Stained Glass Windows

Recognizing its heritage of Saints and Church History, fourteen three-story high stained glass windows each picture a different saint, including St. John the Baptist de LaSalle, St. Laurence, St. Frances Cabrini, St. Peter, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Elizabeth, St. Pius X and, of course, Sts. Brigid and Patrick. Smaller stained glass windows depict the Nativity, Jesus and Mary at Joseph's Death, and the Assumption. A large stained-glass rose window features Jesus at its center, surrounded by the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

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(15-100 AD)
One of the twelve apostles, Gospel author,  brother of the apostle James, and the son of Zebedee and Salome.  Generally listed as the youngest apostle, John is the only one to have died from natural causes.  John is celebrated on his feast day of December 27.  

Symbology in the Window
	In the top of the stained glass window of John the Evangelist, the author of the fourth gospel account, is symbolized by an eagle, often with a halo, an animal may have originally been seen as the king of the birds. The eagle is a figure of the sky, and believed by Christian scholars to be able to look straight into the sun, or see the face of God.
	In the bottom of the stained glass window of John the Evangelist is a chalice with a snake emerging from it. In the Acts of John, John was challenged to drink a cup of poison to demonstrate the power of his faith. The chalice can also be interpreted with reference to the Last Supper, or to the words of Christ to John and James: "My chalice indeed you shall drink" (Matthew 20:23).

   (June 2, 1835 – August 20, 1914)
Pope Pius X is perhaps best remembered for his encouragement of the frequent reception of Holy Communion, especially by children.The second of 10 children in a poor Italian family, Joseph Sarto became Pius X at age 68. He was one of the 20th century’s greatest popes.Ever mindful of his humble origin, Pope Pius stated, “I was born poor, I lived poor, I will die poor.” He was embarrassed by some of the pomp of the papal court. “Look how they have dressed me up,” he said in tears to an old friend. To another, “It is a penance to be forced to accept all these practices. They lead me around surrounded by soldiers like Jesus when he was seized in Gethsemani.” While he did not author a famous social encyclical as his predecessor had done, he denounced the ill treatment of indigenous peoples on the plantations of Peru, sent a relief commission to Messina after an earthquake, and sheltered refugees at his own expense.

Symbology in the Window
	In the top of the stained glass window of Saint Pius X, devotion to the Eucharist would eventually earn him the honorific of "Pope of the Blessed Sacrament". In his papacy he worked to increase devotion in the lives of the clergy and laity, particularly in the Breviary, which he reformed considerably, and the Mass. Besides restoring to prominence Gregorian Chant, he placed a renewed liturgical emphasis on the Eucharist.
	In the bottom of the stained glass window of Saint Pius X, who was Pope from 1903 to 1914, are the Keys of St. Peter and the Papal tiara. These two symbols illustrate the office the Pius the 10th held and the guidenace that he gave to all Catholics around the world.

(1651-1719 AD)
French priest, educational reformer, and founder of the institute of brothers of the Christian schools. John De la Salle is considered the founder of the first Catholic schools believing that education gave opportunity to people to lead better lives of dignity and freedom. John is celebrated on his feast day of May 15.  

Symbology in the Window
	In the top of the stained glass window of St. John de la Salle,
	In the bottom of the stained glass window of St. John de la Salle

(225-258 AD)
One of the most venerated saints of the Church. Laurence was known for providing alms for the poor. Especially honored by the city of Rome of which he is considered the third patron after St. Peter and St. Paul. The church built over his tomb became one of the seven principal churches of Rome and a favorite place of Roman pilgrimages. Laurence is celebrated on his feast day of August 10.  
 

Symbology in the Window
	In the top of the stained glass window of St. Laurence,
	In the bottom of the stained glass window of St. Laurence.

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini was born as Maria Francesca Cabrini on July 15, 1850 in Sant' Angelo Lodigiano, Lombardy, Italy. She was born two months premature and the youngest of thirteen children. Unfortunately, only three of her siblings survived past adolescence and Frances would live most of her life in a fragile and delicate state of health.

Frances became dedicated to living a life for religious work from a young age and received a convent education at a school ran by the Daughters of the Sacred Heart. She graduated with high honors and a teaching certificate.

When Frances was 18, she applied for admission to the religious congregation of the Daughters of the Sacred Heart, but was turned down because of her poor health. Instead, a priest asked her to teach at the House of Providence Orphanage in Cadagono, Italy. She taught at the girls' school for six years and drew a community of women in to live the religious way of life.

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What we know of St. Elizabeth comes from the Gospel, the book of Luke, in particular. In Luke, Elizabeth, a daughter of the line of Aaron, and the wife of Zacharias, was "righteous before God" and was "blameless" but childless. Elizabeth is also a cousin to the Virgin Mary.

Zachariah, desiring a child, went to pray in the temple and was told by the angel Gabriel, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born." (Luke 1:13-15).

Zachariah was skeptical because both himself and his wife were elderly. For his skepticism, Zachariah was rendered mute until the prophecy had been fulfilled.

Elizabeth became pregnant shortly thereafter and she rejoiced.

Gabriel then visited the Virgin Mary at Nazareth, telling her that she would conceive of the Holy Spirit and become the mother of Jesus.

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Saint Anne, of David's house and line, was the mother of Mary and grandmother of Jesus according to apocryphal Christian and Islamic tradition. Mary's mother is not named in the canonical gospels, nor in the Quran. In writing, Anne's name and that of her husband Joachim come only from New Testament apocrypha, of which the Gospel of James (written perhaps around 150) seems to be the earliest that mentions them. Her feast day is July 26th.

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Saint Brigid was born Brigit, and shares a name with a Celtic goddess from whom many legends and folk customs are associated.

There is much debate over her birthparents, but it is widely believed her mother was Brocca, a Christian baptized by Saint Patrick, and her father was Dubthach, a Leinster chieftain. Brocca was a slave, therefore Brigid was born into slavery.

When Dubthach's wife discovered Brocca was pregnant, she was sold to a Druid landowner. It is not clear if Brocca was unable to produce milk or was not present to care for Brigid, but legend states Brigid vomited any food the druid attempted to feed her, as he was impure, so a white cow with red ears sustained her instead.

Many stories of Brigid's purity followed her childhood. She was unable to keep from feeding the poor and healing them.

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