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Window of the Month
Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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Window

Building Name: Christ the King Catholic Church

Artist Name: Andrew R. Maglia

City: Detroit

Window Shape: 2 (rectangle)

Date of Window: 1962

Subject/Title of Window: Baptism 4

Brief Description of Subject: This window is located in a room that is accessed at the back of the Church. It served as the baptistry until Vatican II which now allows baptisms to be performed in the Church. Baptisms in this Church are now performed near the altar.
 
The four symbols seen in this window illuminate Romans 6:3 - 4, "Are you not unaware we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the Glory of the Father, we too might live a new life."
 
Symbols from top to bottom:
 
Chi Rho Cross,monogram for Christ formed from the first two letters of the Greek word for "Christ." In the center is a scallop shell which is often used to pour the water in Baptism. Baptismal water surrounds the whole symbol.
 
Capital Greek letters "Alpha" "Mu" and "Omega," are the first, middle, and last letters in the Greek Alphabet. As a symbol they come from Revelation 1:8, " 'I am the Alpha and the Omega,' says the Lord God, 'who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.' "  This is used in a prayer called the "Glory Be," --- "Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning [Alpha], is now [Mu], and ever shall be world without end [Omega]."
 
Ankh cross is a symbol for the eternal life promised by Jesus.
 
The butterfly is a symbol for Jesus as well as those that believe in him. This comes from the similarity of their life.--- caterpillar (life), chrysalis (death), butterfly (new life -- resurrection).

Height: 66"

Width: 22"

Baptism 4
Baptism 4

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