NOTRE DAME: Restoring beauty (and faith)

I would like to comment on the letter from Jerry Martin on Sunday regarding the fire at Notre Dame.

I agree with him that we are called as Christians to feed the hungry and comfort the afflicted. It is very important. But the full expression of who we were made to be is not a single note. It is not a case of beauty OR bread.

Thomas Aquinas said that the human spirit is structured in such a way that it pushes beyond itself to the good, the truth and the beautiful. The beautiful speaks to us of God. So when something beautiful is lost it hurts. Especially something that was built to the glory of God, and therefore has a tangible sense of awe and worship.

We all relate to things differently and I can agree with Mr. Martin that if the U.S. Capitol caught on fire, I would not feel deeply wounded. My response to the sight of Notre Dame on fire was to cry in distress.

I for one am very grateful that France and many others around the world are pledging to restore this shining example of Western Civilization.

GWYNNETH ANDRUS

Coeur d’Alene