Featured Window

Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: Holy Name Church

Studio Name: Detroit Stained Glass Works, The

City: Birmingham

Window Shape: 2 (rectangle)

Date of Window: 1955

Subject/Title of Window: Sacrament of Baptism Part 3, The Son

Brief Description of Subject: This is the third of a three panel window on the Sacrament of Baptism located in the narthex. The panels are separated by the double doors of the front entrance to the Church. Until modern times, one was not allowed to enter the Church unless you were baptized. This necessitated placing the Baptistry either in a separate building or like here, in the narthex.

The Son plays a pivotal part in the Sacrament of Baptism. The Sacrament was instituted by the Son at the Great Commission --- just before his Ascension, he instructed the Apostles "Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19)  

At Easter time, a candle is lit (Paschal Candle) to signify that the Son has risen. It remains in the sanctuary until after Pentecost where it is placed in the Baptistery (It can be seen to the left of the window in the photo for Sacrament of Baptism Part 2 Holy Spirit). The reason for this placement is found in Paul's words in Romans 6:3 -4: Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life."

In this window, the Son is symbolized with the Chi-Rho Cross. Chi (X) and Rho (P) are the first two letters in the Greek spelling of Christ --- Cristos. 

Seen below are fish swimming in water. The symbolism for this comes from the following passage on Baptism written by Tertullian (c.160 - c,225). (Note he assumes knowledge that "ICHTHYS" is the Greek word for "fish" and forms an acrostic for "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior):

"We little fish, after the image of our ICHTHYS, Jesus Christ, are born in water, nor have we safety in any other way than permanently abiding in water."

Thus the fish in this window represent "we little fish" swimming in the living water of Baptism.

This window was designed by Margaret Bouchez Cavanaugh when she worked at the Detroit Stained Glass Works.

Condition of Window: Good

Height: 90"

Width: 20"

Type of Glass and Technique: Antique or Cathedral Glass

The MSGC is a constantly evolving database. Not all the data that has been collected by volunteers has been sorted and entered. Not every building has been completely documented.

All images in the Index are either born-digital photographs of windows or buildings or are scans of slides, prints, or other published sources. These images have been provided by volunteers and the quality of the material varies widely.

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