The Narthex Window symbolizes worship. It was created in 1954 when the sanctuary was built, and dedicated to the people who died in World War II. This window has eight distinct sections; each has a specific meaning. Click on an area in the picture to learn more about that section of the window.
Just below the terra cotta tracery in the center panel, the cross is outlined. The cross became the symbol of faith for the Christians almost immediately following the resurrection. The worst that could happen to their Lord had been turned into the best that could happen for them. The instrument upon which their Lord had met His death had become their symbol of life. Through the centuries, the cross has stood at the center of the Christian's faith. The Son of God had suffered that the sons of man might have salvation. At the top of the perpendicular bar of the cross are inscribed the letters, INRI. This inscription represents the first letters of each of the four Latin words Iseus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum, "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews." This was the superscription placed by order of Pontius Pilate on the cross at the time of the crucifixion.
The Church has two sacraments, the Lord's Supper and baptism. These two sacraments are symbolized in the Narthex window:
The upper left panel of the window shows the baptismal font, the symbol of the entrance of God into human life by faith through baptism - the outward sign of an inward change.
The upper right panel shows the chalice, or the communion cup, symbolizing the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. For nearly fifteen hundred years, the Hebrews had kept the memory of their miraculous escape from Egyptian slavery in what they called the Passover meal. It was at this Passover supper that the Master with His disciples participated in what the Christian world has come to think of as the Last Supper. After the Passover meal had been eaten, Jesus passed the bread and wine to the disciples and asked them to partake as a symbol of His broken body and shed blood. The early Christian adopted this practice of eating bread and drinking wine from the very beginning, and it has continued through the centuries as the sacrament of God's deliverance of man through the suffering of His son.
In the lower left panel is the picture of a church, symbolizing the word of Jesus to Peter. When the Master asked the disciples who they thought He was, Peter answered, saying, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." The reply of the Master to Peter was, "Upon this rock (this faith in me as the Son of God) I will build my church..." (Matthew 16:16 & 18.)
The next panel to the right is a picture of four hearts symbolizing the words of praise, "Lift up your hearts." This is called, in church liturgy, the sursum corda. The liturgies of the Roman Catholic church always open with these words, either sung or spoken.
The next panel (center) shows the praying hands, a symbol of humility and reverent devotion. The folding of the hands has always been a symbol of humility in worship. Until the heart is humble and the mind receptive, God cannot communicate His message to the worshipper. Note that these hands are calloused, jointed hands, indicating service.
Still to the right, the next panel shows a person with uplifted hands, which is a symbol of the resurrection, or faith in eternal life. St. John 14:19:..."because I live, ye shall live also," said the Master and the open tomb has symbolized eternal life for all believers.
The last panel to the right show the descending dove, symbolizing the coming of the Holy Spirit, first of all to the Master Himself at His baptism, when a voice was heard saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (II Peter 1:17). Again, immediately before the master's departure, He said to His disciples, "And if I go and prepare a place for you...I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter...Even the Spirit of Truth." (St. John 14:3, 16, 17). Here in the descending dove is the symbol of God's continuing presence in the soul of His believers.