St. Peter Catholic Church

Our Stained Glass Windows

The twenty-four windows in the nave and sanctuary of our church are designed by Mr. Francis Deck and executed by Mr. Emil Frie. They illustrate the various parts of the Eucharist and their history. The windows begin with rather light colors on the right-hand side, at the entrance of the church. They become progressively darker and more colorful towards the sanctuary.

The following descriptions were written for a booklet celebrating the 25^th anniversary of the “new” church. To see a picture of each window, click on the underlined word(s) in the descriptions. You can use your Back button to toggle back and forth.

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The first window symbolizes the Confiteor or Penitential Rite. It is thought of as an act of contrition. On this window it says "Mea Maxima Culpa " which means "Through my most grievous fault." There is also a tree which suggests the idea of original sin the Garden of Eden.

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The next part of the Mass symbolized is the Introit. Shown here is the procession of the cross, since the Introit was, in church history, the entrance chant. There is also a large key that suggests the Introit prayers are the key to the Mass of the day.

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The "Kyrie" or Lord Have Mercy, is presented in the next window. It is a song of exile, pleading to our Lord for mercy. The faithful people are represented here as two forlorn figures at the bottom of the window, with their petitions going upward to- ward a triangle symbolizing the Father in heaven.

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The Gloria, illustrated in the next window, is expressed as a song of praise to the Trinity. The triangle symbolizes the Trinity. At the top of the triangle is a crown which signifies praise and glory, coupled with love expressed in the form of a flame.

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The next window represents the Collects. Historically, the faithful met at an assigned church; then proceeded to the stational church to celebrate the Mass. At this meeting a prayer called the Collect, now the opening prayer, was said. The idea depicted in the symbols here is that of a shepherd (priest) and his flock. The sheep are gathered at the base of the shepherd's staff. There are hoof- prints that suggest their being led toward the Father (triangle) through Christ (Chi Rho) who is about to be sacrificed. The hoof prints follow the staff which unites with the Chi Rho.

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Next is the window depicting the Readings. In this window, God the Father speaks. A triangle, symbol of the Father, appears once again. Two lines proceed from the triangle towards the symbols of the Old and New Testaments. The text appearing on the face of the New Testament is taken from the Easter Sunday readings.

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The Responsorial Psalm is symbolized in the next window, and it has a twofold theme. It looks back to the Readings which express the Father's words, and fall like good seed on our souls. There is a hand, the hand of God the Father, and the seeds are passing from His fingers the soil where they spring up in a fl grown stock of wheat. Secondly, it looks towards the Gospel, the word of Christ, with hope. The Chi Rho symbolizes Christ, and a rainbow signifies hope. This window is based on the text from the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost.

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The Gospel is portrayed in the next window. It represents Christ speaking. A large Chi Rho is rising from a book and quill, which suggests that the words are inspired by Christ. There is also a candle and incense, which stand for enlightenment and reverence. The text reprinted in this window is from the Gospel of St. Matthew, Chapter 28, Verses 18 to 20.

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The next window pertains to the Homily. There is a dove in this window which symbolizes the Holy Spirit, and a tongue of flame from the dove. This flame recalls the gift of the Holy Spirit received at Pentecost.

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Next, is an illustration of the Profession of Faith.. The symbols imply our beliefs as stated in the Apostles' Creed. The large word "CREDO" says, "1 believe.' This is followed by symbols of our beliefs, such as: the hand (the Father), the Chi Rho (the Son), the lily (the Virgin Mary), the cross (Christ's death on the cross), a rising sun (the Resurrection), a flame (the Holy Spirit), a church (the Catholic church), and finally, water (for Baptism).

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The Offertory is symbolically shown in the next window. The hands give their gifts as a part of the sacrifice. There are two hands, holding grapes and wheat, seen going upward to the hands of the Father through Christ (the Chi Rho). There are also footprints leading up to the altar, representing the Offertory Procession.

