Featured Window

Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: St. Mary's of Redford Church

Artist Name: Harry Wright Goodhue

City: Redford

Window Shape: 4 (rounded or rose window)

Date of Window: 1926

Subject/Title of Window: Our Lady Star of the Sea

Brief Description of Subject: This is part of a series of 4 roundels located in the nave that depict the Virgin Mary. The sketch for this series by Wright Goodhue currently resides at the Rakow Research Library --- part of the Corning Museum of Glass.

St. Jerome (4th-5th Century) translated the meaning of the Hebrew name "Miriam" (Mary in English) into Latin as "Stilla Maris". Later it was mistakenly copied as "Stella Maris" which means "star of the sea".

The words from the inscription come from words written by St. Bernard (11th Century) and used in the Breviary for the "Feast of the Holy Name of Mary". "Let us speak a few words upon this name (Mary), which signifieth 'Star of the Sea' and suitieth very well the Maiden-Mother. O thou, whosoever thou art, that knowest thyself to be here not so much walking upon firm ground, as battered to and fro by the gales and storms of this life's ocean, IF THOU WOULD NOT BE OVERWHELMED by the tempest, KEEP THINE EYES ON THIS STAR's clear meaning.

This window is best described by the words of St. Aquinas (13th Century). "The name Mary, which is interpreted as 'Star of the Sea', befits her; sailors are guided by the stars, so also Christians (symbols of Christ on sails) are guided by Mary unto glory (arc of light, rainbow, behind Mary is a symbol for glory).

Inscriptions: OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA
IF THOU WOULD NOT BE OVERWHELMED KEEP THINE
EYES ON THIS STAR
IN MEMORY OF AUGUSTIN AND ANN CHAIVOR


Height: 4'

Width: 4'

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