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Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: St. Florian Catholic Church

Studio Name: Schmitt (Conrad) Studios

City: Hamtramck

Window Shape: 3 (arched)

Date of Window: 1949

Subject/Title of Window: Jesus Appears to Mary/Peter gets keys to Kingdom

Brief Description of Subject: Description: In lens at top of window is an angel with a shield containing an anchor -- anchors are a sign of Christianity as it contains a cross in its shape. Both the lens to the left and the right contain a cross -- sign of Christ death and resurrection. Next lens down is a picture of Jesus, note stigmata hence after his Resurrection, as he appears to the Virgin Mary who is praying from scriptures. At the top of this lens is a banner with a cross on it -- the victory over death banner. On right side of lens is a fleur-de-lis with nails pounded into it -- Mary's sorrow of the crucifixion. Next lens down is Saint John Vianney .He was a famous parish priest and it is estimated that in his lifetime over 20,000 people a year made a pilgrimage to his Church. John Vianney is seen dressed as a parish priest. Next lens down is Jesus giving a gold and a silver key to Peter. At the top of the lens is a picture of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. I do not know the identity of those people who are standing and dressed in purple nor those kneeling. The hexagon below contains a papal tiara and a gold and silver key. The small lens to its left contains the Papal Cross and the one on the right contains a shepherd's staff --- the Latin word for shepherd is "Pastor".

Background: Nowhere in the Scriptures is any mention of Jesus ever appearing to the Virgin Mary after the Resurrection. However It is believed that Christ's first appearance after the Resurrection had to be to his Mother. Artists are left to their imagination as to what that appearance might have looked like. In Matt 16: 18 Jesus  calls Peter a "rock" upon which he will build his Church. This passage is taken as the authority to make Peter the head of the Church (Pope). Matt 16:19 Jesus tells Peter " I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on Earth shall be loosed in heaven. In iconography the key to heaven is gold and the key to earth is silver.

Inscriptions: SAINT JOHN VIANNI


Height: 24'

Width: 4'

The MSGC is a constantly evolving database. Not all the data that has been collected by volunteers has been sorted and entered. Not every building has been completely documented.

All images in the Index are either born-digital photographs of windows or buildings or are scans of slides, prints, or other published sources. These images have been provided by volunteers and the quality of the material varies widely.

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