|
Our Lady of Perpetual Help STAINED GLASS WINDOWS Blessed December 2, 1989 by Most Reverend Eugene A.
Marino, S.S.J.,D.D. Archbishop of In Honor of our Beloved Pastor Reverend Monsignor Michael
J. Regan Tom Mucheck, Parish Council
President 1988-1989 Dr. Virginia M. Meehan, Parish Council President 1989-1990 PARISH WINDOW COMMITTEE David
R. Schoerner, Chairman Henry
C. Setter, Art and Liturgical Coordinator Anna M. Fazio
Walter H. Lewis Mary Anne G. DeVillier Mary J. Farish BUILT AND INSTALLED BY THE STUDIOS OF ARTIST: RICHARD A. BUSWELL In
sincere appreciation to the families
and friends
of our parish, whose generosity
provided these windows |
PREFACE Significantly, the role
of the Virgin Mary in the mystery of Christ and His Church became the final
chapter of the Vatican II document on the Church. This same chapter inspired
the choice of Marian themes and iconographic symbols appropriate to her which
appear in the stained glass windows of the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual
Help. Liturgically, stained
glass windows are not necessary, but they can serve as a means toward
meditation and contemplation during the respective liturgical seasons. These windows were designed to remind the
parishioners of the dynamic function of the Virgin Mary in the Redemptive
mysteries of her Son. One perspective
visualizes Mary’s cooperation in the plan of God. From another perspective, Mary is
contemplated as the “Model of the Church.” That is, she is also one of us.
Her exemplary faith, hope and charity command imitation on our part. Mary has already achieved by God’s grace
that to which we aspire- full union with God the Father through His Son in
the Holy Spirit. Historically, stained
glass windows of the Gothic period were called the “Bible of the Poor,” because
then there were no private copies of Sacred Scriptures. All biblical texts until Gutenberg’s time
(the 15th century) were hand-lettered and illustrated in the Scriptoria of convents
and monasteries. Also, few medieval
believers could read Latin, the language of the Scriptures. Consequently, artists provided Scriptural
representations in colorful window designs. Currently, the expression
“Bible of the Poor” can be relevant in an evangelical sense if we become poor
in spirit, as Jesus proclaimed in the sermon on the Mount. To contemplate the
divine mysteries depicted in the windows, our eyes must be bathed by the
radiant color, our minds must be open and uncluttered, and our hearts
unfettered and eager to embrace the truths presented. Technically, the windows
reflect contemporary methods of construction and materials. Formerly, thin
glass sheets were set in lead “cames” (grooved channels). Today, “slab glass”
anchored in reinforced epoxy refracts light uniquely because of its greater thickness.
Actually, “stained glass” is a misnomer.
Although it is possible to stain the surface of glass yellow (by heat
and silver oxide), slab glass is “pot metal,” molten glass colored chemically
through and through by metallic oxides.
Not uniform in thickness, slab glass usually ranges between 7/8’s to
1". Antique glass, because of
its thinness, permitted the artist to paint fine detail with “grisaille,” a
gray wash which is then baked on the glass.
In time, grisaille can flake off; it can also be scratched
easily. In contrast, slab glass
requires a bolder designing approach: The silhouette of shapes requires great
simplicity. Further, it is impractical
to paint details on thick slab glass. |
WINDOWS OF THE NAVE The twelve windows of the nave depict the mysteries of Christ and His Mother Mary. In the lower register of each window a symbol for one of the sacraments or for one of the virtues appropriate to the respective mystery is incorporated into the total design. The mysteries are arranged chronologically from the left rear window forward to the sanctuary; then the order is resumed at the right rear window and proceeds again toward the sanctuary.
WINDOWS OF THE TRANSEPTS The six windows of the transepts symbolize The Holy Eucharist (East), and honor Mary, the Mother of Jesus (West).
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Window No. 1: IMMACULATE CONCEPTION “I exult for joy in Yahweh; “My soul rejoices in my God, “For he has clothed me in the garments of salvation; “He has wrapped me in the cloak of integrity.” -Isaiah 61:10 This mystery celebrates the sinlessness of the Virgin Mary from the
moment of her conception in the womb of Anne, her mother. Mary’s preservation from original sin stems
from God's eternal plan that she would be the Mother of the Divine Word in
the mystery of the Incarnation.