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The next window portrays the Invitation to Prayer. The Father is symbolized by the eye in the triangle. There is a flame shown and hands moving upward. The two join, suggesting the unity of the priest with the people in making an offering and praying that it will be acceptable to the Father.

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The next window is an illustration of the Prayer Over the Gifts. There are hands which are completely closed in the lower portion of the window. This portrays the former custom of the priest praying alone in silence. The hand, cross, chalice and host shown repeat the petition, asking the Father to sanctify the gifts.

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The representation of the Preface is next. The Preface is rhythmic in chant and in word. Only a simple portion of the Preface chant appears on this window. There is incense which notes the feeling of glory and adoration in the prayer. The text is from the Preface of the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity.

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Next comes the window that depicts the Holy, Holy, Holy. Here, there are two six-winged Seraphim shown. According to the Prophet Isaiah they were the first to utter the words, "Holy, Holy, Holy.

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The next window represents the Eucharistic prayer, a prayer for the church. The church in this window is a vine growing up towards Christ. On an upper branch is the coat of arms of Pope Pius XII; followed by the coat of arms of Archbishop Ritter; and below that is a symbol for all orthodox believers of the Catholic faith. A shell symbolizes this because all orthodox believers are baptized.

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The next window illustrates the Prayer for the Living. At the top there is a cross that invokes blessings with a triangle, the symbol the Father. The symbols that follow represent those living people for whom blessings are asked. First comes the two sided tablets that were used to record the names of the people for whom the Mass is being celebrated. Below them there are folded hands which represent those who are in attendance at the Mass. Then there is a house symbolizing families, and a globe symbolizing all members of the church throughout the world. There is also a line shaded through each symbol and suggests both spiritual and temporal blessings.

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The Memory of the Saints is honored in this next window. The Blessed Mother is symbolized by the lily; the Apostles by a shepherd's staff; and the twelve martyrs by a palm branch, which is a symbol for martyrdom. All of these symbols rise from a tree or vine that stands for the church on earth.

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Next is the representation of the Consecration. Featured in this window is a large, simple figure of Christ with one hand on His body and the other pointing to a chalice of His blood.

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The next window depicts the Offering Prayer. In this window the hands of a priest are shown covered with a stone in an expression offering. A line extended upward through the symbols of Abraham (pyre and wood), Abel (first of the flock), and Melchisedech (bread and wine). Then it passes through a Chi Rho with wheat and grapes, which suggests Christ's sacrifice. The line ends at the eye of God in the triangle. All of this symbolizes the church’s hope that the Father will accept our sacrifice as He accepted the ones of Abraham, Abel and Melchisedech.

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Portrayed in the next window is the Commemoration of the Dead, those people who have died before us with the sign of faith. The symbol here is hands holding crosses to God's one hand, as His other hand passes judgment. Diptychs (tablets) are used here because, in the past, they were used to record the names of the deceased. PAX (peace) is a fitting text for this window.

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The next window contains the Doxology, "Through Him, with Him, in Him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honor and glory." Christ is symbolized by a triangle and the Holy Spirit by a dove. The idea of honor and glory is again shown by the incense and smoke.

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The next window portrays the Pater Noster (Our Father) which is the banquet prayer. Shown here is a table set with bread and wine, and a large Chi Rho at its head. Below that is Christ's hand shown teaching since He taught the prayer initially. There is also a line which passes to the two important petitions of the Our Father; a crown which is the consolation of the Kingdom of God, and olive branches that symbolize the removal of sin and its consequences.

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The last window represents both the Communion and the end of the Mass. Here, Christ first gives Himself to us. We, the faithful, then give ourselves in return. This is illustrated with a reversing form which shows a Chi Rho on one side and a heart (symbolizing the faithful) on the other. The tree found in the first window, referred to as "the tree of Malediction," is now overcome in this final window. It has given way to "the tree of Benediction" shown here. Below this is a symbolic presentation of the Holy Spirit's return to invite the faithful to spread the divine fire throughout the world.