The Mystery of Stained Glass

Art historians cannot explain fully the origins of stained-glass art. Perhaps the beginnings of stained glass can be traced to the Mediterranean region's use of alabaster ornamental window openings in which pieces of color glass were mounted in various artifacts.

However, there are no obvious transitional stages between these early forms and stained-glass that we know from later periods. Stained-glass art history is something of a mystery itself.

Altar Window

There are six major symbols presided over by a seventh, namely the cross. The sequence begins with the dove and ends with the resurrected Christ.

The tint of the windows changes with each change in the sun's position, radiating new tones each moment as the pilgrim looks to those who went before for wisdom and insight into perennial human questions. The window replicates the life cycle of each Christian--from adoption at baptism, to education in God's Word, to the fires of lived experience, to the reassurance of the Eucharist as the time passes, and, finally, consummation at the end of time with the resurrected Christ.