Our Stained Glass Windows - Our Lady of Guadalupe

OUR STAINED GLASS WINDOWS
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS CHAPEL

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

This was the Fifth Window installed in our Chapel. It was dedicated in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe by the Uy Family and by the Mexican members of our community.

The center image of Our Lady of Guadalupe

In 1531 a beautiful Lady around 15 or 16 surrounded in light appeared to St. Juan Diego at Tepeyac, a hill in Mexico. The lady identified herself as the Blessed Virgin Mary and requested that a church be built on the site. Juan Diego brought the request to the Bishop, who did not believe and requested a sign. Mary sent Juan Diego to the top of the hill in mid December to gather an assortment of roses that she arranged in his tilma. Roses normally do not grow or bloom in December in Mexico. When Juan Diego presented the roses to the Bishop the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was imprinted miraculously on the tilma. The tilma was a poor quality cactus cloth which should have deteriorated in 29 years max, but still shows no sign of decay almost 500 years later and defies all scientific explanations of its origin.

In the image, Mary is wearing the traditional Mexican shawl cloth. This is called a "rebozo" and one of the shawl's main purposes was to carry the infant child - this is actually how Our Blessed Mother wishes to carry us. Being carried in a shawl suggests the closest of intimacy, the complete, the loving dependence of a young child to its mother. To sleep contentedly there, to feed tenderly there, to be as close as we possibly can to our Mother, to hear her very heartbeat, her rhythmic breathing and her natural motherly fragrance.

Mary's mantle is no ordinary mantle - it is a "starry" one. But these are not the random placements of stars for decoration but a true and perfect reflection of the constellations in the sky at the time Our Lady appeared to Juan Diego, but in reverse. As if Mary herself was looking down from the heavens through this veil of stars to earth.

To quote Robert A. Sungenis "The Virgin's mantle is covered with stars which stunningly and accurately map out various constellations as might be seen in the Mexican sky. Even more remarkable, this "star map" on the mantle is in reverse: providing a view of the constellations from beyond them, as would be seen looking through them towards the earth. The constellations are consistent with what astronomers believe was in the sky above Mexico City the day the Image was formed, December 12th, 1531. At top is the Corona Borealis (the Borean Crown), which would appear on the head of Our Lady, appropriately signifying her royalty as the Queen of Heaven. Below the crown is Virgo, near Our Lady's heart, showing her purity and virginity (Lk 1:35). Leo the lion, identifying with Christ as the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Rev 5:5) is near her abdomen, representing her virgin conception of the Christ Child. Our Lady is wearing a black band, which is the symbol of pregnancy in Indian culture. Regulus, meaning royalty, is Leo's brightest star and symbolizes Christ's kingship (Rev 12:5). Coma Berenices is the tuft of Leo;s tail. Near the bottom is Gemini, the twins, placed near her two legs and symbolize the birth of Christ (Gn 49:10)
With thanks to Aussie Annie of "Under her Starry Mantle" for the information regarding Our Lady of Guadalupe's Mantle."

The first Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe was built in 1536 and still exists. The above image is of the new Basilica which was built by the Mexican architect Pedro Ramíez Vásquez. The Basilica is circular so that the holy image can be viewed by all in the church. There are moving sidewalks to transport the crowd towards the image.

All of the new Stained Glass window have emblems of New York City, starting with the image of the Chrysler Building at the top. The Chrysler Building is one of the best know and classic example of Art Deco skyscrapers in New York City. It was the world's tallest building for 11 months until that title was claimed by the Empire State Building in 1931.

All of the new Stained Glass window have emblems of New York City, slightly below the image of the Chrysler Building, we find the Empire State Building behind a church spire on both the left and right sides of the window. The Empire State Building is one of the best know buildings in New York City. An Art Deco skyscraper, it stood as the world's tallest building for over forty years. It has been named by the American Society of Civil Engineers as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. It is especially known for it's lights and King Kong.

