The
Central or Great Rose Window above the entrance to the church is thirty-six feet
high and twenty-two feet wide. It has a frame of stone that was imported from
Wurzburg, Germany. Each of the four smaller "roses" within the window are
decorated with symbols of the Four Evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Click here
to skip this page and go to the tour of the to the statuary in the sanctuary
(sorry, under construction)
The
symbols representing the four Evangelists have traditionally been linked to the
“four living creatures” that are said to surround God’s throne (see Ezekiel
1:1-14 and the Book of Revelation, 4:7).
Matthew is represented by a human face, Mark by the lion, Luke by
the ox and John by the eagle
Matthew (upper left side) is represented
by the human face because his Gospel gives focus to the Incarnation and
genealogy of Jesus; Jesus was a human being with Davidic heritage.
Mark (lower right side) is represented by the lion because his
Gospel give focus to Jesus as teacher and judge; the lion represents royalty and
divine power. Also, in ancient days it was believed that lion cubs were born
dead, but were given life from the breath of their father–the birth and coming
to life of the lion is symbolic of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.
Luke (lower left side) is represented by the ox because his Gospel
gives focus to the sacrificial nature of Jesus’ mission; oxen were animals
typically used for sacrifices in Old Testament times.
John (upper right side) is represented by the eagle because his
Gospel is the most “mystical” of all; the eagle soars to the heights of heaven;
it is a mysterious bird and majestic in beauty.
Click here to continue the tour of the the church, to the statuary in the
sanctuary (sorry still under construction!)
