The Resurrections of Notre-Dame de Paris - History, Construction, Devotion

The Book of Reopening. A reference book (15 expert authors), of beauty, prestige, and pride, for the reconstruction of Notre-Dame.

Who would have imagined that one day Notre-Dame would have to be rebuilt? This book, published in a reference collection, takes a long-term perspective: it presents not only the recent construction site, but also the four previous "resurrections" of the cathedral, since the Middle Ages.

This book depicts the spectacular fire and the prodigious restoration site, within the multi-centuries perspective of Notre-Dame, between ruptures and renaissances, wounds and resurrections.

Through a symbolic monument, this book thus offers an interpretation of French history, the evolution of the art of builders, and the fervor of its people.

The book's introductory messages are signed by the Archbishop of Paris, Mgr Laurent Ulrich, and the Cathedral Rector, Mgr Olivier Ribadeau-Dumas.
This magnificent collective work brings together the most prestigious contributors, historians and theologians: Jean-Michel Leniaud, Mathieu Lours, Philippe Plagnieux, Anne-Bénédicte Mérel-Brandenburg; art historians and sacred art specialists Gilles Drouin, Delphine Bastet, Maxime Deurberge, Marie-Hélène Didier, Laurent Prades, Marc Chauveau, Jean-Pierre Cartier; architect Philippe Villeneuve; the president of the Public Establishment Philippe Jost; and journalist Claire Bommelaer.

To marvel and understand, to touch the heart and reason. Through clear and rigorous texts, thanks to rich iconography drawn from archives of yesterday and reports of today, in an attractive layout, the resurrections of Notre-Dame invite us to admiration and wisdom.

For nearly a thousand years, between ruptures and renaissances, wounds and resurrections, Notre-Dame has told the story of France, its impulses and its fervor.

Rebuilding Notre-Dame through History: to pay the best homage to today's builders, to justly celebrate the rediscovered grace, it is necessary to place this dazzling resurrection in the long span of time, in Notre-Dame's incredible destiny: to become passionate about the traces of the first vanished edifice, to be dazzled by the Gothic revelation, to admire the contributions of the modern period, to venerate the genius of Viollet-le-Duc, so as to be fully amazed by the reconstruction site, by the creative genius of men facing the challenges of the impossible – and for this, to parade architectural wonders, great pages of history, and meditations on the resources of a people always in motion.

Such is the particular grace of Notre-Dame de Paris. Such is the function of the prestigious and reference collection "La grâce d'une cathédrale" (The Grace of a Cathedral).
Such is the ambition of this work: to give its fullest meaning to the fruitful union between history, architecture, arts, and faith. It extends and complements, with a completely different approach, a previous work already dedicated to Notre-Dame, which had achieved international success. For Notre-Dame deserves the best: this new collective project meets that demand with rigor.