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Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: St. Paul's Presbyterian Church

Studio Name: Willet Hauser Architectural Glass

City: Livonia

Window Shape: 2 (rectangle)

Date of Window: 1966

Subject/Title of Window: Holy Week and Good Friday

Brief Description of Subject: Each of the four east (geographical) nave windows are made up of two panels featuring scenes taken from the life of Christ. They are roughly in chronological order starting with the one nearest the Chancel.

This window's scenes are from the start of Holy Week through Good Friday. Designed by Eric Sundean, the maker's signature appears at the bottom of each panel.

Left Panel:
Upper Scene: Triumphal entry into Jerusalem is found in John 12:12 - 19. Jesus's ministry in Jerusalem starts with this entry into Jerusalem. When many of the people who were in Jerusalem for the upcoming feast of Passover heard he was coming, they took palm branches and went out to meet him shouting, "Blessed is the King of Israel" (Verse 13 NIV). Jesus had procured a donkey to ride into Jerusalem so that the scriptures (Zachariah 9:9) would be fulfilled.

Middle Scene: Last Supper is found in Matthew 26:17 - 30. This scene is Verse 27, "Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them" (NIV). According to the Gospel of John, Judas was in charge of the money for the Apostles and was a thief. Judas is seen at the end of the table with a money bag.

Lower Scene: Jesus prays on the Mount of Olives (Gethsemane) as found in Luke 22: 39 - 45. After the Last Supper, Jesus took Peter, James and John to Gethsemane. Upon arriving, he told them to stay and keep watch while he prayed to the Father. This scene is Verse 41 - 43 ---"He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down, and prayed. 'Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.' An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him." When he went back to the disciples he found them sleeping.

Right Panel:
Upper Scene: Peter's Denial as found in Luke 22:54 - 60. After the last Supper, Jesus told a disbelieving Peter, that before the day was out, you will deny me three times before the rooster crows twice. A short time later, Jesus was arrested and led to the house of the high priest. All of the disciples fled, except Peter, who followed the crowd to the courtyard of the high priest. When they made a fire in the middle of the courtyard, Peter sat down with them. There a servant girl of the high priest kept identifying him as a follower of Jesus, but each time Peter denied knowing the man. On the third denial a rooster crowed for the second time. This window shows Jesus, with hands bound, being held by a guard. Peter, by the courtyard fire, gestures emphatically that he does not know Jesus. A rooster is seen in the upper right corner.

Middle Scene: Crucifixion based on material found in Mark 19:25 - 27. John is the only Gospel that mentions which of the followers of Jesus were present at the cross --- Jesus' mother Mary, Mary's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, Mary Magdalene, and John (the Apostle). John writes that when Jesus saw his mother and John at the foot of the cross, he told them that henceforth John would be taking care of her. Most likely, this scene pictures Jesus' mother knelling with John standing behind her. At the top of the cross are the initials "INRI," which stands for "Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews," the phrase Pontius Pilate had ordered put on the cross.

Lower Scene: The Centurion's confession is found in Mark 15:38. Just before Jesus died on the cross, He cried out words from Psalm 22:1, "My God, My God why have you forsaken me," When Jesus died, the curtain at the entrance to the Holy of Holies in the Temple was torn from top to bottom. "And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, 'Surely this man was the Son of God!'" (NIV)

Condition of Window: Good

Height: 88"

Width: 58"

Type of Glass and Technique: Opalescent Glass, Lead Came

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