Window 1- Adoration of the Shepherds (Luke 4:9, 4:14)
"In the countryside close by there were shepherds who lived in the fields ...the angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of Ihe Lord shone around them. They were terrified but the angel said 'Do not be afraid. Listen, I bring you news of great joy, to be shared by the whole people. Today in Ihe town of David a savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." The shepherds were the first receivers of the message of salvation. David was a shepherd. "To shepherd" was a synonym for ruling. God himself was called "The Shepherd of Israel." (Psalm 23:I)
Symbols: The seed is small yet has the capability to become a tree. The two doves drinking from a fountain; the fountain is one of the attributes of the Virgin Mary, who is regarded as "the fountain of living water." In the Mosaic law, the dove represented purity and peace. For this reason the dove was used as an offering for purification after the birth of a child. (Luke 2:22, 24)
Window 2 - Holy Family at Nazareth (Matthew 4:4)
"They went and settled in the City of Nazareth so that the words which were spoken by the prophet might be fulfilled: 'He shall be called a Nazarene.'" St. Joseph's role as a carpenter parallels the creative work of God the Father. The Child Jesus is carrying a cross, which is His future redemptive undertaking.
Symbols: The ring is a symbol of unily of the family, the crown a symbol of the kingship of Christ, and the rose represents Mary as a "Rose without thorns."
Window 3 - Jesus Among the Doctors of the Law (Luke 2:41)
"When Jesus was twelve years old. His family took Him to Jenrusalem for the Feast of the Passover. As the family was on the return journey, they found that Christ was not with them. Hurrying back to Jenrusalem, they found Jesus in the temple, surrounded by several doctors or Jewish Rabbis, with whom he was in deep discussion. The Law prescribed the pilgrimage on major feasts, Passover, Pentecost and the Feast of Tabernacles. (Exodus 23:14, Deuteronomy 16:16)
Symbols: The equilateral triangle is the oldest symbol of the Trinity - three equal angles yet distinct. The circle is the circle of eternity. The two tablets of stone represent the Law of the Old Testament.
Window 4 - Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene (John 2O:15)
"...Jesus said 'Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?' Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said 'Sir, if you have taken Him away, tell me where you have put Him and I will go and remove Him.' Jesus said, 'Mary!' She knew Him then and said in Hebrew. 'Rabboni'" which means Master." (John 20:15)
Symbols: "IHS" is the abbreviation for the Greek word meaning Jesus. The Passion flower is the symbol of the Passion of Jesus Christ: the central column of the flower represents the column of scourging, the ovary is shaped like a hammer which was used to nail Jesus to the cross. the three styles represents the three nails, the five stamens represent the five wounds, the ray within the flower is our Lord's divine glory, the leaf is shaped like a spear and the ten petals represent the ten apostles who forsook Jesus, leaving Judas the traitor and John who stood beside the cross.
Window 5 - Jesus Blessing the Little Children (Mark 10:13)
"People were bringing little children to him, for him to touch them. The disciples turned them away, but when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, 'Let the little children come to me: do not stop them for it is of such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. I tell you solemnly, anyone who does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.'" Christ's reaction suggests that some important principle is at stake. Infant Baptisms - "Do not prevent them."
Symbols: The dove represents the Holy Spirit, the cross - faith, the anchor - hope, and the heart - charity. These are the three theological virtues received at Baptism.
Window 6 - Agony in the Garden (Luke 26:40)
After the Last Supper, Christ, knowing the betrayal of Judas, retired with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane. There he took Peter, James and John, He asked them to walt for Him and watch while He went by Himself to commune with God. After He prayed, He returned to find the three disciples asleep and said ... "What, could you not watch with me one hour?"
Symbols: The chalice symbolizes Christ's agony in the garden and the celebration of the Eucharist when we remember Christ's blood shed for us. The lamb symbolizes Christ, the Lamb of God who sacrificed His life for us.
Window 7 - The Crucifixion (Luke 23:33)
"When they reached the place called "The Skull", they crucified Him there." Mary, His mother, Mary Magdalene, and St. John (found only in his gospel) were present.
Symbols: The reed in the Crown of Thorns represent the Kingship of Christ. The whip represents Christ becoming man. The pelican is a symbol of Christ in feeding us with His flesh and blood in the Eucharist, as the pelican in extremes, feeds her young with her flesh. "I am like a pelican of the wilderness." (Psalm 102:6)
Window 8 - Resurrection (Matthew 28:1)
"After the Sabbath and towards dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to visit the sepulcher. And all at once there was a violent earthquake, for the angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled away the stone and sat on it. His face was like lightning... The guards were so shaken, so frightened of Him that they were like dead men."
Symbols: A cross and four rivers are representative of the four gospels flowing from the cross of Christ, to irrigate the earth with the waters of life. The Phoenix is a legendary bird, The legend is that it lives from 4 to 5 hundred years. After gathering a nest of sweet-smelling twigs, the nest is set on fire by the heat of the sun. The Phoenix is consumed in the fire, however, out of these ashes the bird rises again, recreated and young, destined to live another 4 or 5 hundred years. St. Clement introduced the Phoenix as a symbol of Resurrection during the first century.
Window 9 - Penitent Mary Magdalene Washes Feet of Jesus in the City of Capernaum (Luke 7:36)
"Jesus was asked by a Pharisee, named Simon, to enter his house and eat. While Jesus was at the meal, a woman of the city entered and began to wash His feet wilh her tears, to wipe them with her hair and to kiss them. Simon the Pharisee was astounded, for he believed that if Jesus were a true prophet, He would refuse her touch. But Jesus said, 'Her sins which are many are forgiven; for she loved much; but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little'. To the woman Jesus said, 'Your faith has saved you, go in peace.'"
Symbols: The serpent symbolizes the evil spiril, tempter of Adam and Eve. The keys represent the Office of Keys, the one key representing excommunication and the other key representing absolution.
