There are two windows in
the church that picture no saints at all (this photo shows the second window--2a
and 2b--on the left side). It is believed that no saints are pictured in these
two windows because either no funds were procured to complete them, or
that they were intentionally left without images of saints because of their
close proximity (three feet) to the friary (rectory). They windows do contain
interesting geometric shapes and images of vines and branches–a reminder of the
teaching of Jesus that he is “the True Vine,” the source of life and
fruitfulness of his followers.
This window depicts St. Scholastica and St. Benedict.
It is interesting to not that they were twins in life, and are after death were
buried in the same tomb at Monte Casino in Italy
St.
Scholastica and St. Benedict: The saints pictured in the two panels of this
window were sister and brother twins born of Roman nobility in the year 480 in
Narsia, Umbria, Italy; their mother died in childbirth. Like her brother,
Scholastica (celebrated on February 10th) founded a monastic religious
community. She remained close to her brother throughout her life but little else
is known about her. On the eve of her death, Benedict visited her but when she
asked him to stay for the night he refused, citing his own rule against being
outside the monastery for the night. Scholastica is said to have appealed
directly to God and so a sudden and violent thunder storm began forcing Benedict
to remain with her in spite of his desire to return to his monastery. Explaining
the storm to her brother, Scholastica is reported to have said: “I asked a favor
of you and you refused so I asked God and he granted it.” Scholastica is the
patron saint of convulsive children, nuns and storms. Benedict (celebrated on
July 11th, formerly on March 21st, the day of his death) is considered to be the
Founder of Western Monasticism. As a young man Benedict became disillusioned
with the society in which he lived and so he fled to the mountains in order to
live in a cave as a hermit. Soon others were attracted to his strict religious
way of life and he was called upon to lead a community of men. Founding a
monastery at Monte Cassino, Italy, he wrote the Rule of his order. This window
pictures Benedict holding an abbot’s crosier, and a book that represents the
Rule, which he wrote not in classical or scholarly Latin, but in the spoken and
ordinary Latin of his day. The Latin words pictured on the book in the window
represent the first line of the Rule which reads: “Listen, my son, to the
precepts of your master.” Among other things, Benedict is the patron saint of
agricultural workers, cave explorers, dying people, inflammatory diseases,
monks, people in religious orders and against temptations. Both Scholastica, who
died in 543, and Benedict, who died in 547, are buried in the same tomb at Monte
Cassino. It is interesting to note that this window was a gift of Rev. Nicholas
Balleis; he was a Benedictine priest who served for a time in the parish during
the time of the present church’s construction.
This window depicts St. Elizabeth of Hungary and her
husband Blessed Ludwig (Luis) of Thuringia. Blessed Ludwig is the only
image presented without the halo of a saint. Note the diminutive figure of
the beggar to the right of St. Elizabeth.
St.
Elizabeth of Hungary and Blessed Ludwig (Louis) of Thuringia: The images in the
two panels of this window tell a story from the life of Elizabeth of Hungary
(celebrated on November 17th) and of her husband Ludwig, the Landgrave of
Thuringia (celebrated on September 11th). Elizabeth, born in 1207 at Presburg,
Hungary and Ludwig, born in 1200 at Thuringia (part of present day Germany) were
brought together in an arranged marriage when she was fourteen and he was
twenty-one; they had three children and were said to have had great love for one
another. As Landgrave, Ludwig controlled territory like a Count and was
considered to be part of the nobility. The two, especially Elizabeth, were known
for their great devotional life, generosity and service to the poor. Elizabeth
was often seen giving bread to the needy (represented in this window by a
diminutive bearded man sitting to the right of the saint). Although very
charitable himself, Ludwig at times had to remind Elizabeth to be prudent in her
charity. This window recounts an occasion in which Elizabeth was confronted by
Ludwig about her zealous generosity. He believed she was hiding bread under her
mantle, and when he asked to be shown what was there she pulled back her cape
and revealed a basket filled with a bouquet of roses–even though it was in the
middle of winter and it would have been impossible for such flowers to grow or
be available at that time of the year; the bread had miraculously changed into
the flowers and Ludwig was given a sign of the great holiness of his wife.
Elizabeth was a member of the Secular Franciscan Order (or “Third Order”). The
buildings pictured in the background of this window represent a hospital opened
by Elizabeth in honor of St. Francis of Assisi. Ludwig died in the Crusades in
1227; after his death, Elizabeth sold all her possessions, worked to support her
children and continued to live a holy life dedicated to those in need. She died
in Marburg in 1231 at the age of twenty-four and was canonized only four years
later. Her husband Ludwig was never given such recognition, but instead is known
as “Blessed;” for this reason his image in the window has no nimbus, or halo, as
is customary in pictures of saints. Among other things, Elizabeth is the patron
saint of bakers, beggars, brides, charities, homeless people, hospitals, Secular
Franciscans and widows. It should be noted that the church also has a statue of
St. Elizabeth located in the chancel near the former high altar. This window was a gift of the Saint Elizabeth’s Society.
The images in the two panels of this window tell the story
of the Baptism of Jesus. To the right is John the Baptist who, as according to
Scriptures, is pictured wearing clothing made of camel's hair with a leather
belt around his waist. Jesus is pictured standing in the Jordan River.
Note the dove above which symbolizes the Holy Spirit.
The images in the two panels of this window tell the story of the Baptism of
Jesus. To the right is John the Baptist (birth celebrated on June 24th and death
on August 29th) who, as according to Scriptures, is pictured wearing clothing
made of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist (see Matthew 3:4).
