Dear friends,
A belated, post-Easter break from this column, for you and for me.
God Bless,
Fr. Ron
Since we’re giving Monsignor some time off, we’ll repeat an excerpt from an article that appeared in a 2001 issue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel NEWSLETTER. The article refers to the Stained Glass Windows in the church but we’ll just describe the windows in Our Lady’s Chapel.
…the first window at the left of the entrance. “Our Lady of Perpetual Help” has the artist featuring a picture within a picture. The family gathered around the Icon is presumed to be the Martin family, Teresa and her parents. (before she entered the Convent and became known as Teresa of the Child Jesus)
The “Pieta” shows a family in mourning. Mary is again holding her son, this time He is the adult son; sorrow etches her face. Christ’s wounds are shown in keeping with the modern medical concept, (pierced wrists and ankles).
In great contrast is the “Nativity scene in the next window. This is a loving reproduction of the Holy Family at Christ’s birth in the stable at Bethlehem. Mary is holding her small son; Joseph holds a light which helps guide the shepherds “To Come and Adore Him”.
We now come to the last window in the Chapel, showing “The Holy Family”. This family consists of Mary and her mother St. Ann in the forefront with her father St. Joachim behind them. St. Ann appears to be showing Mary writings from a scripture scroll.
The Window in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, which houses the Tabernacle, is of a later rendition. It shows the sun resonating with color and brings to mind the hymn "Morning has broken, like the first morning". For indeed this window caps the message in all the others -- we face all of our mornings like that first morning while reliving the history of our faith.
