Advent

Luke 1: 26-38

The Annunciation scene depicts the encounter of Mary, a young, poor Jewish girl with the angel Gabriel, the messenger of God. Mary receives the startling, disturbing news that she will bear a son (though she has yet to live with Joseph, her bethrothed). She ponders the message in her heart, learns that her cousin Elizabeth is also with child, and responds as a servant of the Lord with her "fiat," her yes: “May it be done to me according to your word.” With these words, Mary, in all humility and grace, accepts her unparalleled mission and the course of history is forever changed. God will take on our human flesh, incarnated as the baby Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah, in Mary’s womb.

Symbols

• A scroll that starts in the left window under Gabriel representsthe Word of God in the Old Testament, the promise of the Messiah – and continuing beneath Mary with the word FIAT – the prophecy of the Old Testament is fulfilled in Mary’s yes.
• Beneath the scroll on the left, is a simple silhouette of the Ark of the Covenant, representing the presence of God in the Old Testament continuing into the New Testament with the child in Mary’s womb.

Luke 1: 39-56

Immediately following Mary’s fiat, she quickly travels a long distance to see her cousin Elizabeth, also with child. The child in Elizabeth’s womb leaps with joy at the sound of Mary’s voice, the child who will become St. John the Baptist. Mother and child are filled with the Spirit. Elizabeth utters the words that Catholics pray in the Hail Mary, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Mary also responds joyfully -- with the Magnificat, proclaiming the greatness of the Lord, his mercy and his justice.
The Visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth witnesses to her love, her friendship, her desire to serve her cousin Elizabeth.  With a heart filled with the mystery of the love of Jesus, Mary shares with Elizabeth what she has received from God who is love. When Elizabeth experiences the friendship and love of Mary, Elizabeth is filled with joy and gratitude.

From this loving encounter, Mary voices the beautiful hymn of praise:  “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”

The stained glass will symbolize the loving, dynamic, human encounter of Mary and Elizabeth.  In the context of the love they share with each other, the response of both Elizabeth and Mary is one of faith-filled joy and happiness.

Symbols

• Elizabeth and Mary enveloped in a sacred heart, a powerful symbol of their loving friendship and service to one another and their love of the Lord.
• The words of the Magnificat, “My spirit rejoices,” are incorporated – flowing from the heart and Mary’s garments.
• John the Baptist is symbolized with the waters of Baptism flowing beneath Elizabeth; Jesus is symbolized with an ichthus, two intersecting arcs forming a fish. This is the earliest symbol that Christians used to identify themselves to each other.

Matthew 1: 18-24

While Mary and Joseph are legally betrothed but not yet living together, Mary conceives through the holy Spirit. Joseph, a good Jewish man of faith, plans to do the righteous thing and divorce her quietly. But as he sleeps, and angel of the Lord tells him God has other plans for him: it is the purpose of this Son of David to take Mary into his home and raise the child to be named Jesus as his own.

Symbols

• Among the stars in the sky is one larger, more brilliant star, representing the Angel as it speaks to Joseph in his sleep.
• Joseph's home is nestled among the folds of his garment with a heart welcoming Mary and Jesus.
• A box of the tools of Joseph's trade as a carpenter are depicted, reminding us of the values Joseph imparted to Jesus as he grew up.