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Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Chapel

Studio Name: Emil Frei Associates, Inc.

City: Livonia

Window Shape: 5 (gothic arched, 2 vertical sections)

Subject/Title of Window: Passion Symbols

Brief Description of Subject: This two lancet aisle window is located on the epistle side of the public seating section of the Chapel. All aisle windows and transept windows have the same basic pattern, two lancet windows, the top symbol in each lancet sets the topic for that lancet, and the four symbols below are each encased in a geometrical shape surrounded by grisaille glass. The border and filler color used, like the geometric shape, is unique to the section of the Chapel they are located in --- the public section uses an ovalish shape and the color of amber.
 
The Litany of Loreto was a prayer approved by Pope Sixtus in 1587. Originally there was to be no additions. However, after a time subsequent Popes approved additions.
 
Left lancet symbols starting at the top.
 
Crown and lily symbol indicates the four symbols apply to Mary.
 
Holy Virgin of Virgins --- This title is pictured with a large lily (the Virgin Mary) among four smaller lilies (virgins). From "The Illustrated Litany of Loreto" by the Klauber brothers and translated into English by Thomas Canon Pope: "Mary merits to be styled the Virgin of virgins, because she is, as it were, the leader and standard-bearer of virgins. For ... Young maidens without number, have devoted their virginity to God."
 
Mirror of Justice --- The words for this title come from Malachi 4:2, "But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness [the Messiah] will arise," and Mary as a type of the woman in Wisdom 7:26, "... she is ... the unspotted mirror of God's Majesty." Thus she is the Mirror of Justice. Pictured here is a mirror.
 
Spiritual Vessel --- Pictured is a chalice with the host. The chalice is the first among spiritual vessels as it is used to hold the blood of Christ during Mass. For nine months the womb of Mary, as a spiritual vessel, held the blood of Jesus.
 
Vessel of Honor --- The words for this title are found in 2 Timothy 2:21, "A vessel unto honour, sanctified and prophetable to the Lord." Comment by Cardinal John Henry Newman on the applicability of this title for Mary: "St. Paul calls elect souls vessels of honour: of honor: of honor because they are filled with God's heavenly and holy grace. How much more Mary is a vessel of honour by reason of her having within her, not only the grace of God, but the very Son of God, formed as regards His flesh and blood out of her!" Pictured here is a vase which holds the three theological virtues ---  faith, hope, and love.
 
Right lancet symbols starting at the top.
 
Crown and lily symbol indicates the four symbols apply to Mary.
 
Morning Star --- From St. John Paul II in his Redemtoris Mater writes on the Virgin Mary as the Morning Star: She is "the one who in the night of the Advent expectation began to shine like a true Morning Star (Stella Matutina). For just as the star, together with the dawn, precedes the rising sun, so Mary, from the time of the Immaculate Conception, preceded the coming Savior, the rising Sun of Justice of the human race." Pictured here is a bright red morning star against a dark background, and below it, the coming brightening of dawn. 
 
Ark of the Covenant --- The contents of the Ark of the Covenant as enumerated in Hebrews 9:4 all are a type of Christ: a golden pot of manna (bread from heaven), the budded staff of Aaron (High Priest), and the stone tablets of the 10 Commandments (the Law). These correspond to: John 6:51, "I am the living bread which came from heaven," in Hebrews 4:14 Jesus is the Great High High Priest," and in Matthew 5:17, "I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill [the Law]. Thus for nine months, Mary's womb contained similar contents (Jesus) as that of the Ark. Pictured is the Ark of the Covenant.
 
Ivory Tower --- The words for this title come from Song of Songs 7:4, "Your neck is like an ivory tower." Comment by Cardinal John Henry Newman on the applicability of this title to Mary, "Unlike towers which as usually rough and graceless structures, she is called the Tower of Ivory to suggest to us, by the brightness and purity, and exquisiteness of that material, how transcendent is the loveliness and the gentleness of the Mother of God." Pictured is an Ivory Tower.
 
Singular Vessel of Honor --- Pictured here is flames rising from a fire pan. In antiquity a fire pan was used as a vessel for devotions to God In Leviticus 16:12, "He [the High Priest] shall take a fire pan of coals of fire from upon the altar before the Lord and two handfuls of finely ground sweet incense, and bring it inside the veil [the Holy of Holies]. Words from the University of Dayton's Litany of Loreto in Context on the applicability of this title to Mary, "The word devotion exceeds the narrow definition of devotional practice and refers to total dedication and fidelity in the service of God. Mary's profession of faith, 'I am the handmaid of the Lord,' most adequately expresses the meaning of this avocation. Her total dedication goes to her Son."
 
The date is unknown, but the window was in place in 1944.

Height: 11'

Width: 6'

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