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Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: St. John's Episcopal Church

Studio Name: Detroit Stained Glass Works, The

City: Detroit

Window Shape: 3 (arched)

Date of Window: 1919

Subject/Title of Window: The Word Made Flesh

Brief Description of Subject: This window, above the Chapel altar, is dominated by the center lancet with St. John the Evangelist pointing to his Gospel. John 1: 1 - 14 (KJV) "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God ... And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." Above St. John is a chalice and host --- the Holy Eucharist. Under St. John's feet, is the picture of the "Three Marys at the Tomb."

On either side of this lancet are angels blessing the Lord --- Psalm 103:20 (KJV) "Bless the Lord, you his angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word." Above the angels are the capital Greek letters "Alpha" (the first in the alphabet) and "Omega" (the last in the alphabet) --- Revelation 22:13 (KJV) "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." Below the angel on the left is Christ sitting on His throne and holding an orbus cruciger (symbol of authority) --- Psalm 103:19 (KJV) "The Lord has established His throne in the heaven, and his sovereignty rules over all ." Below the angel on the right is an eagle which is a symbol for St. John the Evangelist --- this comes from the belief that the four creatures in Revelation 4:6 (an ox, face of a man, lion, and eagle) are the four Evangelists; eventually it was standardized that John was the eagle, most likely, because John's Gospel emphasizes Christ's divinity, while the others, his human side --- his Gospel is said to soar heavenward like an eagle.

In the lights below the center lancet are seen grape vines symbolizing Christ --- (John 15:5) "I am the vine." Among the vine in the left light is a Pelican feeding its young --- this symbolizes Christ shedding his blood for our salvation. This stems from the legend that a mother pelican wound its breast to feed its own blood to its starving brood so that they might live. Inscribed below the pelican is the Latin word "Caritas" (love of mankind) --- John 3:16 (KJV) " For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son." Among the vine in the right is a symbol for Christ, the "Agnus Dei" (Lamb of God) carrying the victory-over-death banner --- this comes from John the Baptist's words when he saw Jesus approaching (John 1:29 KJV) "Behold the lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."

This window was donated by Mrs. Frederick B. Stevens in memory of her parents.

Inscriptions: In Memoriam
*June 2 1836 +March 9 1895 Emily Comstock Shipman
Ozias Williams Shipman *January 29 1834 † January 28 1898
In The Beginning Was The Word
Caritas
Agnus Dei


Condition of Window: good

Height: 12'

Width: 8'

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