Moreover, Mary’s sinless state from the moment of conception is a
singular grace bestowed by God. The absence of sin makes Mary “full of grace”
from her very beginning. It is
important to note that Mary is the infant held by Anne. The unicorn, a legendary horse-like animal with a single
pointed horn, is a traditional symbol of innocence and purity. As a trademark
of chemists, the unicorn signified the non-contamination of their goods. As a Christian image, the unicorn
signifies the wild, horned animal which can be tamed only in the presence of
a sinless virgin. As a biblical image, the horn of the unicorn is the symbol
of strength. In the
Psalms, God is identified as “my horn of salvation,” because ritual anointings
are, poured forth from a horn (Psalm 18:3; 92:10; and Luke l:69). The lily, a flower mentioned rarely in Sacred Scriptures except for
its frequency in the Song of Solomon, is also a symbol of purity. Mary’s sinlessness among mankind is
depicted “as a lily among thorns” (Song of Solomon 11:2). In the lower register, the Sacrament of Baptism is portrayed by the
sea shell from which water flows to cleanse believers from the sin of the
human race. The three crosses
symbolize the Trinitarian formula of this sacrament, which restores the
believer to God’s grace. Presented by James and Virginia Conrads and Family |
|
|
Window No. 2: ANNUNCIATION “Gabriel said to her: ‘Rejoice, highly favored Daughter! The Lord is with you .... You are to conceive and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus.’ ” - Luke 1:26 Gabriel appears at left as the hand bearing the cross, the sign of our Redemption. Mary prayerfully receives the message of God’s New Covenant. Encircling Mary is Noah’s rainbow, the symbol of God’s earlier covenant (Genesis 9:9-17). The Trinity is symbolized by the hand of the Father; the dove, as the Holy Spirit: and, at the level of Mary’s abdominal womb, a flower suggests that Jesus is born of the Tree of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1). In the lower register, Mary’s virtue of Prudence is depicted by the traditional oil lamps of the five wise virgins. In Mary, the Virgin Most Prudent, the divine oil burned brightly in her soul to enlighten all her decisions. Presented by David and Joanna Schoerner |
|
|
Window No. 3: VISITATION “Mary set out at
that time and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of – Luke 1:39-40 Mary and Elizabeth embrace. The hand of the
Precursor, John the Baptist, points to the Lamb of God. Under the inspiration
of the Holy Spirit (above the two women), In the lower panel, Mary’s exemplary Charity is symbolized by the heart enflamed and emblazoned with her initial. Despite her own state of maternal expectancy, Mary hastened to assist her cousin Elizabeth. Presented by Roger and Elaine Schoerner |
|
|
Window No. 4: NATIVITY “But for you who fear my name there will arise the SUN OF JUSTICE with its healing rays.” - Malachi 3:20 Mary places the new born infant Jesus in the animal
trough. Joseph is present in the symbol of the flowering rod to the right of
Mary. In the devotional literature called “apocryphal” gospels, Joseph
appears at the Below the Nativity scene the sacrament of Holy Orders is
represented by the chalice and Scriptures. Jesus Christ became a priest on
the night of His birth. Also, Christmas means “Christ’s Presented in Loving Memory of The Deceased members of the Farish and Bedient Families |
|
|
Window No. 5: PRESENTATION IN THE “When the day came for them to be purified as laid
down by the law of Moses, they took him up to - Luke 2:22 Simeon holds Jesus aloft and proclaims the Child to the promised Light of the World. Now Jesus will replace the Menorah, the seven-branched lamp stand which to the Jews was the symbol of the presence of God’s light. Jesus is dressed in green priestly vestments: green is the symbol of hope. To complete the ritual of purification, forty days after the birth, Mary and Joseph offer two turtle doves as the sacrificial gift of the poor, In the lower frame is the prophetic image of Simeon: “You see this child: he is destined for the fall
and the rising of many in The pierced heart symbolizes Mary’s heroic virtue of Fortitude. Presented in Loving Memory of Lou and Mary Benchina |
|
|
Window No. 6: EPIPHANY “After Jesus had been born at During the reign of King Herod, Some wise men came to ‘Where is the infant king of the Jews?’ they asked.” -Matthew 2:1-2 Mary is seated on a regal throne. Jesus is enthroned on Mary’s lap. Wearing a royal crown, He holds an orb of the world in his left hand and blesses with his right hand. The Star of Jacob offers cosmic radiation upon the Gentile world. The three Magi are identified by their specific gifts: The treasure box contains gold, the appropriate gift for a king; the, censer contains frankincense; the vase, myrrh - both significant offerings to Him who will be both priest and victim. The lower register depicts the Marian virtue of Faith: Her entire life was marked by faith. The Virgin Mary is the bearer of the Light of the World. The star, the cross, and the crown symbolize her faith in the joyful, sorrowful and glorious mysteries. Presented by Peter and Theresa Warenzak |
|
|
Window No. 7: FLIGHT TO “After the Magi had left, the angel of the Lord
appeared in a dream to Joseph and said, ’Get up, take the child and his
mother with you, and escape into - Matthew 2:l3 Mary, with the Christ Child, sits astride the
mule. Joseph is their dutiful guardian
and guide. At the top, cross-like, is
the Egyptian Ankh sign, symbol of life.