St. Juan Diego ~ was born in 1474 in Tlayacac, north of Mexico City. On December 9th, 1531 he was walking the 15 miles to daily Mass when he heard music and a woman's voice called him. She appeared to be an Aztec Princess and identified herself as the Blessed Virgin Mary. She instructed Juan to tell the Bishop to build a church on this spot in her honor. The Bishop didn't believe Juan and requested proof that the lady was the Blessed Virgin Mary. Unfortunately, Juan's uncle became sick and Juan went for a priest to anoint his uncle and was unable to meet the Lady. However the Lady met him, informed him that his uncle had been cured. She instructed Juan to climb to the top of the hill, where he was very surprised to find flowers growing in the frozen soil. He gathered the flowers in his tilma, the Lady arranged them and sent him to the Bishop. When Juan opened his tilma in front of the Bishop the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was imprinted on the tilma. Soon afterward a church was build on the site. St. Juan Diego died on May 30th, 1548 at the age of 74.

Our Lady said to St. Juan Diego and to all of us.... "Am I not here, who is your Mother? Are you not under my protection? Am I not your health? Are you not happily within the fold of my mantle? In the crossing of my arms? What else do your wish? Do not grieve or be disturbed by anything!"

The image of the Mexican people in tradition garb who have a strong love and devotion to our Lady of Guadalupe. As part of Pope John Paul II's Homily during St. Juan Diego's Canonization on July 31st , 2002 .... he said "'The Lord looks down from heaven, he sees all the sons of men' (Ps 33:13), we recite with the Psalmist, once again confessing our faith in God, who makes no distinctions of race or culture. In accepting the Christian message without forgoing his indigenous identity, Juan Diego discovered the profound truth of the new humanity, in with all are called to be children of God. Thus he facilitated the fruitful meeting of two worlds and became the catalyst for the new Mexican identity, closely united to Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose mestizo face expressed her spiritual motherhood which embraces all Mexicans. This is why the witness of his life must continue to be the inspiration for the building up of the Mexican nation, encouraging brotherhood among all its children and ever helping to reconcile Mexico with its origins, values, and traditions."

The Image of Divine Mercy -- Jesus appeared to St. Faustina Kowalska (a Polish Nun of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy) and requested devotion to His Divine Mercy. The point of the devotion is mercy -- begging Jesus' Mercy, trusting in Jesus; Mercy and showing mercy to other. In the year 2000 the Pope declared the Sunday after Easter, "Divine Mercy Sunday". The devotion is practiced by praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet and Novenas to the Diving Mercy especial at 3 p.m.which was the hour Jesus died. St. Faustina had an image painted with the words "Jesus I trust in You" and rays coming from Jesus' Sacred Heart representing the Blood and water that pour from Jesus' Heart when pierced by the lance.

Image of St. Jude Thaddeus ~ One of the 12 Apostles and the Patron of Impossible Causes. Jude is invoked in desperate situations because his Epistle stresses that the faithful should persevere in the environment of harsh, difficult circumstances, just as their forefathers had done before them. Also for his quick response to people's requests. St. Jude has proven to be a true friend and a beacon of hope to those who call on him--always willing to help and seek help no matter how desperate the need.
His own first name, "Jude", means giver of joy, while "Thaddeus", another name he was called, means generous and kind.
Jude was the cousin of Jesus, brother of St. James the Less (who was also an apostle). He preached in Syria, Mesopotamia and Persia and died a martyr. His feast day is October 28.
St. Jude, glorious apostle, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the name of the person (who betrayed our Lord) has caused you to be forgotten by many, but the true Church invokes you universally as the Patron of things despaired of. Pray for me, who is so miserable; pray for me, that I may finally receive the consolations and the succor of Heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly (ADD YOUR PERSONAL REQUEST HERE), and that I may bless God with the Elect Throughout Eternity."

Image of Mexican people at prayer.

