Gospel Side Windows

About Our Stained Glass Windows

Sanctuary Windows on the Left or West Side

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The windows above the Altar on the Left or West Side tell us the story of Christ’s Passion and Death.

In the top window is a golden Chalice and Flower. The Flower represents the Garden of Gethsemani and the Chalice refers to our Lord’s agony in that Garden where He said: “My soul is sad even unto death.” And going forward a little, He fell prostrate and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is possible, let this chalice pass away from Me; yet not as I will, but as Thou willest.”

The Pitcher and Basin recall Jesus before Pilate with the crowd crying out: Let Him be crucified! “Now Pilate seeing that he was doing no good, but rather that a riot was breaking out, took water and washed his hand in sight of the crowd, saying: I am innocent of the blood of this just Man. And all the people answered and said: His Blood be on us and on our children.”

The Cock refers to Peter’s Denial. While Christ was on trial, Peter huddled outside in the courtyard. Three times he cursed and swore that he know not Christ. After his third protestation, Sacred Scripture relates: “And at that moment a cock crowed a second time. And Peter remembered the word that Jesus had said to him: Before a cock crows twice, thou wilt deny Me three times. And he began to weep.”

The Whips and the Pillar tell of Christ’s scourging. “Now at the festival time the procurator used to release to the crowd a prisoner, whomever they would. Now he had at that time a notorious prisoner called Barabbas… The chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to destroy Jesus… Then he released to them Barabbas; but Jesus he had scourged.”

The Crown of Thorns refers to this added torture in the Passion: “Then the soldiers of the procurator took Jesus into the Praetorium… And they put on Him a scarlet cloak; and plainting a crown of thorns, they put it upon His Head… And bending the knee before Him they mocked Him, saying: Hail, King of the Jews! And they spat on Him and took the reed and kept striking Him on the Head.“

The last window represents the Death of Christ. The three blue Nails symbolize the crucifixion. The placard with I.N.R.I. refers to the sign placed on the Cross. “And Pilate also wrote an inscription and had it put on the Cross. And there was written: Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews… And it was written in Hebrew, in Greek, and in Latin.” I.N.R.I. are the first letters of the words of his inscription in Latin: Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum.