Parisian Crowd Gathers In Streets And Sings ‘Ave Maria’ As Notre Dame Burns

Apr 24, 2019 by apost team

Watching the fire rage through Notre Dame Cathedral was devastating. It was especially heartbreaking for it to happen at the beginning of Holy Week.

Notre Dame has stood in Paris on the River Seine for more than 800 years. Construction of the cathedral began all the way back in the 1100s when Louis VII was the king of France. It took nearly 200 years to be completed.

It's more than just an icon of France and that country's heritage.  It's an important historical landmark for the entire world. The stained-glass windows and sculptures covering the cathedral are also priceless works of art.

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When flames first started to flicker through the church, horrified people immediately began gathering in the streets. They watched almost silently, in shock, as the fire got worse. The famed spire itself collapsed through the ceiling. Some people wept in horror at the sight.

As one of the most important monuments in Europe burned in the middle of Paris, someone began to sing.

The soft sound of "Ava Maria" drifted through the crowd. More and more people joined in. As the flames raged late into the evening, Parisians stood together, joined in song. It was especially poignant since the cathedral was consecrated to Mary.

People are uniting in France and around the world to restore the cathedral.

The president of France, Emmanuel Macron, vowed that they would repair Notre Dame within five years according to the Guardian. Businesses and individuals have donated nearly a billion dollars toward the project.

Also miraculous -- firefighters managed to save many of the landmark's historical artifacts, which are now in the Louvre. Some of the artwork that they couldn't remove remains intact and can be salvaged. The famous rose windows were unscathed.

Watch the emotional video below:

Do you think we should do more to protect historical monuments like Notre Dame? What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments and don't forget to pass this along to your friends and family to spread the positive thoughts.