Click below to return to the main Chapel Window

CHAPEL

Two Churches Joining as ONE Family Together in Love		Our Stained Glass Windows
Two Churches Joining as ONE Family Together in Love
		OUR STAINED GLASS WINDOWS ST. THOMAS AQUINAS CHAPEL OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE This was the Fifth Window installed in our Chapel. It was dedicated in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe by the Uy Family and by the Mexican members of our community. The center image of Our Lady of Guadalupe i. In 1531 a beautiful Lady around 15 or 16 surrounded in light appeared to St. Juan Diego at Tepeyac, a hill in Mexico. The lady identified herself as the Blessed Virgin Mary and requested that a church be built on the site. Juan Diego brought the request to the Bishop, who did not believe and requested a sign. Mary sent Juan Diego to the top of the hill in mid December to gather an assortment of roses that she arranged in his tilma. Roses normally do not grow or bloom in December in Mexico. When Juan Diego presented the roses to the Bishop the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was imprinted miraculously on the tilma. The tilma was a poor quality cactus cloth which should have deteriorated in 29 years max, but still shows no sign of decay almost 500 years later and defies all scientific explanations of its origin. In the image, Mary is wearing the traditional Mexican shawl cloth. This is called a "rebozo" and one of the shawl's main purposes was to carry the infant child - this is actually how Our Blessed Mother wishes to carry us. Being carried in a shawl suggests the closest of intimacy, the complete, the loving dependence of a young child to its mother. To sleep contentedly there, to feed tenderly there, to be as close as we possibly can to our Mother, to hear her very heartbeat, her rhythmic breathing and her natural motherly fragrance. Mary's mantle is no ordinary mantle - it is a "starry" one. But these are not the random placements of stars for decoration but a true and perfect reflection of the constellations in the sky at the time Our Lady appeared to Juan Diego, but in reverse. As if Mary herself was looking down from the heavens through this veil of stars to earth. To quote Robert A. Sungenis "The Virgin's mantle is covered with stars which stunningly and accurately map out various constellations as might be seen in the Mexican sky. Even more remarkable, this "star map" on the mantle is in reverse: providing a view of the constellations from beyond them, as would be seen looking through them towards the earth. The constellations are consistent with what astronomers believe was in the sky above Mexico City the day the Image was formed, December 12th, 1531. At top is the Corona Borealis (the Borean Crown), which would appear on the head of Our Lady, appropriately signifying her royalty as the Queen of Heaven. Below the crown is Virgo, near Our Lady's heart, showing her purity and virginity (Lk 1:35). Leo the lion, identifying with Christ as the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Rev 5:5) is near her abdomen, representing her virgin conception of the Christ Child. Our Lady is wearing a black band, which is the symbol of pregnancy in Indian culture. Regulus, meaning royalty, is Leo's brightest star and symbolizes Christ's kingship (Rev 12:5). Coma Berenices is the tuft of Leo;s tail. Near the bottom is Gemini, the twins, placed near her two legs and symbolize the birth of Christ (Gn 49:10) With thanks to Aussie Annie of "Under her Starry Mantle" for the information regarding Our Lady of Guadalupe's Mantle." The first Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe was built in 1536 and still exists. The above image is of the new Basilica which was built by the Mexican architect Pedro Ramíez Vásquez. The Basilica is circular so that the holy image can be viewed by all in the church. There are moving sidewalks to transport the crowd towards the image. All of the new Stained Glass window have emblems of New York City, starting with the image of the Chrysler Building at the top. The Chrysler Building is one of the best know and classic example of Art Deco skyscrapers in New York City. It was the world's tallest building for 11 months until that title was claimed by the Empire State Building in 1931. All of the new Stained Glass window have emblems of New York City, slightly below the image of the Chrysler Building, we find the Empire State Building behind a church spire on both the left and right sides of the window. The Empire State Building is one of the best know buildings in New York City. An Art Deco skyscraper, it stood as the world's tallest building for over forty years. It has been named by the American Society of Civil Engineers as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. It