There are twelve windows in the Nave; they tell the story of Jesus.
To
view them in proper order, one should begin in the east transept. The
first window depicts the Annunciation as the angel Gabriel announces
to Mary that she will bear a child. (Luke 1:26-38) Proceeding around
the corner, one reaches the Presentation in the Temple. Simeon holds
the child Jesus, while the prophetess Anna looks on. (Luke 2:21-40)
Continuing to move north, one see the boy Jesus teaching in the temple
(Luke 2:41-52); an infant John the Baptist encountering Jesus; and
Jesus blessing the little children. (Luke 18:15-17) All five of the
windows on the east side of the Nave have, thus, the child Jesus and
children as their theme. New life is illumined by the light of the
morning sun.
Moving now to the windows on the west side of the Nave, we will proceed
from the back to the front of the church. Here, we encounter the adult
Jesus. First, two miracles: the multiplication of the five loaves and
two
fish (Mark 6:20-44), and the wedding feast at Cana (John 2:1-12); then
the Transfiguration (Mark 9:2-8); and finally the Agony in the Garden.
(Mark 14:32-43) Note, how the arrest party has just entered the garden,
Judas still clutching the bag of silver. Turn the corner, and there's a
marvelous representation of the Resurrection. All the windows of the
adult life are all illumined by the afternoon and evening sun.
Yet all this only adds up to ten. Where are the other two windows of
the Nave? They are up the steps before the doors that lead to the east
and west
sacristies. By the Sacred Heart altar on the east side, there is a
window dedicated to the Sacred Heart, and on the west side a windows
depicts Our Lady of Lourdes appearing to St. Bernadette.
There is even a thirteenth window, one most never see. When the music
ministry office was renovated and the bridal room redone in 1987, the
window from the old baptistry was cut in two. If you go to the bridal
room, you can just make out the scene of
Jesus'
Baptism.
