Author Archive
Windows of Salvation – The Scroll of Isaiah
You can tell a lot about someone from what’s on their bookshelf. From time to time, I will go to various antique stores in the area, whether to look for things for the parish or myself, and I’ll find myself intrigued by the bookshelves, seeing the wide variety of old books that are for sale. Many times, […]
Continue ReadingWindows of Salvation – The Star of Bethlehem
You might have heard recently that we had the “Super Blood Wolf Moon,” and I don’t know who names these gifts, but what a name! Apparently, the “wolf” part refers to the first full moon of the calendar year, when the wolves are howling most, I guess. And the “blood” part refers to the reddish color of […]
Continue ReadingWindows of Salvation – The Lily
Just the other day, I was taking in the beautiful 70 degree day (you know, the one we got before the 10 inches of snow!) and saw a plant starting to bud out of the ground. It was the middle of winter, but this little plant poking its head out from under the dirt was a […]
Continue ReadingWindows of Salvation – The Ark of the Covenant
The next stained glass window we have is pretty recognizable – the Ark of the Covenant! And I guess there’s a reason it’s so recognizable: the Scriptures are pretty precise in its descriptions. The Ark was to be 2.5 cubits long, 1.5 cubits wide, 1.5 cubits high. And for all you who are asking, a biblical cubit would […]
Continue ReadingWindows of Salvation – The Ten Commandments
A priest friend of mine used to tell a funny story about hearing children’s confessions. As he was sitting in the confessional, he heard a voice from behind the screen: “Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned. I have broken the 6thCommandment.” “Oh,” the priest said. “Can you tell me a little more about that?” “I’ve committed adultery,” said the […]
Continue ReadingWindows of Salvation – The Burning Bush
Books and movies have a way of shaping our imaginations, and I have to admit that some of the way I imagine the Book of Exodus is from Cecil B. DeMille’s 1956 classic, The Ten Commandments. As I was studying today’s stained-glass window portraying the Burning Bush on Mount Sinai, I couldn’t help but think of the […]
Continue ReadingWindows of Salvation – Noah’s Ark
While last week’s windows may not have been immediately recognizable (the altars of Cain and Abel), today’s definitely is: it’s Noah’s Ark! The story of Noah, the ark, and all the animals (except the unicorns and dinosaurs) is one of the most memorable stories that most of us have from childhood. I remember going to my grandmother’s […]
Continue ReadingWindows of Salvation – The Altars of Cain and Abel
Sometimes it’s interesting to think about the use of idioms in English. Have you ever thought about the saying, “the cream of the crop?” In a literal sense, I don’t know what it’s supposed to mean, exactly. If it’s referring to cream of wheat, or creamed corn, or cream of mushroom, it’s hard to imagine that those give […]
Continue ReadingWindows of Salvation – The Serpent Surrounding the Earth
Well, we are back to snakes again, but this time, our window pictures the snake completely surrounding the earth. Probably many of us learned from an early age that the most dangerous snakes are broken down into two categories: those that kill their prey with quick strikes and venom from their teeth, and constrictors who completely […]
Continue ReadingWindows of Salvation – The Flaming Sword
I haven’t been on a roller coaster in a long time, but I definitely remember the first time I rode one – the Screamin’ Eagle at Six Flags. I remember feeling so nervous and scared as I stood in line, wondering whether I should turn back and go on a different ride. We finally made it to […]
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