My thoughts on the fire at Notre Dame

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My family are descendants of Huguenots. I always found it interesting that they have kept up with giving their children very French Catholic names though, in spite of their anti-Catholicism. Anyway, my anti-Catholic mother was very upset at the destruction of Notre Dame. Everyone wants to see the Cathedral restored. Personally, I think there may be a resurgence of faith in the near future.
 
I’m curious—what’s the difference between a French Catholic name and a French non-Catholic name? To me, names either look French or not.
 
Specific saint names. It’s just odd to me that in a family that doesn’t even live in France or really even have a connection to French culture, language, or anything- the only connection they keep is to use old family names. Many Protestants do not name their children after the Theotokos, for one. Those names look very Catholic to a non-Catholic- especially in my part of the US.

ETA: Perhaps you’re right though. France was Catholic for so long that all traditional French names are probably de facto Catholic. All I know is that many of their names sound French and seem quite Catholic- especially in a non-French and non-Catholic area.
 
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CoffeeFanatic said:
Specific saint names. It’s just odd to me that in a family that doesn’t even live in France or really even have a connection to French culture, language, or anything- the only connection they keep is to use old family names. Many Protestants do not name their children after the Theotokos, for one. Those names look very Catholic to a non-Catholic- especially in my part of the US.

ETA: Perhaps you’re right though. France was Catholic for so long that all traditional French names are probably de facto Catholic. All I know is that many of their names sound French and seem quite Catholic- especially in a non-French and non-Catholic area.
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True, like Claude, Guy, Pierre, Marcel, Chantal, Delphine, Claudette, and Jacqueline.
 
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When I was praying for Notre-Dame yesterday my mind couldn’t help wondering why God would allow something like this to happen. I tried hard not to think of it. The why, I mean.

But like a bolt, an idea struck me. God in his infinite knowledge and wisdom might allow something like this to happen, in order to prevent an even worse disaster, natural or intentional, with much loss of life, from occuring further down the line. Like on Easter Sunday for example.

Of course I’ll never know God’s motives or intentions, but one day later, it is clear to me that while the damage to the structure was major and significant, it was nowhere near as bad as it looked after the sun went down. I heard talk of it being rebuilt within five years, and parts possibly open to the public in three years.

The fact that there was no loss of life and that many of the relics rescued, it now seems to me like a miracle.
 
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