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Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: St. John the Baptist Catholic Church

City: Ypsilanti

Window Shape: 3 (arched)

Date of Window: 1933

Subject/Title of Window: Keys To The Kingdom/Transfiguration/Good Samaritan/Martha and Mary of Bethany

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 the sanctuary on the epistle side) and ending with Christ the King (nearest the sanctuary on the gospel side).

The roundels in this window from top to bottom:
Keys to the Kingdom (Matthew 16:13 - 20). Jesus had asked his disciples who they thought the Son of Man is, and they named various prophets. However, Simon identified Jesus as the Son of man. Jesus responded, "Blessed are you, Simon, and I say to you, that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of heaven." (Verses 17 - 19 CPDV). The sheep seen in this window refers to John 21:15 - 18 --- After the Resurrection Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him. Each time, Peter answers, "You know I do Lord," and each time Jesus responds "Feed my Sheep."
Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1 - 5). "After six days, Jesus took Peter and James and his brother John, and he led them onto a lofty mountain separately. And he was transfigures before them. And his face shined brightly like the sun. And his garments were made like snow. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, speaking with him," (CPDV). In this window Elijah is holding a book --- a symbol for a prophet. Moses is holding the tablets of the 10 Commandments. Note the division of the 10 commandments on the tablets reflects the Catholic version that the first three pertain to relationships to God while the last seven pertain to relationships to mankind.
Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25 - 37). To test Jesus, a legal scholar said, "To obtain eternal life you must love the Lord thy God with your whole heart and love thy neighbor as thyself, but who is my neighbor?" Jesus answered him with a parable: A man was attacked by robbers. who after beating him and stripping him of his clothes, left him by the side of the road. A priest and later a Levi saw him and just went their way, but when a Samaritan saw him, he gave him clothes, food, and then put him on his own donkey and brought him to an inn and took care of him. Jesus then asked "Which of these three, does it seem to you, was a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers? Then he said, The one who acted with mercy toward him. And Jesus said to him, Go, and act similarly." (CPDV).
Martha and Mary of Bethany (Luke 10:38 - 42). "Now it happened that, while they were traveling, he entered into a certain town. And a certain woman, named Martha, received him into her home. And she had a sister, named Mary, who, while sitting beside the Lord's feet, was listening to his word. Now Martha was continually busying herself with serving. And she stood still and said: 'Lord, is it not a concern to you that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore, speak to her, so that she may help me.' And the Lord responded by saying to her: 'Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled over many things. And yet only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the best portion, and it shall not be taken away from her.' " (CPDV)

Inscriptions: Warren M. and Mary Peek Detroit


Condition of Window: Good

Height: 12'

Width: 46"

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

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