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

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Window

Building Name: St. John the Baptist Catholic Church

City: Ypsilanti

Window Shape: 3 (arched)

Date of Window: 1933

Subject/Title of Window: Annunciation/Visitation/Shepherds Praising Christ Child/Visit of the Magi

Brief Description of Subject: Each of the 10 aisle windows contain four roundels that picture events in the life of Christ for a total of 40 scenes. These scenes are arranged somewhat in a chronological order starting with the Annunciation (nearest to sanctuary on the epistle side) and ending with Christ the King (nearest to sanctuary on the gospel side).

The roundels in this window from top to bottom:
Annunciation (Luke 1:26 - 38). Mary, in the pose of humility, is seen kneeling on a prie-dieu while reading scriptures. The angel Gabriel has told her that she will give birth to the Messiah. The Holy Spirit, seen in the form of a descending dove, is making the word incarnate. The potted lily plant seen at Mary's feet is a symbol for the Annunciation.
Visitation (Luke 1:39 - 56). After the Annunciation, Mary goes to attend to her cousin Elizabeth who is six months pregnant with John the Baptist. When Elizabeth hears Mary's greeting, the child in her womb leapt and was filled with the Holy Spirit. In Catholicism this leap was the cleansing of the soul of John the Baptist. Although not in the Bible, the artist has chosen to add Mary's husband Joseph to this scene.
Shepherds praising the Christ Child (Luke 2:8 - 20). An angel appeared to shepherds and informed them that today in Bethlehem the Messiah was born and they will find the baby wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger. The roundel pictures the Holy Family with shepherds paying homage to the Christ Child.
Visit of the Magi (Matthew 2:1 - 12) Wise men from the east see a star that is an omen for the birth of the king of the Jews and come to worship him. The Roundel pictures Verse 11 --- "They found the child with Mary his mother, and falling down they adored him; and opening their treasures, they offered him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh." (Douay - Rheims)

Inscriptions: In Memory of J. George Zweigel Family


Condition of Window: Good

Height: 12'

Width: 46"

Type of Glass and Technique: Antique or Cathedral Glass, Lead Came, Vitreous Paint

Annunciation/Visitation/Shepherds Praising Christ Child/Visit of the Magi
Annunciation/Visitation/Shepherds Praising Christ Child/Visit of the Magi
Annunciation
Annunciation
Visitation
Visitation
Shepherds Praising Christ Child
Shepherds Praising Christ Child
Visit of the Magi
Visit of the Magi

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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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