Stained Glass Windows of St. Louis Catholic Church
The beautiful stained glass windows, around which the 2006 church was designed, were entrusted to St. Louis Catholic Church by His Eminence, Cardinal William Keeler, to whom we are most grateful. The windows were originally made by the Conrad Schmidt Studios and commissioned for the Basilica of the Assumption in Baltimore during its 1943-47 alterations. When the decision was made to restore the Basilica to the original design of its founder (Bishop John Carroll) and its architect (Benjamin Latrobe), Cardinal Keeler offered them on permanent loan to Saint Louis Catholic Church.
There are nine major windows that comprise the “Basilica set.” Each window (except the first) measures 14 feet high by 5 feet wide and is designed around three center medallions. In each window the upper section depicts events of the Old Testament, the middle section depicts events in the life of Jesus Christ, and the bottom section depicts events in the history of the Catholic Church in America, especially in Baltimore and Maryland. Each section is flanked by images of prophets, saints and the first ten Archbishops of Baltimore. To read the windows in chronological order, begin with the first window located above the organ pipes and continue counterclockwise (to the left) around the church; the second and third windows are located behind the statue of Saint Louis; the fourth and fifth windows are behind the statue of St. Joseph; the sixth and seventh windows are behind the statue of Our Lady of Grace; the eighth and ninth windows are behind the statue of the Pieta.
The nine Basilica windows are known by the following names:
1. THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
2. THE NATIVITY
3. THE MARRIAGE FEAST AT CANA
4. THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT
5. THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM
6. THE LAST SUPPER
7. THE RESURRECTION
8. THE PENTECOST
9. THE ASSUMPTION
In addition to the original “Basilica set”, St. Louis commissioned two additional pair of Basilica-style windows located at the back of the church. The set of windows at the choir area depict the Life of Saint Louis - Life of St. Louis 1 and Life of St Louis 2 - and the set on the opposite side of the church depict the long and noble history of Saint Louis Catholic Church - Parish History 1 and Parish History 2. These windows, created by William Miles of Artisan Glass Works of Baltimore, were designed in the same style as the Basilica windows in order to create an artistic harmony throughout the church. The newly commissioned windows may be considered “living windows” since they depict, in the lower vertical side panels, the succession of Archbishops to the present thus carrying out the original intent of the Basilica windows. Additional vertical panels located in the windows at the choir area will portray future Archbishops of Baltimore.
To view the different windows click on the links in the submenu or in the text on this page. When viewing the individual window pages you may click (or hover with your mouse) on parts of the windows to view close ups and short notes.
St. Louis also commissioned four large rose windows (the circular windows above each transept). The rose windows were created by William Miles of Artisan Glass Works of Baltimore in the style of the Basilica windows. Each window is eight feet in diameter and is designed around a central panel depicting the following:
10. The Holy Spirit - above the main altar - depicted in the traditional form of a dove
11. Christ and Mary in Glory - above the Pieta statue - reminds us that pain, suffering and death dramatically expressed in the Pieta, ultimately gave way to glory and eternal life promised by the Resurrection
12. Saint Louis Offering His Crown - above the Saint Louis statue - recalls the solemn promise Saint Louis made to use his crown for the glory of God and for the good of his people
13. Music Window - above the organ pipes - depicted by an angel and trumpet.