Stained-glass windows in a church serve a double function. They add beauty to the building, but more importantly they are an aid to piety. By studying the subjects of the windows we should be moved to holy thoughts and resolutions. The windows of the Cathedral serve this double function in an admiral manner. They are exceptionally beautiful and with their many-faceted colors they are like jewls set in a precious crown. The submects of these windows speak to us on the mysteries of our religion, centering on the life of Christ and His Blessed Mother.
The windows, all donated, were installed for the consecration of the Cathedral in 1894. They were crafted in Innsbruck, Austria by the firm of Tiroler Glazmalerei. The subjects of the windows and their placement were all determined by Bishop Bradley.
The Sanctuary Windows
The central window is the central action of religion, the crucifixion of Christ. This particular window was on exhibition at the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago. To the left of this window, is the institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper. To the right of the Crucifixion we see depicted the sacrifice of Melchizedek, the Old Testament hight priest offering bread and wine to prefigure the Eucharist. The first window on the left presents Mary in teh custody of St. John who is offering her the Eucharist. This window was also on exhibition at the Columbian Exposition. the window opposite gives us St. Charles Borromeo administering the Eucharist to the dying people in Milan during the plague of 1586. The sanctuary windows, therefore, with their strong emphasis on the Eucharist in its instituion and in our daily life, form a fitting background for the Mass.
Cathedral Nave - The North Wall
All the windows in the body of the Cathedral portray different events from the Old and New Testaments. These windows have a common unity of design and decoration. The upper areas have gothic arches, angels singing and playing instruments, and a unity of coloring. The lower areas have flowers and other decorations from nature.
Beginning at the front entrance of the church and reading left to right towards the sancturary, the subjects of the windows are:
Cathedral Nave - South Wall
These windows give a continuous history of religion from the creation to the Resurrection. They should be read from the church entrance towards the sanctuary. This order was established by Bishop Bradley. The windows are:
Choir Windows
The windows in the organ loft are appropriate to the setting. There are angels singing and playing musical instruments. Depicted also are an organ, a harp, a trumpet, and other instruments.
Nature's Symphony
Faces of Humanity
Sands of Time
