Saint Michael the Archangel stands above the slain dragon (a
reference to his triumph over Satan); he holds the sword used to slay it upright
in his right hand (notice that the tip of the sword is not within the frame of
the panel–indicating that it is actually much longer). Michael wears the armor
of a knight; the shield held with his left hand bears the Latin inscription
“Quis ut Deus” which refers to the meaning of his name, “Who is like God?”
Saint Michael the Archangel
The image in this window depicts Saint Michael the Archangel (celebrated on
September 29th). In Hebrew, the name Michael means “Who is like God?” and it is
said that this name is used by the other angels as a battle cry when fighting
the enemy Satan. It is believed that Michael is the prince of all the other
Angels. He has been invoked as the patron and protector of the Church since the
time of the apostles. Michael is mentioned four times in the Scriptures: In
Daniel 10:12 he is referred to as “one of the chief princes;” In Daniel 12,
concerning the end of the world it says “at that time Michael the prince shall
rise up and fight for the people;” In the Epistle of Jude, verse 9, we read
“Even the Archangel Michael, when his case was being judged” (this is a
reference to an ancient non-biblical account of a dispute between Michael and
Satan); In Revelation 12:7-9 we have the story of the great battle in heaven
between Michael with his angels and the dragon who is Satan; these verses read:
“Then a war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the
dragon. Although the dragon and his angels fought back, they were overpowered
and lost their place in heaven. The huge dragon, the ancient serpent known as
the devil or Satan, the seducer of the whole world, was driven out; he was
hurled down to earth and his minions with him” (NAB). Many non-scriptural
references have been made about the Archangel Michael throughout history by
different peoples and cultures; even today he venerated by Jewish, Christian and
Islamic people. In this window Michael is shown standing above the slain dragon
(a reference to Michael’s triumph over Satan). He holds the sword used to slay
the dragon upright in his right hand (notice that the tip of the sword is not
within the frame of the panel–indicating that it is actually much longer). He
wears the armor of a knight; the shield held with his left hand bears the Latin
inscription “Quis ut Deus” which refers to the meaning of his name, “Who
is like God?” Michael the Archangel is the patron saint of artists, bakers,
bankers, coopers, dying people, fencing, Germany, grocers, hat-makers, holy
death, knights, paramedics, paratroopers, police officers, radiologists,
sailors, security guards, sick people, soldiers, storms at sea, sword-smiths and
watermen. This window
was a gift of the St. Michael Society.
Saint Joseph is shown holding the infant Jesus in his arms.
The orb and cross symbol held by Jesus in his left hand represents the world and
the dominion of Jesus over the world through the power of his cross. The lily
plants at the feet of Joseph are a symbol of the purity of the saint.
Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary
The image in this window depicts Saint Joseph, the husband of the Blessed Virgin
Mary (solemnity celebrated on March 19th; the memorial of Joseph the Worker is
observed on May 1st). In the Scriptures, Joseph the carpenter is identified as
the son of Jacob, a descendent of Abraham and David. As the adopted son of
Joseph, Jesus shares in his lineage. The very first verse of the Gospel of Saint
Matthew tells us that Jesus is “the Son of David and the Son of Abraham;”
starting with Abraham, and including the great King David, Matthew then gives
the names of the fathers of each succeeding generation. The Scriptures tell us
that Joseph experienced several visions of angels which guided him and the Holy
Family both before and after the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. Little else is
known of this saint, who has perhaps been one of the most venerated saints
throughout all of Christian history. Most notable about Joseph was his
enthusiastic and immediate response to the will of God; Joseph never failed his
obligation to protect Mary and the infant Jesus. It is believed that Joseph died
sometime before Jesus suffered and died on the cross. Saint Joseph is the patron
saint of bursars, carpenters, confectioners, craftsmen, dying people, emigrants,
engineers, expectant mothers, families, fathers, holy death, house hunters,
immigrants, laborers, married people, people in doubt, people who fight
Communism, pioneers, pregnant women, the protection of the Church, the Second
Vatican Council, social justice, travelers, the Tyrol in Austria (an area very
special to the earliest German-speaking parishioners of Most Holy Trinity, in
fact the birthplace of the first pastor)unborn children, the Universal Church
and workers, as well as many dioceses, places and countries. In this window
Joseph is shown holding the infant Jesus in his arms; the infant Jesus holds his
right hand as if giving a blessing and in his left hand there is a small orb
with a cross. The orb and cross symbolize the world and the dominion of Jesus
over the world through the power of his cross. At the feet of Joseph are white
lily plants; the lily is a traditional symbol of purity. This window was a gift of the St. Joseph Society.
Saint Sebastian is pictured holding the martyrs palm in one
hand and an arrow in the other. He is dressed as a soldier of the Roman
army.
