Stained Glass Window Assignment

Purgatory, Window 44 (17)
The first window that one sees when they walk into the Notre Dame Basilica is one that depicts purgatory. An angel is depicted hovering over a group of humans who are burning in the realm of purgatory. Slightly above the angle the Lord rests on a cloud with his right hand on his heart, and his left in the air. As the angle flies by with her red wings, she carries with her challis with a Eucharist on top of it. She is draped in garments that are either the same color as the Lord’s or are considered holy like the light blue that Mary is usually seen wearing. While her one hand holds the chalice, the other points upwards to the Lord. While the chalice and Eucharist are depicted to show the great effects of the efficacious signs of grace like commandments. With the acceptance of these gifts, one is reminded with her pointing fingers that they too can reach the gates of heaven and rejoice in salvation. The humans are in purgatory because they must cleanse their souls of evil to move from the state of purgatory to the state of heaven. While they are depicted as suffering in flames, viewers are reminded of Christ’s suffering by the prominent nail wound on his left hand, and his stab wound in his right hypochondriac region. By contemplating the suffering that Jesus had to go through for other’s sins, one is encouraged to reflect upon their own life to notice what sacrifice and suffering they have made for others. One must utilize the gifts of God and live a lifestyle that is in accordance with his teachings to be able to enjoy the everlasting life in heaven.

Saint Crispin, Window 40 (34)
Saint Crispin was the patron saint of shoemakers, leatherworkers, and tanners. He was a common man who made shoes with other family members. His intention of selling shoes was not so he could live a lavish lifestyle of lust and gluttony, but rather so he could sustain his true passion of preaching the gospel during the day. Saint Crispin can be seen wearing modest clothes with some intricately designed red shoes, showcasing the vast talent of the shoemaker. While one hand lays rest on his heart, the other can be seen holding a French shoemaker’s hammer. Like many of the other saints, Saint Crispin was a martyr because he would not renounce his religious beliefs. Unlike most people who are about to have their head decapitated by a swinging sword, Saint Crispin is seen on his knees looking upwards towards heaven with an adorning face. He is saying a prayer in his last dying moments, showcasing how strong his faith is. This depiction of the Saint does a particular good job as an icon, symbolizing a manifestation of something greater than tangible items. With unbroken faith through life, Saint Crispin is able to express a divine truth in a manner that humans can perceive and would be relatively hard to understand otherwise. Saint Crispin knows that his faith has prepared him for this moment and that God will watch over while taking care of him. This serves as a great reminder to viewers that the Lord always has a plan for his children, and that we must have faith in what he says for he is omnipotent and knows what is best.

Saint Valentina, Window 41 (28)
In the nave of the basilica each saint can be seen twice, once in a large image that portrays just them and what they are known for, and once in a smaller image that depicts them in a narrative scene from the saint’s life. For Saint Valentine’s larger image, she is seen wearing blue and red, while having a gold vest over it all. On top of her head, she also wears a crown with some jewels on it. It could seem odd that a saint would be wearing a crown and something gold, which would suggest a lot of wealth at that time. The signs of being well-off remind viewers that even though she had a lot of tangible things that had monetary value, she was quick to give it away to those who needed it more. Valentina would eventually be killed because of her religious beliefs and this is shown through her carrying a white arrow. In the smaller image, Saint Valentina can be seen distributing loaves of bread to those who are less fortunate. She serves as a great example to viewers of using one’s blessing to help others. It would have been easy for her to hoard her wealth, but instead she chooses to spread it because she knows that those are not true gifts according to God. Everyone can do a better job regarding charity, and this window of Saint Valentina serves as a great reminder.

