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PAGE 10 — The Southern Cross, September 12, 1985
Cathedral's Artistic Uniqueness
(Reprinted from Booklet marking
Reopening of the restored Cathedral of St.
John the Baptist-March 24, 1963.)
As you enter through the narthex doors
into the nave of the Cathedral, you will at
once experience a feeling of spaciousness
and quiet dignity. This is due in part to the
simplicity of the color scheme and the im
pressiveness of the altars and statuary;
but the majesty of the stained glass win
dows, and murals completes this unique
splendor and beauty of the Cathedral. With
very few exceptions all the windows were
executed by Innsbruck Glassmakers in
Austrian Tyrol, and installed in the
Cathedral around 1900.
APSE WINDOWS
Instinctively your eyes rise to the three
stained glass windows in the apse. The
center of the three represents the Baptism
of Jesus in the River Jordan by St. John
the Baptist. On St. John there is a ribbon
scroll inscribed in Latin with his often
repeated words: “Behold, the Lamb of
God.” And above in the cinquefoil, amid
foliated background, a flourished ribbon
scroll is further inscribed in Latin: “Thou
art My beloved Son in Whom I am well
pleased.” This center window, situated
directly above the main altar, and signed
with the Innsbruck glassmaker’s symbol,
is “In memory of Captain John
McMahon.”
The Northeast apse window is that of St.
John the Baptist pointing out Jesus as the
Promised Messiah. On St. John a ribbon
scroll is inscribed with his words: “Behold
the Lamb of God.” Above in the cinquefoil,
amid foliated background, a flourished
ribbon scroll is inscribed in Latin: “And
looking at Jesus as He passed he said of the
Lord (‘Behold the Lamb of God’).” Signed
with the Innsbruck glassmaker’s symbol,
it is “In memory of Mary Ellen Flannery,
wife of Captain John Flannery.
The southeast apse window memoralizes
St. John the Baptist preaching Baptism of
Penance. Once again on St. John a ribbon
scroll is inscribed in Latin with the words:
“Behold the Lamb of God.” And above in
the cinquefoil amid foliated background, a
flourished scroll is further inscribed in
Latin: “lam the voice of one crying in the
desert...make straight the way. Behold the
Lamb of God.” Signed with the Innsbruck
glassmaker’s symbol, the window is “In
memory of Kate Mary McMahon.”
In place of the three above windows
before the Cathedral burned on the even
ing of February 6, 1898, were three other
windows in honor of Our Lady of Perpetual
Help, St. John the Baptist, and St. Patrick.
The present large apse windows are the
gift of Captain John Flannery.
CHAPEL
OF THE SACRED HEART
Of the four windows in this chapel only
one has the Innsbruck glassmaker’s sym
bol. The scene is that of Jesus Blessing Lit
tle Children and carries with it the
memorial: “Gift of Cathedral Sunday
School 1900”
The window closest to that above
represents St. Mary Magdalen the Peni
tent Annointing the Feet of Jesus, given
“In Memory of Lawrence Dunn and Fami
ly.”
Immediately behind the Sacred Heart
Altar and to its left is a scene depicting the
Apparition of Jesus Showing His Sacred
Heart to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. To
the right: The Most Holy Trinity: Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit (the last Person being
symbolized by a dove).
CHAPEL OF THE BLESSED
VIRGIN MARY
In this chapel there are but two stained
glass windows; here, also, only one is at
tributed to Innsbruck, which symbol can
be found in the lower right hand corner.
This window represents The Annunciation,
when the Angel Gabriel announced to the
Blessed Virgin Mary that she was to
become the Mother of Jesus. The window
is “In Memory of John J. Collin.”
The second window is in two panels.
Each panel contains a full-length figure:
one of St. Cecilia with her emblem of a por
table organ, and the other of St. Agnes with
her emblem of a lamb This window is uni
que. It survived the fire of 1898, and is in
its original location. The pictorial style,
texture of glass, and coloring make this
window differ from all others in the
Cathedral. The donor’s name is not shown,
but the glass is inscribed: “Mother of
Perpetual Help, Pray for the donor.”
AISLE WINDOWS
No. 1.
“A picture” so the saying goes “is worth
a thousand words”. Hence the aisle win
dows both on the north side and on the
south point out in most descriptive
representations scenes from the lives of
those who have fought the good fight and,
now, from windows in their honor tell us,
the Church today, the virtues which they
exemplified on earth and which finally and
conclusively won for them their present
glory. The first of these windows, on the
northeast side, depicts the aged St. John,
Apostle and Evangelist, writing the
Apocalypse, with an apparition of the
Blessed Virgin Mary. Above in the
quatrefoil is an angel in prayerful pose.
Signed with the Innsbruck glassmaker’s
symbol, the window is a “Gift of John
Rourke.”
No. 2.
Jesus conferring Primacy of the Church
on St. Peter the Apostle. Above in the
quatrefoil an angel with flourished ribbon
scroll inscribed in Latin: “Matth. 16, 19
And I will give to thee the keys of the
kingdom of heaven.” Signed with Inn
sbruck glassmaker’s symbol. “In memory
of Hugh Monahan and Wife.” The Key is
emblematic of St. Peter’s authority, and
rock surmounted with a temple makes a
symbolic background.
No. 3.
St. Elizabeth of Hungary feeding the
Poor. Above in the quatrefoil an angel with
flourished ribbon scroll inscribed: “Dear
Shall their blood be in His Sight.” Inn
sbruck glassmaker’s symbol. “In memory
of Michael and Mary Brannan.”
No. 4.
Jesus at prayer in the Garden of
Gethsemane, with Angel presenting the
Chalice. Above in the quatrefoil an angel
posed in prayerful sympathy. Innsbruck
glassmaker’s symbol. “In memory of
William and Mary Aloysia Garity.”
No. 5.
Jesus Healing the Sick. Above in the
quatrefoil emblem of the Sacred Heart of
Jesus encircled with ribbon scroll inscrib
ed: “Sacred Heart of Jesus have Mercy on
Me.” “In memory of Andrew Hanley.”
SOUTH AISLE
No. 1.
St. Dominic Receiving the Rosary from
Blessed Virgin Mary and Infant Jesus.
Above in the quatrefoil an angel with
flourished ribbon scroll inscribed: “Queen
of the Holy Rosary Pray for Us.” Inn
sbruck glassmaker’s symbol. “In memory
of Honoria and Owen Foley.”
No. 2.
St. Patrick of Ireland instructing King
Laoghaire of Tara. Above in the quatrefoil
an angel with flourished ribbon scroll in
scribed: “Better to believe than to die.”
“In memory of Maurice and Elizabeth
Walsh.”
No. 3.
The Holy Family at Nazareth. Above in
(Continued on Page 11)
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