Featured Window

Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: Sacred Heart Catholic Church

Studio Name: Friederichs and Wolfram

City: Detroit

Window Shape: 5 (gothic arched, 2 vertical sections)

Subject/Title of Window: St. Catherine of Alexandria and St. Monica

Brief Description of Subject: The roundel in the canopy of this nave window contains many symbols:
1. L.C.B.A. --- the initials for the Ladies Catholic Benevolent Society
2. Cross with heart --- Christian symbol for the love of God
3. Anchor cross --- symbolizes our hope for eternal life through our faith in Christ. This is based on Hebrews 6:18 - 19, "We may have the strongest comfort ... to hold fast the hope set before us. Which we have as an anchor of the soul. "
4. Laurel wreath --- Laurel leaves never wilt but remain green, hence they are a symbol for victory over death, eternal life.
 
The left lancet pictures St. Catherine of Alexandria (287 - 305). She is one of the Fourteen Helpers. According to tradition, she was born into royalty. After her baptism, she had a vision of Christ taking her as his celestial bride and putting a ring on her finger. During the persecutions of Christians, she was tortured on a wheel and beheaded with a sword. Catherine is pictured here with her attributes --- a crown signifying her royalty, a wheel and sword signifying method of martyrdom, and holding a palm frond, the symbol for a martyr's victory over death, eternal life.
 
The right lancet pictures St. Monica (331 - 387). She is known through, arguably one of the most important works in Christianity, "Confessions," written by her son, St. Augustine. Agustine relates how through his mother's efforts he gave up his wayward life and heresy. His father, a pagan Roman official, was the cause of much suffering for his mother through his immoral life but she kept praying for him and before he died he converted to Christianity. Monica is the patron saint of wayward children and difficult marriages. She is pictured here holding a crucifix.
 
Above the scenes is a floral and geometrical design using pastel colors.
 
In the predella is a banner designating the donors as the Ladies Catholic Benevolent Society Branch 113.

Inscriptions: L.C.B.A.
L.C.B.A. Branch 113


Height: 20'

Width: 4'

Type of Glass and Technique: Opalescent Glass, Enamel Paint

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