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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: The Eucharist Part 2

Brief Description of Subject: This two lancet aisle window is located on the gospel side of the Felician Sisters 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 Felician Sisters Chapel uses a circle shape and the color of blue.
 
Left lancet Top to Bottom
 
Unidentified: Stalks of wheat (host), a cross (Christ) in a triangle (Trinity), and what appears to be four streams of water (divine grace). As the top usually sets the stage for the symbols below it, it must represent the Eucharist.
 
Chalice with the Host. The Eucharist is pictured with a chalice (Blood of Christ) and a Host (Body of Christ). Unidentified object around the chalice and host.
 
Monstrance: A sacred vessel used to hold the Host for the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.
 
Four Fishes holding a Host in their mouth. The fishes symbolized those who were baptized --- Turtulians's "On Baptism" Chapter 1, "We little fishes, after the example of our ICHTHYS [transliterated Greek word for fish] Jesus Christ, are born in water." Thus pictured is the faithful receiving the Eucharist.
 
Tabernacle: Pictured here with a golden door inscribed with the Chi Rho (Christ) with a cross on top. The tabernacle is the place where the consecrated hosts are stored. The word "tabernacle" comes from the Latin word for "tent." In the Israelites wandering in the desert, God had them place the Ark of the Covenant in a tent. Thus a tabernacle is a place where God is present.
 
Richt lancet top to bottom.
 
Top is the same as the top of the left lancet, most likely a symbol for the Eucaharist.
 
The Host: A host is the transubstantiated bread, the Body of Christ.
 
A Pelican With its Offspring: There is a legend that the mother Pelican would peck its breast to feed its own blood to save its starving offspring. This became a symbol for Jesus as he shed his blood for our salvation.
 
Two Doves Drinking water from a Cup Inscribed With a Cross: This picture is based on a famous 5th Century mosaic located in the Mausoleum of Galla Placida, Ravenna, Italy. In early Christian iconography, doves represented the faithful as they received the Holy Spirit (symbol a dove) at Baptism. In John 4:14, Christ said, "Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become a spring of water welling up to eternal life." A fitting mosaic for a Mausoleum.
 
The Phoenix Bird: In Mythology, the Phoenix bird would burn itself to ashes only to rise again restored to its youth. From this, it is a symbol for the resurrection of the dead, especially the Resurrection of Christ.
 
Although the exact date is unknown, this window was in place by 1944.

Height: 11'

Width: 6'

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