is especially known for it's lights and King Kong. St. Juan Diego ~ was born in 1474 in Tlayacac, north of Mexico City. On December 9th, 1531 he was walking the 15 miles to daily Mass when he heard music and a woman's voice called him. She appeared to be an Aztec Princess and identified herself as the Blessed Virgin Mary. She instructed Juan to tell the Bishop to build a church on this spot in her honor. The Bishop didn't believe Juan and requested proof that the lady was the Blessed Virgin Mary. Unfortunately, Juan's uncle became sick and Juan went for a priest to anoint his uncle and was unable to meet the Lady. However the Lady met him, informed him that his uncle had been cured. She instructed Juan to climb to the top of the hill, where he was very surprised to find flowers growing in the frozen soil. He gathered the flowers in his tilma, the Lady arranged them and sent him to the Bishop. When Juan opened his tilma in front of the Bishop the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was imprinted on the tilma. Soon afterward a church was build on the site. St. Juan Diego died on May 30th, 1548 at the age of 74. Our Lady said to St. Juan Diego and to all of us.... "Am I not here, who is your Mother? Are you not under my protection? Am I not your health? Are you not happily within the fold of my mantle? In the crossing of my arms? What else do your wish? Do not grieve or be disturbed by anything!" The image of the Mexican people in tradition garb who have a strong love and devotion to our Lady of Guadalupe. As part of Pope John Paul II's Homily during St. Juan Diego's Canonization on July 31st , 2002 .... he said "'The Lord looks down from heaven, he sees all the sons of men' (Ps 33:13), we recite with the Psalmist, once again confessing our faith in God, who makes no distinctions of race or culture. In accepting the Christian message without forgoing his indigenous identity, Juan Diego discovered the profound truth of the new humanity, in with all are called to be children of God. Thus he facilitated the fruitful meeting of two worlds and became the catalyst for the new Mexican identity, closely united to Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose mestizo face expressed her spiritual motherhood which embraces all Mexicans. This is why the witness of his life must continue to be the inspiration for the building up of the Mexican nation, encouraging brotherhood among all its children and ever helping to reconcile Mexico with its origins, values, and traditions." The Image of Divine Mercy -- Jesus appeared to St. Faustina Kowalska (a Polish Nun of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy) and requested devotion to His Divine Mercy. The point of the devotion is mercy -- begging Jesus' Mercy, trusting in Jesus; Mercy and showing mercy to other. In the year 2000 the Pope declared the Sunday after Easter, "Divine Mercy Sunday". The devotion is practiced by praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet and Novenas to the Diving Mercy especial at 3 p.m.which was the hour Jesus died. St. Faustina had an image painted with the words "Jesus I trust in You" and rays coming from Jesus' Sacred Heart representing the Blood and water that pour from Jesus' Heart when pierced by the lance. /. Image of St. Jude Thaddeus ~ One of the 12 Apostles and the Patron of Impossible Causes. Jude is invoked in desperate situations because his Epistle stresses that the faithful should persevere in the environment of harsh, difficult circumstances, just as their forefathers had done before them. Also for his quick response to people's requests. St. Jude has proven to be a true friend and a beacon of hope to those who call on him--always willing to help and seek help no matter how desperate the need. His own first name, "Jude", means giver of joy, while "Thaddeus", another name he was called, means generous and kind. Jude was the cousin of Jesus, brother of St. James the Less (who was also an apostle). He preached in Syria, Mesopotamia and Persia and died a martyr. His feast day is October 28. St. Jude, glorious apostle, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the name of the person (who betrayed our Lord) has caused you to be forgotten by many, but the true Church invokes you universally as the Patron of things despaired of. Pray for me, who is so miserable; pray for me, that I may finally receive the consolations and the succor of Heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly (ADD YOUR PERSONAL REQUEST HERE), and that I may bless God with the Elect Throughout Eternity." Image of Mexican people at prayer. Click below to return to the main Chapel Window CHAPEL








































































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