Saint Sebastian, Martyr
The image in this window depicts Saint Sebastian the Martyr (celebrated on
January 20th). Sebastian was born into a wealthy Roman family sometime in the
late third century in Narbonne, Gaul (in present day France). He became an
officer in the Imperial Roman army and was the captain of the guard. Sebastian
was able to visit Christians who had been imprisoned during the persecution of
Diocletian. He worked to spread the faith in spite of the obstacle of being part
of the Roman military. Because of his fearless work on behalf of the Gospel, he
is said to have brought many soldiers and government officials into the faith.
Eventually Sebastian was charged with the crime of being a Christian and he was
sentenced to death; he was tied to a tree and then shot with arrows, and
although left for dead, he survived the ordeal and recovered. After his
unsuccessful execution, Sebastian went to see the emperor Diocletian and he
attempted to preach the Gospel to him. Because of Sebastian’s heroic act of
witnessing to the faith and the emperor’s contempt for Christianity, Diocletian
had him beaten to death immediately. During the Black Death and plagues of the
fourteenth century, people thought these diseases were akin to being shot with
arrows of death by the evil forces of nature. Because Sebastian was shot with
arrows during the first attempt on his life, this saint had been associated with
archers for centuries. Because of this connection to archers, and the belief
that the plagues were like arrows of death, the people of the Middle Ages prayed
to Sebastian to intercede for them and spare them from outbreaks of the plague.
Sebastian is the patron saint of archers, arrow-smiths, athletes, bookbinders,
the dying, gardeners, lace-makers, lead workers, masons, the plague, police,
sick cattle, soldiers and stone masons. This window was a gift of
the St. Sebastian Society and Johann Auer.
Saint Aloysius Gonzaga is pictured in this window wearing
the robes of a Jesuit seminarian in minor orders; he holds a crucifix, for which
he was known to have had great devotion, and white lilies, a symbol of purity.
Saint Aloysius
The image in this window depicts Saint Aloysius Gonzaga (celebrated on June
21st). Aloysius was born in 1568 into a family of Italian nobility and was
trained to be a soldier and courtier from the time of his early childhood.
Because of kidney disease and other ailments that disabled him in his youth, he
was unable to pursue a military career; Aloysius considered his infirmities to
be a blessing from God as they left him bed-ridden and afforded him time for
prayer and the development of his spiritual life. As a very young man, Aloysius
desired to give himself completely to God and even aspired to a missionary life.
As a teenager, he dedicated himself to teaching catechism to other young men.
The religious aspirations of Aloysius were vehemently opposed by his father, the
Marquis Ferrante of Castiglione, however when he turned eighteen, he renounced
his inheritance, turned over his noble title to his younger brother and became a
Jesuit novice. After his religious profession as a Jesuit he entered the
seminary and studied under Saint Robert Bellarmine, his confessor and spiritual
advisor. In 1591 a plague broke out in Rome and the youthful Aloysius devoted
himself to tending to the needs of its victims; becoming a victim of the plague
himself, Aloysius died at the age of twenty-four in June of the same year. It is
said that as he lay dying he gazed upon the crucifix and repeated the words
“into thy hands.” Because of his reputation for holiness and devotion to those
most in need, Aloysius was entombed under the altar of Saint Ignatius Church in
Rome. He was canonized by Pope Benedict XIII in 1726. Aloysius is pictured in
this window wearing the robes of a Jesuit seminarian in minor orders; he holds a
crucifix, for which he was known to have had great devotion, and white lilies, a
symbol of purity. Aloysius is the patron saint of Catholic youth, HIV victims
and those who care for them, Jesuit students, teenagers and young people. This window was a gift of
the St. Aloysius Young Men’s Society.
Saint Rose of Lima is pictured in this window wearing the
habit of the Dominican Order; she holds a crown of roses and appears with her
eyes closed, an allusion to her mystical piety. A bush of roses is seen near her
feet.
This explanation of the Saint Rose of
Lima window is dedicated to Ms. Maryfrances Peters, a 1984 graduate of
the College of Saint Rose, Albany, New York. Ms. Peters has given her
talent, and many hours of her time, to the development of the Most Holy Trinity
Web Site. She is a dedicated parishioner of Saint Stanislaus Basilica, Chicopee,
Massachusetts. Thank you Maryfrances!
