Featured Window

Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

Click any image to enlarge.

MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: St. Florian Catholic Church

Studio Name: Schmitt (Conrad) Studios

City: Hamtramck

Window Shape: 3 (arched)

Subject/Title of Window: Ascension/Transfiguration

Brief Description of Subject: Window Description: Top lens contains a shield with the Alpha - Omega symbol which comes from Rev 21:6 God says He is the Alpha and the Omega (beginning and end of the Greek alphabet). Also in the shield is a cross with 2 nails symbolizing the Passion. The lens to the left contains stylized wings.The lens on the right contains a "Tau Rho" cross -- this is probably the oldest symbol for the crucifixion, the Tau (T-shaped) forms the bottom of the cross and the Rho (P - shaped) forms the top part of the cross with the loop in the "P" making it look like a head on the cross. The next lens down is the "Ascension". Christ decked out in royal purple and green is seen rising with divine light shining on his head. Witnessing the event is the 11 apostles (Judas committed suicide)-- the artist has added Mary to the crowd. Below this lens is Saint John Bosco with his attributes -- dressed in a cassock and what looks like a prison to me (he did work with prisoners early on but have never seen this as an attribute for him). Lens below this is the "Transfiguration" In the middle is Jesus all in white. To his left is Moses holding the tablets of the 10 commandments (the 4 on one tablet are the commandments that pertain to God). To Jesus's right is the prophet Elijah giving the prophet's arm gesture in mini form probably an artistic decision as outstretched arms would not fit in the lens. It looks like Peter is praying and James and John have there hands over their ears. The hexagon below contains the IHS monogram (Greek letters for Jesus) in a circle like figure which is the symbol for the Eucharist; this is surrounded by tongues of fire -- the Holy Spirit. The lens on the right contains the Greek letter chi (X-shaped symbol for Christ) superimposed on a cross -- Christ on the cross. This is inside a wheel (eternal life) with a tongue of fire -- Holy Ghost. Lens on the left contains a snake on a cross -- In Numbers 21:4-9 the Israelites were complaining about God. So God sends down snakes to kill the grumblers. Moses asks God for help. God tells him to make a bronze snake and put it on a pole and if a person is bit by a snake will look at the bronze snake he will live. John 3:14-15 Jesus tells Nicodemus -- as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness even so must the Son of God be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. Hence the snake on the cross represents those that believe in the Resurrection will have eternal life.

Background: The Ascension is the 2nd Glorious Mystery and is covered in Acts 1: 6 -11 paraphrasing -- When the apostles were with Jesus he told them the Holy Spirit would come upon them and they would preach about Him to the ends of the Earth. After he said this he was taken up into a cloud and disappeared. Saint John Bosco was a 19th Century priest known for working with young boys from poor and troubled backgrounds. He is almost always pictured with a cassock and young boys. The Transfiguration is the 4th Luminous Mystery of the Rosary. and is covered in Luke 9:28-36 paraphrasing -- Jesus took Peter, John and James (the greater) up onto a mountain to pray and as he was praying his face changed and his clothes became very bright. Moses and Elijah appeared in glorious splendor. A cloud enveloped them and Peter, John and James became afraid. Then a loud voice said "This is my Son whom I have chosen.

Inscriptions: SAINT JOAN BOSCO
(better known as John Bosco)


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.

If you have any questions, additions or corrections, or think you can provide better images and are willing to share them, please contact donald20@msu.edu