Saint Philomena, Window 41 (31)
Saint Philomena is the patron saint to young women, children, and infants. She can be seen wearing a red cloak along with other brightly colored garments. Similarly to Saint Valentina, Saint Philomena came from a wealthy background as she was once a greek princess and comes from wealth. Her right hand can be seen laying on top of an anchor, symbolizing her martyrdom, and her left on top of her heart. Her body is turned to the side as her head looks upwards as she gazes to the heavens. In the Greek language her name means “beloved”, and she is truly beloved by many because of her willingness to not renounce the Christian faith. Because her faith was strong and her love for God was so prominent, Saint Philomena decided to suffer through a painful death of being drowned and shot at instead of giving in. Her actions serve as a great reminder of virtue to those who pass by. If one is able to form a high moral compass similar to that of Saint Philomena, they will be true followers of the Lord and will live out his teachings. Especially at The University of Notre Dame, it can be easy to fall into the trap of subconsciously thinking they are above others. Saint Philomena proved that even with such a high social class, one must put God and his askings above all, and must help others in the community.

Saint Dominic, Window 39 (40)
Saint Dominic is the patron saint of astronomers and the Dominican Republic, and is my all-time favorite saint. Going to the Dominican high school of Fenwick just outside of Chicago, I was constantly looking and learning about the beloved saint. Saint Dominic can be seen barefoot wearing the classic black and white Dominican habit. In his hand is a lily, which symbolizes his purity and love, and in the other is a book. Saint Dominic founded the Order of Preachers, so it is no surprise that he is pictured looking to the side as he preaches to those around him. He always carried around the Gospel of Matthew and was equipped with his greatest “weapon”, a rosary. I personally wish that the dog carrying a flaming torch in its mouth was depicted, but the window still does a good job of portraying the “word of light”. Regarding the rosary, it was believed that Mary and Jesus revealed the tool to him while he was in prayer. With this window, it is essential to remember that the difference between an idol and an icon is the attitude and desire of the person who is approaching the image. Similar to when Saint Dominic is kneeling in the smaller image, one must approach the window with reverence so God is able to gaze upon themselves through the encounter with the image. Without the piece mediating the interaction between God and the viewer, one cannot fully soak in all that there is offered by the beautiful piece of art.

Father Sorin’s Votive Window Window 31, (105)
Father Sorin is one of the most prominent people in Notre Dame history. Without him, the university would not be the same, so he is deserving of such a beautiful piece of art. The window shows Father Sorin kneeling before an altar in an elaborate robe. He is offering the Virgin Mary a votive replica of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. When he first arrived, Father Sorin believed that the “deep and unspotted covering of snow was spread over the land and water, and forcibly brought to their mind the Unspotted Virgin.” He wanted to give thanks for this blessed opportunity to continue to spread the word of the Lord. While most students think of Father Sorin as always having his notorious long beard, it must be noted that he is depicted as clean shaven. Similarly to Saint Dominic, Father is depicted as being on his knees. Thinking back to icons, one can remember that one must approach the image in a manner that allows for the proper mindset. Without the correct desire and frame of mind, one might make the image an idol and participate in idolatry. By being on his knees, Father Sorin shows the utmost respect and humility upon approaching the altar. He is putting himself in a state both physically and mentally where God can communicate with him. Without this, Father Sorin would not be able to properly give thanks for the “general dedication of the whole Institution of Notre Dame,” to the buildings of the university, the statue on the dome, and “the ground on which we move.”

The Sacred Heart of Jesus, Window 27 (116)
The Sacred Heart of Jesus window depicts Jesus dressed in brightly colored garments as his heart protrudes from his body. Jesus is looking so deeply into the viewer that when one walks by this window, they feel as if he is looking into their soul. The window does a particular good job at transferring those who view to a state which is out of this normal worldly environment. This transformation and deep relationship encourages viewers to reflect internally. As such, the icon promotes contemplation of what the image is saying to them so they can have a dialect between the Holy spirit and themselves. Going back to the window, one notices that Jesus’s hands are pointing directly to his heart, which has beams of light radiating from it. With so much emphasis on heart, one naturally starts to think about the tender love that the Lord has for his flock. One can take for granted all that they are blessed with, so it is essential that they occasionally take the time to reflect on their blessing and give thanks for them. The glowing heart also speaks about Jesus’s compassion. Whether it was helping those with leprosy or suffering on the cross for others, Jesus has always been quick to help those in need. The window is not asking for the martyrdom of viewers, but is simply asking them to perhaps engage in showing some more love and kindness throughout their day to day life.