Saint Rose of Lima
The
image in this window depicts Saint Rose of Lima (celebrated August 23rd). Rose
was born in Lima, Peru on April 20, 1586 and given the name Isabel (“Elizabeth”
in English) at her baptism. Her parents, devout Catholics, had immigrated to
Peru from Spain; they raised her in the faith and planted the seeds to a very
devout religious devotion that Rose cultivated throughout her life. The nickname
“Rose” is said to have been given to her by her mother when as a child the saint
had noticeably rose-colored cheeks; legend says that her cheeks had been
transformed that way through the power of a mystical rose. At a young age Rose
desired to vow herself to virginity and to a complete devotion to God; she was
known from her earliest days as one filled with great spiritual zeal and piety,
and in particular as a woman devoted to the Infant Jesus and to his Blessed
Mother. Rose spent her life living in the garden house of her parents’ home, a
place where she dedicated herself to gardening, domestic work and to the
creation of embroidered things, for which she was particularly gifted; Rose sold
her embroidery to support herself, her family and the poor. Inspired by Saint
Catherine of Sienna, the great Dominican Doctor of the Church, Rose became a
Third Order Dominican, or Tertiary, and was invested in the Dominican Habit
which she wore for the remainder of her life. It is said that Rose struggled at
times with different physical and mental difficulties; yet in spite of the
obstacles these difficulties posed, she was widely known for her tremendous
devotion to the Eucharist, for her acts of penance and fasting, for her solitude
and prayer and as a visionary and mystic. It is said that Rose would enter into
periods of spiritual ecstasy that would last for hours and that would bring her
great consolation, peace and joy. It is believed that Rose experienced in her
own flesh an invisible stigmata, or sharing in the very wounds of Christ
Crucified. Perhaps in honor of Saint Catherine of Sienna, her great patron, Rose
often wore a metal spiked crown, concealed by roses (Saint Catherine, also a
stigmatist, is usually depicted wearing a crown of thorns, which symbolizes her
own sharing in the passion of Jesus Christ). Rose of Lima died in 1617 at
the age of thirty-one; she was canonized the first American-born saint in 1671
by Pope Clement X. Rose is pictured in this window wearing the habit of the
Dominican Order; she holds a crown of roses and appears with her eyes closed, an
allusion to her mystical piety. A bush of roses is seen near her feet. Rose is
the patron saint of the Americas, embroiderers and needle workers, florists,
gardeners, Latin America, the New World, South America, and for those persecuted
for their piety.. This window was a gift of
the Young Christian Women’s Apprentices.
Pope Saint Pius V is depicted in this window wearing the
three tiered papal tiara (the crown-like symbol of the papacy no longer used by
modern popes); he wears papal robes over a white Dominican habit. It is
said that all popes after Pius V have worn white cassocks because of this pope's
use of the habit of his Order. Pius is depicted holding a rosary in his hand. Attached to
his crosier is
a red flag bearing a white cross, perhaps a symbol of the Pius' victory over
various heresies and over the power of Islam.
The Rosary and Pope St. Pius V
The rosary is a well known devotion to the Blessed
Virgin Mary said to have been formalized by Pius' spiritual father, Saint
Dominic. Pius instituted the October Feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in
thanksgiving for a significant victory against the Turks at the Battle of Lepanto
on October 7, 1571.
Saint Pius V
The
image in this window depicts Pope Saint Pius V (celebrated April 30th). He was
born in 1504 in the northern Italian town of Bosco; at his baptism, his parents
Paolo and Domenica Ghisleri gave him the name Anthony. The Ghisleries were an
impoverished family who boasted a heritage of Italian nobility. As a young boy,
Anthony was employed a shepherd, but through the generosity of a wealthy patron
he was later given the opportunity to go to school and to receive a superb
religious and academic education from Dominican friars. The friars greatly
inspired Anthony, and so at the age of fifteen he joined the Dominican Order and
took the religious name Michael. Friar Michael was ordained to the priesthood in
1528 at the age of twenty-four. In the early days of his ministry, he worked as
a teacher of philosophy and theology for younger friars; he also served as
Master of Novices and Prior in different houses of his community. As a Dominican
friar, the future pope was known for his great piety, for his acts of penance
and simplicity, and for his fervent devotion to Jesus in the Holy Eucharist; he
strove to reform his Order and encouraged the friars to live their lives in
conformity with that of the spirit and example of their Holy Father, St.
Dominic. Because of his orthodoxy and zeal for the Catholic faith, Michael was
appointed as an official of the Inquisition; reluctantly, he was later made a
bishop and then a cardinal of the church, but he always maintained his Dominican
identity and way of life. Michael Cardinal Ghisleri was known for his humility,
for his disdain for the wealthy trapping of the office, for his simple lifestyle
and for his generosity towards the poor; consequently he was very popular among
the people he served. It is said that Michael begged the cardinals of the church
not to elect him as the successor to Pope Pius IV, however they did just that
during the papal conclave of 1565. Upon his elevation to the papacy, Michael
Cardinal Ghisleri took the name Pius V (Pio V); as the successor to Peter and Vicar of
Christ, Pope Pius V enthusiastically embraced and enacted the reforms of the
Council of Trent (1545–1563), an undertaking the previous pope had barely begun.