John also wears a flowing red garment; red, the color of blood, symbolizes the
martyrs death John received at the hands of Herod, who beheaded him because of a
foolish promise made to the daughter of his wife Herodius. John holds a reed
cross, symbolic of the words of Jesus, who when speaking to the crowds about him
had said: “What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind?”
(see Matthew 11:7). The cross is adorned with a white banner; in art, although
not in this window, the banner is often inscribed with the words “Ecce Agnus
Dei” (Behold, the Lamb of God)–a direct reference to John’s proclamation of
Jesus as the Lamb of God (see John 1:29). John baptizes Jesus using a shell
which he holds in his right hand; the shell is a traditional symbol of baptism.
Note the additional shells located in the panel just below John’s left foot.
Jesus is pictured standing in the Jordan River while wearing white and purple
garments; white symbolizes the purity and holiness of Jesus as well as his
future resurrection; purple symbolizes the Kingship of Christ and his coming
from the royal line of David (see Matthew 1:1). Alluding to the title of Jesus
as “the Servant of Yahweh” (see Matthew 12:18) he humbly bows his head and
receives John’s baptism. The abundant flora and vegetation flourishing at the
banks of the river symbolize new life which springs forth from the Sacrament of
Baptism. Finally, the white dove pictured above Jesus symbolizes the Spirit of
God which, according to Scriptures, appeared in the form of a dove as “a voice
from the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased”
(see Matthew 3:16-17). Among other things, John the Baptist is the patron saint
of baptism, bird dealers, converts, hailstorms, lambs, monastic life,
motor-ways, printers, San Juan, Puerto Rico, spasms and tailors. This window was a gift of
Johann Timmes.
The images in the two panels of this window show Mary as a
child with her parents, Joachim and Anne. Anne is shown with a raised
right hand in the posture of teaching the young Mary. To the right of Joachim is
what appears to be an arched entrance, perhaps a reference to the “Golden Gate”
in Jerusalem where it is said that Joachim and Anne first met.
The images in the two panels of this window show Mary as a child with her
parents, Joachim and Anne (both celebrated on July 26th). No mention is made of
the parents of Mary in the Scriptures but their names have been recorded in
ancient apocryphal literature, specifically in the Protoevangelium of
James. According to tradition, Joachim and Anne were elderly at the time of
Mary’s birth, and she was their only child. The fig tree pictured behind the
saints shows signs of having been repeatedly pruned; this is an allusion to
belief about the couple’s age at the time of Mary’s birth–they who had been
previously been thought to have been sterile had given birth to Mary. The saints
are pictured in fine garments, reflecting the belief that they were very
wealthy. Anne is shown with a raised right hand in the posture of teaching the
young Mary. Joachim stands to the right of the mother and child. Behind the
three figures is the walled City of Jerusalem. To the right of Joachim is what
appears to be an arched entrance, perhaps a reference to the “Golden Gate” in
Jerusalem where it is said that Joachim and Anne first met. Among other things,
Anne is the patron saint of broom-makers, carpenters, childless people,
equestrians, grandmothers, homemakers, housewives, lace-makers, lost articles,
miners, mothers, old-clothes dealers, pregnancy, seamstresses and women in
labor. Joachim is the patron saint of fathers and grandfathers. This window was a gift of
Godfried Jager, Ludwig Strorer and Eduard MacCarthy.
The images in the two panels of this window recall Saint
Dominic who is said to have received the Holy Rosary while experiencing a vision
of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It must be noted here that the Amityville
Dominican Sisters have ministered in the parish since 1853. This window
and one dedicated to St. Catherine of Sienna, another great Dominican saint, are
no doubt a tribute to the many sisters who have been a part of the tradition of
Most Holy Trinity.
The images in the two panels of this window recall Saint Dominic who is said to
have received the Holy Rosary while experiencing a vision of the Blessed Virgin
Mary. The right panel depicts the child Jesus standing on the lap of Mary; she
is portrayed as the Queen of Heaven, symbolized by the crown on her head, the
throne upon which she is seated and the clouds over which she seems to be gently
levitating. Both Mary and the child Jesus are holding and presenting a Rosary to
Dominic, who is pictured in the left panel, kneeling before them. Dominic
(celebrated on August 8th) founded the Order of Friars Preachers (Dominicans) in
1215. He was known for his great devotion to Mary and the Rosary, or the “Marian
Psalter,” as it was called during the time he was alive. Dominic received the
vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary at a time when he was feeling discouraged and
was unable to defeat the heresies of his day, particularly Albigensianism. In
the vision, Mary told Dominic to say the Marian Psalter daily, to teach it to
those who would accept it, and that with perseverance, the true faith would
prevail. Although Dominic is often credited with inventing the Rosary as it is
prayed today, actually one form or another of it existed both before and after
his lifetime; without a doubt, Dominic can be credited with spreading devotion
to the Blessed Virgin Mary through the use of the Marian Psalter. Pictured on
the floor near the knees of Dominic is a book with the German words: “Mensch
sei besdändig der Hammer und nicht der Ambos der beiden shaften.” This is a
reference to a popular proverb of his day, frequently quoted by Dominic, that
said: “A man who governs his passions is master of his world. We must either
command them or be enslaved by them. It is better to be a hammer than an anvil.”
The words appear in German because the parish was founded by and originally
served German speaking people . Dominic is the patron saint of astronomy, the
Dominican Republic, falsely accused people and scientists. This window was a gift of
William Schickel, who was the architect of this church building.
