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: 1953

Subject/Title of Window: St. Paul

Brief Description of Subject: This window, located on the west wall of the north transept, contains three scenes in the life of Paul. All quotes are from the NRSVCE Bible.
 
Scene 1: The conversion of Saul. Acts 9:1 -6.
 
"Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any one who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?' He asked, 'Who are you Lord?' The reply came, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.' "
 
Scene 2: Paul in Athens. Acts 17:16 -32.
 
St. Paul was in Athens where he became alarmed that the city was filled with idols. He set about arguing in the synagogue and marketplace. Many were intrigued with what he was saying and invited him to speak at the Areopagus --- a rock that was a place which could accommodate crowds.
 
This window depicts Paul speaking to the crowd that had gathered to hear him. The sermon he delivered is considered an important early step in the theology of Christ. Today, in Athens, there is a plaque, in Greek, located at the Areopagus that contains that sermon.
 
Scene 3: Luke visits Paul in Rome.
 
Paul spent his last years under house arrest in Rome while waiting his trial before the emperor. While waiting he wrote the epistle known as 2 Timothy. In Chapter 9, he pleads with Timothy to get people to visit him in Rome as "Only Luke is with me." Luke was a companion of Paul and had accompanied him on a few of his trips. It is believed that some of the material for Luke's Acts was provided by Paul.
 
The subject of this window is that visit of Luke to Paul. In the background is a window with bars on it. Standing is Paul, identified by his attribute of a shield with a sword on an open book (the Bible). This attribute comes from Ephesians 6:17 where Paul talks about "putting on the armor of God;" the last verse is, "The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Luke, seated at the table, appears to be taking dictation from Paul.

Height: 87"

Width: 15"

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