A Tour of the Church Windows of Saint Catherine of Siena Church Pittsburgh, PA 15216

A Tour of the Church Windows of
Saint Catherine of Siena Church
     Pittsburgh, PA 15216

Window 1

The will of the Father (Hand of God) is
fulfilled through His promise of a Savior.
         Advent is the preparation to receive
our Savior. Mary - - through the Holy Spirit
- - is the New Eve, clothed in robes
resembling a ciborium (Sacred Vessel
containing the body of Christ). Unselfishly,
Mary leaves her home (House with Rose) to
help her cousin, Elizabeth, who is awaiting
the birth of St. John the Baptist (House with
Shell). Expectant mothers of today, while
awaiting the birth of their child, also realize
that they are fulfilling the will of God.
Below, the first Station of the Cross (near
the bottom of window) are Chi and Rho
(Greek Letters) and wedding rings, depicting
the role of parents in bringing into the world
new citizens for heaven. The daisies
represent the innocence of children.

Window 2

Christ was born not in a Palace, but in
poverty…Not seeking a throne, but a place
in our hearts. The star of Bethlehem
announces the arrival of a Savior to all
people of all ages. At Baptism, we are
reborn in Christ… The waters of Baptism
wash away Original Sin and we become
children of God. Only until the peoples of
all nations are baptized will the world truly
be a Christian world (Orb and Cross). The
“Churching” of new mothers- -offering
themselves to God—is very similar to the
presentation of Mary offered in the temple.
Offerings of the poor—who have so little to
give—(Doves offered in the temple)
undoubtedly please God.

Window 3

God’s anger at the sin of Adam and Eve is
seen as a flaming sword expelling them
from Paradise and closing the gates of
heaven. Man now lives in a vale of tears
amid sin, suffering, and degradation. The
soul is introduced to the Sacrament of
Penance (Keys of Forgiveness) for
unshackling the bondage of sin. The Holy
Family also lived in this same vale of tears.
They fled to Egypt to escape persecution.
Daisies cut down by a sickle represent the
Holy Innocents who shed their blood for
Christ, and also those suffering today under
communism. Below, the soul thirsts for
knowledge (2+2=4 and ABC) of its goal in
life—to be with God (Alpha and Omega) the
Beginning and the End.

Window 4

The Holy Family at Nazareth (house with 3
lilies and carpenter tools) is the model for all
families to follow. Modern families, by
saying the rosary together, share in the joys,
sorrows, and glorious mysteries of life
together. Parents are obligated to provide
their children with religious instruction, to
learn both the laws of God and man. This is
best accomplished by a Catholic education
(Sister teaching children).
Below, Oak leaves and the lamp of wisdom
show how a child (like the Christ-Child)
grows in grace and wisdom - - - from an
acorn into an oak.

Window 5

As St. John the Baptist introduced Christ to
the world centuries ago, “Behold the Lamb
of God”…So does the priest today. When
children reach their first holy communion
day, the priest introduces Christ to them,
“Behold the Lamb of God who takes away
the sins of the world.” Below, fasting and
abstinence brings us closer to God, helping
us overcome temptations as Christ overcame
the temptations in the wilderness.

Window 6

Christ, represented by a sunburst, chooses
His 12 Apostles by calling fishermen to
become “Fishers of Men”. Christ’s call also
reminds us to fulfill our calling in life. We
are strengthened in confirmation by the Holy
Spirit and we become like the Apostles,
“Soldiers of Christ”. Below, Our Lord’s
first public miracle - - - changing water into
wine at the marriage feast at Cana - - -
shows the great influence of Mary, the
Mother of God.
(Rings represent wedding Feast)

Window 7

After falling into sin, the soul is brought
back to life by Sanctifying Grace in the
Confessional. It is through the purifying
fires of self denial and penance (Cross and
Crown of Thorns) that the soul is able to
overcome sin and temptation and reach the
living waters of God’s Grace.
(Confessional with keys as a reminder that
Christ gave the priests/Apostles the power to
forgive sins in His name)
Below, Money-changers are cast out of the
Temple. Souls (Doves), now free of
worldly ties, return to the fountainhead of
the Living Waters.

Window 8

Many are called by God (A Fisherman’s
Net) to labor in his vineyard. These are His
Priests working zealously in mission fields
around the world (from city to jungle) as
physicians giving healing care (to old and
young). The grateful gives thanks to God
that he has been found. Below are those
who reject God’s graces and fall victim to
the devil (roaring lion). Their deeds are the
cause of injustice in the world (Unbalanced
Scales).

Window 9

Our hearts, surrounded by worldly ties, hear
the Sermon on the Mount where Christ
gave us the rules for eternal happiness “The
Beatitudes”. God’s Word, falling on good
ground, bears good fruit. Marriage is a
good tree. It bears good fruit amid the woes
and anxieties of life.

Below are those who hear the word of God,
and keep it. They are the ones who can
weather any storm. They have built their
home on rock.

Window 10

The work of the Church is spread
throughout the world by missionaries
strengthened by the prayers of the cloistered.
Many gave their lives for the beatific vision
(the Transfiguration of our Lord and the
three Tabernacles). Spiritual food (Bread
and Fishes) and strength (Shield) are given
those who follow in His Footsteps. Martha
prepares dinner for Christ, but Mary chooses
spiritual nourishment at Christ’s side.
Below, the lost sheep that wandered among
worldly cares has returned.

Window 11

As Christ raised Lazarus from the dead, so
too will we rise up on that final Judgement
Day. The Catholic Church’s sacrament of
the Anointing of the Sick provides the final
graces bringing us home to the heavenly city
of Jerusalem. It was nearly 2,000 years ago
when Christ entered the city of Jerusalem
amid waving palm branches and shouts of
“Hosanna”.

Below, holy water and palms recall Christ’s
triumphant procession which was the
beginning of the most sorrowful week the
world has ever known.

Window 12

The Last Supper gives us the greatest
example of humility (Christ washing the feet
of His Apostles). We should always
remember that the servant is never greater
than the master. At the Last Supper, Christ
also gave Himself to us and the Apostles in
the Holy Eucharist. At the time, one
rejected Him (An overturned cup). How
many of us reject Him today?

Below, is our Lord’s agony in the garden
(Moon and Chalice).

Do we accept our chalice and humble
ourselves to God’s will?

Window 13

In time of crisis, will we betray Christ as
Judas? (The tree from which Judas hanged
himself). Will we deny him as Peter? (A
cock crowing). Or will we stand by our
Mother of Sorrows on Calvary with the love
of St. John (An Eagle).

Below, Our Blessed Mother intercedes for
us. We turn to her through her rosary, her
miraculous medal, and her scapular.

Window 14

The Resurrection is depicted as a butterfly
emerged from a cocoon.
The risen Savior is Christ triumphant in
heaven.
On Pentecost, the Holy Spirit sanctified the
Church (Ship guided by the “Star of the
Sea”).

On the day of judgment, the all-just judge
calls the faithful (Sheep) whose love of
Christ had saved them. The scales of justice
are balanced.

Below, the unfaithful (Goats) fall into the
fires of hell.