On Monday afternoon here on the East Coast, the horrifying photos and videos began to pour in: the Notre-Dame Cathedral was on fire. The international outpouring of sorrow and compassion was immediate, even among people who've never been to the cathedral. Why? What does a great cathedral mean to us -- even in this secular age?

Our guest Fr. Gilbert Sunghera, SJ, is a Jesuit priest who was trained in architecture and now serves as an associate professor of architecture at the University of Detroit Mercy. He talks about the roles a cathedral like Notre-Dame plays in our culture, our common hunger for beauty, and more.