To the left of Joseph are cut and broken flowers to signify the
slaughtered children of The lower panel of this window represents two related sacraments: the sacrament of penance and the sacrament of the sick and the dying. The keys of the kingdom symbolize the power of the Church to forgive and heal here on earth. In Loving Memory of Ava Frances Sewell Plunkett By Her Husband and Family |
|
|
Window No. 8: FINDING OF JESUS
IN THE “Three days later, they found him in the temple, “Sitting among the doctors, “Listening to them, “And asking them questions.” - Luke 2:46 The temple appears in the top left as a dome shape. The young twelve year-old Jesus, with an upraised teaching arm and hand position, sits amidst seven rabbis, symbolized by seven oil lamps which lack flames. In the top right, within a trefoil clover, are the traditional symbols of the Most Holy Trinity, the source of His wisdom. Mary’s virtue of Justice is depicted in the lower register: Mary bore no prejudices. She rendered to each his due and sought to alleviate inequities. Presented by Charles and Sarah Irle In Loving Memory of Their Son Eric |
|
|
Window No. 9: WEDDING FEAST AT
“Three days later there
was a wedding at Cana in - John 2:1 Mary is shown in an intercessory position to the left of Jesus. The festive wine has run short. Jesus responds positively to his mother’s prayerful request. From his hand into one of the six wine jars water flows. From the horizontally placed wine jar, a wine-colored liquid flows. Mary’s intercession was heeded by her son: The water turns into wine. Obviously, this mystery
at Donated by Mr. and Mrs. Donald R. Ginnity and Children |
|
|
Window No. 10: THE LAST SUPPER “Then he took some bread, and when he had given thanks, broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body which will be given for you; do this as a memorial of me.’ He did the same with the cup after supper, and said, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood which will be poured out for you.’ ” -Luke 22:19-20 The Latin lyrics of a Marian hymn say, “Hail True Body born from the Virgin Mary.” Jesus here is portrayed amidst His Twelve, He holds the bread and the cup. The Apostles are represented by eleven bright stars and one dull star. Spikes of wheat and clusters of grapes are the natural sources for the Eucharist. The lower panel depicts the Sacrament of the Eucharist in the form of the Paschal Lamb, which for the Hebrews was the ancient sign of deliverance. The Passover feast is the setting for the New Pasch (deliverance). Presented by Walter, Marie and Tina Lewis |
|
|
Window No. 11: CRUCIFIXION AND RESURRECTION “Seeing his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, ‘Woman, this is your son.’ Then to the disciple he said, ‘This is your mother.’ And from that moment the disciple made a place for her in his home.” -John 19:26-27 Mary - the biblical “woman” of Genesis and Revelations - stands to the left and the favorite disciple, John the Evangelist, to the right of the Jeweled Cross, a Greek cross with five diamond-shaped jewels for the wounds of Jesus’ hands, feet and side. The nails of the Passion remind us of the reality of Jesus’ death on Golgotha-literally, “Hill of the Skull.” Christ’s victory over death is signified by his Resurrection - the Jeweled Cross theme. The Resurrection theme is reinforced in the lower
register, where the symbol for the virtue of Hope is Jonah and the
whale. Jesus-Jonah-like - spent three
days in the bowels of the earth before arising to life. Presented in Loving Memory of Dwight Bishop |
|
|
Window No. 12: PENTECOST “All these joined in continuous prayer, together with several women, including Mary the mother of Jesus . . . .” “When Pentecost day came round, they had all met in one room and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire.” - Acts of the Apostles 1:14; 2:1-2 Mary is centered amidst the flames of the Twelve Apostles. (Matthias had already been elected to replace Judas.) The dove, symbol of the Holy Spirit, hovers at the top. It is here that the Church is ratified by the dynamic action of the Holy Spirit. At the bottom, the Sacrament of Confirmation is suggested by the hands of imposition and the jar of anointing oil. Presented in Loving Memory of Dr. James I. Vansant |
