Father Franck Derville, a Parisian priest, wrote on Twitter, "140 years ago (April 16, 1879) died St. Bernadette of Lourdes, to whom the Virgin - #NotreDame - said: 'I do not promise to make you happy in this world, but in the other.'"
Originally built between the twelfth through fourteenth centuries, the landmark cathedral in the French capital is one of the most recognizable churches in the world, receiving more than 12 million visitors each year.
"I think it's difficult to sum up the importance of Notre-Dame de Paris in just a few words. It's not just a tourist attraction; it's a place of prayer, where ordinary people from all walks of life go each day for Mass or confession or simply to pray privately," Father Koczera explained.
Father Amar summed up its importance, "I can say that Notre-Dame is France, and France is Notre-Dame."
"The Cathedral of Paris is the witness of our history, not only the history of the Catholic Church in France, but the history of France," Amar continued.
"For example, at the liberation of Paris in 1944 when the Americans came with the French army in Paris in August 1944, we had the Magnificat sung in the Cathedral of Paris," he said.
"Notre-Dame is, in a way, the summit of Christendom or at least it symbolizes the 12th century -- the century of cathedrals, the century of St. Thomas Aquinas. In a way I think this event, and I pray for this, should help us to become more aware of our Christen heritage and to realize that we all need conversion," Father Carlos Hamel told CNA.
Father Hamel, who has lived in France for the past nine years, said that he is praying for this tragedy to "reawaken" the faith in France.
"I wouldn't be surprised, really, that this happening just before the Triduum will cause more people coming to Mass next weekend," Hamel said.
(Story continues below)
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
The Archdiocese of Paris announced April 16 that all of the Holy Week liturgies scheduled to occur Notre-Dame this week will occur in Saint Sulpice, the second largest church in Paris.
Saint Sulpice was also damaged by fire one month ago, a fire that the Vienna-based Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe reported was started deliberately on its large wooden door.
Each of the priests commented that the Notre-Dame fire has encouraged a greater sense of unity throughout the country.
"Notre-Dame de Paris remains a potent national symbol for many French people, whether they are religious believers or not. It is telling that, in the hours after the fire started, political leaders and public figures from left to right and across the ideological spectrum were unanimous in declaring that the cathedral should be rebuilt and that no expense should be spared to make that happen," Father Koczera commented.
"It seems that Notre-Dame de Paris remains a symbol that the people of France can unite around, regardless of their personal beliefs," he added.
Father Amar that the event caused fellow countrymen to "discover our unity and human fraternity" at a time when the "climate in France is not so peaceful."