The Dormition of the Virgin, Window 29 (119)
The Dormition of the Virgin is a window that depicts the falling asleep of the blessed virgin Mary. In this scene, over a dozen people are crammed into a crowded bedroom. They are currently in John the Apostle’s residence because he decided to take the Dying Mary there so he could take care of her. When looking at the figures, each of the 12 apostles seems to have a distinct job or role. Peter can be seen giving the priestly blessing, and a young and clean-shaven John has his arms wrapped around her. In his hand a green palm branch can be found, signifying the paradise she would be going to after this life on earth. While most depictions of Mary in my mind have her looking directly at the viewer, she is actually looking off to the side, away from the entire room. The figure directly below Mary wearing a green piece of clothing kneels down while looking over his right shoulder. This figure seems to almost be looking at the viewer, and inviting them to participate in the moment. By taking the viewer from the current world and placing them in this moment, the viewer is able to reflect deeply about the moment and pick up some things from it. Such things can include how Mary always exemplified kindness and compassion, how our life on earth comes to an end, or how heaven is the true final destination for humans to name a few.

The Four Evangelist, Window 32 (99)
In the Basilica, the four evangelists of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are presented. Each evangelist holds the scroll of his Gospel and is pictured as barefoot. Each of the four men is known best for a single attribute and is seen with such from a vision of the prophet Ezekiel. These creatures “carry the throne of mercy, indicating the divine presence of God among his people.” Focusing in on John, a younger self is portrayed looking up towards the sky. He is most likely thinking about God as he gazes towards the heavens, and has an eagle on his side. The eagle is able to soar higher than any other bird, and doing so allows for the bird to almost touch the heavens. John was known particularly well for his profound work in theology, and is depicted as such with a wise animal and a scroll in his hand. John wrote the Gospel of John, the three Letters of John, and the Book of Revelation, showcasing his important works. Just like how John is pictured contemplating theology, viewers are encouraged to contemplate themselves. I like to equate this situation with someone studying with another person. I find it particularly helpful when I go to the library to study with someone, even if we are not talking at all. Just being in the mere presence of someone who is doing the same thing as you helps keep one on track and pushes them to the next level. In no way is John forcing viewers to contemplate the Lord, but rather he is inviting them to evaluate with him about anything that comes to mind.

Guardian Angel, Window 27 (114)
In this window, a Guardian Angel is depicted gently placing their hand on the head of a child. The Guardian Angel serves the role of protecting and hovering over the child that they are looking after. With body position, facial expressions, and distance between the two, one can see that there is a clear sense of trust expressed between the two. The child is not only close to the Angel in a physical sense, but can also be seen with folded hands, showing that they are praying. This portrait of prayer shows a fruitful relationship, but also encourages viewers to partake in similar actions. With each and every person having a Guardian Angel, there will always be someone to talk to with prayer. This someone will always be on your side, and will look to keep you safe. In the smaller picture, a small child can be seen to be lost in the middle of a forest. The Guardian Angel is quick to scoop in to help the small child. The Congregation of Holy Cross especially honors Guardian Angels, and considers` them to be models and patrons of teachers. One can recognize this and start to reflect on what the Angels have to offer. By simplifying sitting in prayer with them, one can have a conversation where they can learn how to better themselves as Catholics. It is crucial to approach these instances with the correct mindset so one can fully grasp what is being given unto them. With the right state of mind, one can community and truly understand what is being asked of them. The Guardian Angels can also be considered as a symbol of the manifestation of the Holy Spirit. Through this work of art, the Guardian Angels are able to express a divine truth in a manner that humans, especially children in this case, can understand.