|
|
Window No. 13: ASSUMPTION AND CORONATION “Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.” - Luke 1:45 In 1950 Pope Pius XII proclaimed the dogma of the Assumption. In this window the Son of God crowns His Mother. Mary becomes the reassurance of God’s promise: what she has already achieved, the faithful can also anticipate. Presented by Anna M. and Ettore G. Fazio |
|
|
Window No. 14: OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE In December of 1531 the Virgin Mary appeared to an
Indian convert to Christianity at Guadalupe, near In the lower right corner appears an architectonic version of the popular Mexican deity called Quetzalcoatl, a feathered serpent. Montezuma II, King of Aztec Mexico, misread the arrival of the Spanish Conquistadores as the fulfillment of the thousand-year-old Toltec prophecy concerning the return of the plumed snake. In fact, Spanish missionaries introduced Christianity in 1521, just ten years before Our Lady’s appearance to Juan Diego. Given by Undine R. Head In Loving Memory of Carl B. Head |
|
|
Window No. 15: OUR LADY OF To an unlettered, poor
girl, the Virgin Mary appeared in a cleft in the rocks. (Her name, Marie
Bernarde Soubirous, is better known as Bernadette.) The year was 1858. Her
visionary accounts provoked skepticism until the apparition of March
25, when Mary identified herself as the “Immaculate Conception.” The civil
and ecclesial authorities then recognized that this poor, ignorant, girl
could not have made up this title, for only four years earlier in 1854 had
Pope Pius IX proclaimed This mystery as a dogma of faith. The authorities
were certain that neither Bernadette nor her fellow peasants of The fleur de lis at upper left is a twofold symbol: it is the traditional coat of arms of
Presented in Honor of Our Blessed Mother by Jubal and Nancy Watts and Children |
|
|
Window No. 16: OUR LADY AS EXEMPLAR OF THE CHURCH Vatican II documents reaffirmed the role of Mary,
the mother of Jesus, as the mother of all the church. The Blessed Virgin stands out in eminent
and singular fashion as exemplar both of virgin and mother. The church indeed
contemplating her inner sanctity, imitating her charity and faithfully
fulfilling the Father’s will, by receiving the word of God in faith becomes
herself a mother. The window depicts Mary standing on the moon, adorned with
the sun (Book of Revelation 12:1) with arms outstretched over the church as
represented by St. Peter’s Basilica in the This window was blessed by the newly appointed Archbishop of Atlanta, Most Reverend Wilton D. Gregory, 6th Archbishop of Atlanta, at confirmation on January 21, 2005. Our Lady of Perpetual Help was the first confirmation conducted by Archbishop Gregory in his new appointment as Archbishop of Atlanta. Given by O.L.P.H. Parish Family |
|
|
Window No. 17: PASCHAL LAMB The two windows of the Eucharistic Chapel (often referred to as the “cry room”) draw from traditional symbols. The Paschal Lamb is inspired by the new and old covenants. For the Hebrews, the Passover required a Pasch meal of a lamb. On the same night in which Jesus celebrated the Hebrew Passover, He then instituted the New Covenant with the Eucharist. In the Book of Revelations Jesus is again identified as the New Paschal Lamb. (Revelations 5:6) Also, this Book emphasizes that the Divine Word becomes present through the sacred readings of the Eucharistic liturgy. In Loving Memory of Joseph and Grace Connell And Mary Kay Rollins |
|
|
Window No. 18: EUCHARISTIC BREAD AND WINE Jesus chose such simple elements for the gift He gave in the Eucharist. The spikes of wheat remind one of the bread that becomes food; the grapes, the wine that becomes drink. Under such simple signs, Jesus becomes sacramentally present: “Take and eat . . . . Take and drink of this cup.” Given by O.L.P.H. Parish Family Henry Setter, Art and Liturgical Coordinator, November 29, 1989 Electronic, updated version
of document (2007) prepared by Javier E. Hasbun and David J. Boldt |
|
