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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: Parables

Brief Description of Subject: This two lancet aisle window is located on the epistle 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.
 
Christ the Good Shepherd: This comes from John 10:11, "I am the good shepherd." Pictured in this window is a shepherd's crook, flowers, green grass and a red tree. This illustrates Psalm 23:1 - 2, "The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures."
 
Parable of the Sower: This is found in Luke 8:5 - 8. A farmer scatters seeds, some fell on the path, some fell on rock, others fell on thorns ---- these had bad results. However those that fell on good soil yielded a crop. This is illustrated here with seeds falling onto the ground with two small sprouts coming up.
 
Parable of the Lost Sheep: Matthew 18:10 - 14. A man has a hundred sheep and loses one. He leaves the others and searches until he finds it. Pictured here is a red crook (shepherd). The other objects seen but not identifiable enough to relate to this parable --- a green tree, a path that looks like green thorns, and at the bottom right, what looks like some sort of pyramidal buildings in a desert.
 
The Narrow and Wide Gates: Pictured is a gate with a narrow opening. This illustrates a teaching from the Sermon of the Mount, Matthew 7:13 - 14, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
 
Right lancet, top to bottom.
 
Parable of the Rich Young Man: This parable is found in Matthew 19:16 - 24. A rich man asked Jesus, "What must I do to get eternal life, I already obey the Commandments, what do I lack? Jesus answered, "To be perfect, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven." When the man heard this, he was dismayed and walked away. Seen in this window  is a needle with a small eye and some thread which illustrates verses 23 - 24, "Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'It is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven ... It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.' "
 
Jesus at the Door: This teaching comes from Revelation 3:14 - 21. Christ aims these remarks to the church in Laodicea. He was angry that they were Christians in name only; they had not lifted up their hearts to the Lord. Illustrated here, with a door inscribed with the word "Jesus," is verses 19 - 20, "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."
 
Jesus the Way to the Father: This is found in John 14:1 - 13, "Thomas said to him, 'Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we find the way?" Seen in this window is the Chi Rho (Christ) and the word "VIA" (Latin for "way"). This illustrates verse 6, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
 
Paying Taxes to Caesar: Pictured is a red cross (God) and a coin with the inscription "SPQR," (a Roman insignia which stands for Senatus Populusque Romanus --- Senate and the Roman People). This illustrates Christ's teaching found in Mark 12:13 - 17. The Pharisees, to trick Jesus, asked him, "Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar?" Christ asked for a Roman coin, and in verse 17 replied, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's."
 
Although the exact date is unknown, this window was in place by 1944.

Height: 11'

Width: 6'

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