Notre Dame of Paris

Our Lady, Notre Dame, her monuments are found
All around the earth and her praises there resound.
Most famously in Paris her soaring church does stand.
Chartres in France and English York affirm to us her fame,
At Lourdes and in Fatima in visions there she came.
Mother of our God and of Paradise the Door,
Star of the Sea and Cedar tree, her names are many more.
So great cathedrals rise with Our Lady as their name
But the one that stands in Paris puts the others all to shame.
Notre Dame, your graceful towers rise up high
Like so many fingers pointing to the sky
How is it that this Monday, first day of Holy Week,
That flames engulfed this temple and much havoc did they wreak.
In Passion Week on Thursday did Christ shed flowing tears,
And now on this Thursday, adding to our fears,
The Paris sky was dark, dark black and overlain,
And very soon from in that gloom came pouring down the rain;
In that garden long ago Christ’s followers had slept,
But here in Paris all the sky shared Jesus’ pain and wept.
O noble Notre Dame ! It was a fearful sight
To see your walls all glowing red colored in the night.
As I watched the spreading blaze, it pierced my very heart;
Fire racing through the building tall, surrounded by the dark.
This cathedral was my school where I learnt to love my art ;
It was my university, where my art career did start.
Its stones were gray and ancient but as books they taught me much,
They were full of ancient learning and responded to my touch.
The blazing stained glass windows taught me in my youth
To love the Holy Gospel and all the Bible truth.
Europe from such temples taught the whole world too aspire
To democracy and freedom, to all the heart’s desire.
It taught the human values and taught the rights of man,
For Christ had suffered on the Cross and the message here began.
Scholarship and learning followed in its wake,
Not for ancient classic pride but for human beings’ sake.
Cathedrals point to Holy Wisdom, the Logos that’s above,
To Aghia Sophia, that came to show God’s Love.
Many hundred years ago cathedrals raised their spires
For in men’s hearts at that past time burned strong religious fires;
To make arches in the roof the masons did acquire
New skills for fitting stone to stone and reaching ever higher.
Notre Dame of Paris, Victor Hugo took your name
And gave it to a mighty work that added to is fame.
O Notre Dame of Paris, heart and soul of all France gives,
A great outstanding culture that never dies but lives.
France, it means a culture that never loses power,
Thanks to the native genius it always is in flower.
Cathedrals are not matter dead, but something that’s alive,
With an informing soul, and a mission to achieve.
We wonder at the skill of the workmen of the past
Who made the roseate windows and filled them with stained glass.
France, daughter eldest of the Church, you gave the world a light,
You taught the world democracy and were a beacon bright;
Now to your past you must keep true and give the world a sight
Of times illumined by Sorbonne and by the valor of the knight.
Notre Dame must draw again its pilgrims from abroad
So they’ll admire each tow’r and spire and acclaim with one accord.
Make haste, O France! all the damage to repair
So that we may once again adore the Virgin there.
Two centuries ago, did Leduc the shrine repair,
France! Take up his role again, with conscience and with care!

Joseph Matar – English inspired by the original French