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

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Window

Building Name: St. Andrew Catholic Church

Studio Name: Emil Frei Associates, Inc.

City: Saginaw

Window Shape: 3 (arched)

Date of Window: 1912

Subject/Title of Window: Extreme Unction

Brief Description of Subject: From Faith in Stained Glass Saint Andrew Church booklet by Michael Bell, published August 15, 1976.
This is one of the windows of the apse. The apse, that is, the semi-circular area of the sanctuary which contains the altar, has been a usual feature of Christian churches since the first century. The first churches were usually converted Roman basilicas, buildings which were used for assembly halls or law courts. The place where the judge originally sat became the spot from which the priest came to preside over the Mass. In time the altar was moved from its central, free standing position and it was place against the back wall of the apse where it remained until the Second Vatican Council restored it to its original position. The apse of St. Andrew's is lit by nine small Gothic windows. Seven of them portray the seven sacraments; the first and last windows bear the "alpha" and the "omega", the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet.

One of Seven Sacraments: Extreme Unction (Sacrament of the Sick). Jesus' special care and compassion for the sick is often shown in the gospels. In the letter of James, we are told that if someone is ill, "he should send for the elders of the church, and they must anoint him with oil and pray over him" (James 5:14). Formerly the sacrament was called "the last anointing". It is now called "the sacrament of the sick" to stress the idea that one need not be dying to merit the special attention of the church. The hour glass is often used to portray the passage of time, and imminent death, the circumstances under which the sacrament used to be commonly administered. The jar would contain the oil of the sick which was used to anoint the senses during the rite.

Condition of Window: Good

Height: 5' or 6'

Width: 2'

Type of Glass and Technique: Enamel Paint

Extreme Unction
Extreme Unction
Exreme Unction detail
Exreme Unction detail

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