek. We all have our preferences and penchants. These favorites of ours might be regarding music, art, food, or even worship. The restored Notre Dame Cathedral is an excellent example of allowing artifacts of modern design to be located in the framework of an older established artistic environment.
Liturgical art is a hotbed of controversy since it directly touches on personal preferences and attitudes. Gothic or Romanesque, Colonial or contemporary – each ecclesial architectural style has its advocates and critics. One thing is certain, the great Cathedral of Notre Dame is a universal artistic treasure. We here in the Archdiocese of Washington shared in the efforts to restore this magnificent church through generous monetary contributions and even by hands-on woodworking projects on trusses at The Catholic University of America to help craft some of the beams that are now a part of the renovated church. Many Catholic churches throughout our nation will toll their bells to coincide with the hour of the official reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral.
While many civic officials will share in the restoration ceremonies, Notre Dame remains a place that touches the hearts of believers. It is a national and international treasure, but it is more importantly a place that has sustained and engendered faith. Perhaps the new main altar and baptismal font are reminders that even today, the life of the Church is constantly being reborn through Baptism and Eucharist situated well within our legacy of faith and beauty. The contemporary fits gracefully in the heritage of faith for all ages.
(Cardinal Wilton Gregory, the archbishop of Washington, writes his “What I Have Seen and Heard” column for the Catholic Standard and Spanish-language El Pregonero newspapers and websites of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington.)
