Dear Parishioners,
Stained Glass Windows Done!
The stained glass windows are done! Praise God! Another miracle in our midst. The miracle isn’t in the final completion, but rather that they even exist. All the otter windows were designed for stained glass windows at sometime in the distant future. Well, that was simply not to be. Rather, due to the amazing generosity of so many parishioners, we had plenty of people come forward with additional pledges to make the windows a reality sooner than later… and so here we are, windows designed, crafted, and installed. I am in awe of every single window. They have changed the look and feel of our new church, giving it that last bit of beauty to set it apart. Again, they are awesome, that is awe-filling.
Since the installation of the last of the stained glass windows, I have had more questions about the four windows in the Day Chapel than any other set of windows. So, let me take this opportunity to give you a basic understanding of the origin and meaning of these traditional images for the four Gospel writers.
Meaning/Origins of the Images
The images originate from two separate, but related biblical texts: Ezekiel 1: 1-21 and Revelation 4:6-8 where the writers each saw visions of four winged “living creatures” which resembled a human, an ox, a lion, and an eagle. These prophetic texts of apocalyptic style (genre) were inspired to help communicate the power and authority of God. St. Irenaeus (d. 202) in his Adversus Haereses (Against Heresies XI), reflected further on these images and likened them to the thematic christologies of each of the Gospels. He wrote:
"The first living creature was like a lion” symbolizing His effectual working, His leadership, and royal power; “the second was like a calf,” signifying His sacrificial and sacerdotal order; but “the third had, as it were, the face as of a man,” — an evident description of His advent as a human being; “the fourth was like a flying eagle,” pointing out the gift of the Spirit hovering with His wings over the Church. And therefore, the Gospels are in accord with these things, among which Christ Jesus is seated.
In addition, the lion, symbolizing the Gospel of Mark, begins with St. John the Baptist crying out in the desert—crying out like a lion. The human image is likened to Matthew since that Gospel begins with the human origins of the Incarnation with the genealogy of Jesus. St. Irenaeus saw this book as the Gospel of Christ’s humanity. The ox, symbolizing Luke, focuses on the sacrificial calling which Jesus lived, including the joy that comes from reconciliation which our Lord offers us through his one sacrifice on the cross. The final image of an eagle symbolizes the lofty or soaring vision of Christ’s divinity characterized by his many miraculous signs. The very beginning chapter (The Prologue) of John makes this thesis clear. Christ is no mere teacher, healer, rebel, and the like. He is God incarnate who has come with power.
There is much more to say about these images and how they represent the Gospel Evangelists. but that will need to be for another time. Meanwhile, I encourage you to gaze on their beauty and let them inspire you to read the Gospel to see if each image illustrate what is true.
Blessings,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor