Featured Window

Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: Our Lady Queen of Apostles Catholic Church

Studio Name: Willet Hauser Architectural Glass

City: Hamtramck

Window Shape: 3 (arched)

Date of Window: 1951

Subject/Title of Window: Scenes Leading Up to the Birth of Jesus

Brief Description of Subject: This is the first of three windows located on the north wall of the transept. They picture scenes leading up to the birth of Jesus, the Nativity, and Jesus before his ministry, respectively.
 
Starting from the bottom, the scenes in this window are in chronological order.
 
Scene 1: Adam and Eve Banished From Eden. Genesis 3:21 - 24.
 
As a consequence of Adam disobeying God by eating the fruit from the tree of knowledge,shown here with a serpent around its trunk, Adam and Eve are escorted out of Eden by an angel. Because of Adam's sin, God will send his only son to redeem mankind.
 
Scene 2: Abraham Tested. Genesis 22:9 -12.
 
God has told Abraham he must sacrifice his only son, seen here tied on an altar. Just before carrying out the sacrifice, God sends an angel to stop him. This story is understood to be a prototype of the crucifixion.
 
Scene 3: The Presentation of the Virgin Mary. Protoevangelium of James 7:2.
 
This scene parallels the Old Testament story of Hanna and her child Samuel. Without a child and beyond child bearing years, Anne and Joachim pray to God vowing, if granted a child, they will dedicate the child to God. Their prayers were answered with a child they named "Mary." Depicted is Anne and Joachim presenting their three year old child, the Virgin Mary, to the priests to be raised in the Temple.
 
Scene 4: The Annunciation: Luke 1:26 - 35.
 
An angel appears to the Virgin Mary telling her that she will conceive the Savior by the power of the Holy Spirit (descending dove), and she is to name the child "Jesus."
 
Scene 5: Joseph's Dream. Matthew 1:20 -21
 
Joseph was betrothed to the Virgin Mary when he found out that she was already with child. Rather than disgrace her, he considered quietly divorcing her. But an angel appeared to him in a dream, and told him that the child was conceived by the Holy Spirit. When he awoke, he took Mary home as his wife.

Height: 17'

Width: 2'

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