Scary Protectors?    
   

   Among other concerns, some people in Paris worry about the fate of "beloved" stone gargoyles on Notre Dame, following Monday's destructive fire. 

   We've heard about "a face that only a mother could love," but gargoyles?

   So, we worked up the courage to investigate these hideous creatures - hundreds of them - adorning the world-famous cathedral. Outside of Catholicism, who would have guessed? They're the good guys, protecting congregants from evil.

   Medieval churches used their frightening appearance to scare off threats to worshipers...good vs. evil. 

   For a thousand years there was superstition, 
darkness and fear about these threats. Stone by day, gargoyles were considered warriors by night, menacing and purposely ugly and frightening. They also portray an image of a dammed afterlife, should anyone forget the price of sin. 

   They also have a practical purpose. They were added to Notre Dame in the 19th century to project rainwater away from the building. Gargoyle comes from the Latin for gullet, drain or water spout.

   Forerunners were placed on temples of Egypt, Rome and Greece. We think something similar appears on the Mormon Tabernacle.

   Notre Dame has chimeras as well, but they are decorative only.

   So far as we know, all gargoyles survived the fire. They protect themselves too, you know. 

       Jimmy
 
PS. Notre Dame is French for Our Lady, in this case, Our Lady of Paris. She, of course, is the virgin Mary.