The reforms of Pius V, the so-called “Tridentine” reforms, would define Roman
Catholic doctrinal, liturgical and spiritual life for the next four-hundred
years; he published a new catechism, he advanced the church’s system for
educating and training priests, and he presided over liturgical reforms that
would endure until the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). Pius V was also known
for his great desire to serve the poor and those in need; he used papal riches
in order fund projects that benefitted the less fortunate of society. As a head
of state, Pius worked hard to bring together Catholic Europe, especially in the
struggles against Protestantism and Islam. Not long before the death of Pius V,
the Turks were defeated by a united Christian naval force at the Battle of
Lepanto on October 7, 1571; this forever ended the expansion of the Turkish
empire into Europe. In thanksgiving, Pius instituted the Feast of Our Lady of the Holy
Rosary (now celebrated on October 7th). Until the last day of his life, Pius labored
to unite all of Christian Europe against the threat and power of the Islamic
states. Because of what is believed to have been kidney disease, Pope Pius
V died on May 1, 1572; he was
beatified by Clement X in 1672 and canonized by Clement XI in 1712. Pius is
the patron saint of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and of Pietrelcina, Italy (which is the reason Padre Pio, or Saint Pio of
Pietrelcina took the same name). This window was a gift of
the St. Pius Society.
Saint Alphonsus is pictured holding a crozier and wearing
the robes of a bishop. He holds a book, a symbol of the Rule of the
Redemptorists, a religious congregation he founded in 1732. His head is tilted
toward his chest, recalling the severe rheumatism that afflicted him for many
years.
Prayer from the Litany of St. Alphonsus
O God, Who by the Blessed Alphonsus Maria, your
Confessor and Bishop, inflamed with zeal for souls, has enriched your Church
with a new progeny: we beseech you, that taught by his saving counsels, and
strengthened by his example, we may happily come to you, through Christ our
Lord. Amen.
Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori
The
image in this window depicts Saint Alphonsus Maria Liguori (celebrated August
1st). He was born into nobility in 1696 at Marianelli near Naples, Italy. As a
child, Alphonsus demonstrated great intelligence and was known to be an
excellent student; he also had great love for music and the arts. So
intellectually astute was Alphonsus that he was able to receive a doctorate in
law from the University of Naples when he was just sixteen years old. As a very
young man he became one of the most influential lawyers in Naples. From his
youth Alphonsus was also known for his piety and fervent Christian identity.
Although a marriage had been arranged for him, Alphonsus instead felt a call to
the priesthood, and so after studying theology, he was ordained in 1725 at the
age of twenty-nine. As a priest, Alphonsus was respected for his preaching and
his theological writings, but perhaps he was best known for his compassionate,
patient and merciful demeanor as a confessor; so much so that some church
authorities accused him of being far too lenient with sinners. Alphonsus founded
a community of women religious called the Redemptoristines in 1730; he founded a
community of men religious called the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer
(also known as Liguorians and/or Redemptorists) in 1732. Alphonsus led his
community for thirty years until he was appointed by Pope Clement XII to be the
bishop of Saint Agata dei Gotti in 1762. As bishop he worked to reform a diocese
that had been plagued by scandal and moral decline. Because of his reforms in
the diocese, the clergy were reinvigorated and the faithful were called back to
fidelity and piety. Later in life, Alphonsus suffered with severe rheumatism, a
cross he endured for many years; because of his illness, he could hardly lift
his chin away from his chest; for this reason he is often depicted in art in
this posture. In 1775, when he was eighty, Alphonsus resigned as bishop because
of his age and poor health; he hoped to spend the rest of his life in peaceful
retirement, living within his Redemptorists community. Two years into his
retirement, the government threatened to disband the Redemptorists when in 1777
it claimed the community was secretly doing the work of the Jesuits, a
community that had been suppressed in 1773. Using his legal and theological
skills, Alphonsus defended the community and was able to obtain for it the
approval of the government; in doing so, however, it is believed that Alphonsus
was actually deceived into accepting a Rule for the Congregation that favored
the anti-clerical government. Alphonsus was then chastised by the Pope and
removed from any position of authority over the Redemptorists, a censure that
led him into many years of personal turmoil. Alphonsus met a peaceful death in
1787 at Nocera, Italy; he had lived a devout Christian life for over ninety
years. Alphonsus was canonized 1839 by Pope Gregory XVI; he was declared a
Doctor of the Church in 1871 by Pope Pius IX. Alphonsus is the patron saint for
those with arthritis, of confessors, of scrupulous people, theologians, and of
vocations. This window was a gift of
the St. Alphonsus Society and Joseph and Agatha Vetter.
