Pray the Rosary with the Stained Glass in the St. Joseph Chapel (part two in a series)

The archivist from the Congregation of St. Joseph recently shared the original 28-page Iconography of the Stained-Glass Windows of the St. Joseph Chapel booklet with the retreat center. Updated, and available for guests to review in the lectern bookshelf just outside of the Chapel, it is the basis for a series of blog articles about the chapel stained glass. 

Throughout the ages, Christians have found it helpful to enhance the prayer experience with images or sacred art. The rosary images in the St. Joseph Chapel stained glass illuminate the mysteries for guests finding Jesus on retreat. 

“Many rosary guides feature artwork to help the prayer encounter the mystery in a different way,” said Father David Huemmer. “Our collection of stained-glass images allows guests to experience the French artisans unique take on the mystery presented. And, it’s a way to have a local connection to praying the rosary.” 

“The stained-glass windows were imported from France, a country famed for the artistic beauty of this product. Blue and rose are the predominating colors which the artists have skillfully constructed of small diamond-shaped pieces of stained glass. The truly artistic beauty of these is seen only when the sun shines through the glass, giving colors of myriad hues which enhance the loveliness of the chapel.” –excerpted from the Dedication of the Motherhouse souvenir book, 1957. 

The sixth window on the east side of the nave features an image of the Blessed Virgin giving rosaries to St. Dominic. It is only fitting that guests can find images for the decades of the rosary allowing them to enter into the beauty of the scene and enhance the prayer experience. 

All five Joyful Mysteries can be found in the nave of the St. Joseph Chapel, the central part of the chapel accommodating the congregation.  

There are eight windows in the nave, each featuring three images. The top image is in the shape of a diamond, the middle in a circle and the bottom in a square. Each image correlates to the life of Jesus, Mary and/or Joseph. 

Starting with the first window on the west side of the Chapel, the circle image depicts the Annunciation. The square shape in window two features the Visitation and the diamond is the Nativity. Window three’s square image is the Presentation and window four’s square is Finding the Child Jesus in the Temple. 

Joyful Mysteries 

• Decade One: Annunciation. The Angel appears to the Blessed Virgin, between columns, at the Entrance of Her house. Location: (Chapel Nave, West One, Circle) 
• Decade Two: Visitation. St. Elizabeth receives the visit of Mary with open arms. Location: (Chapel Nave, West Two, Square) 
• Decade Three: Nativity. The Child Jesus, laid on straw. The Blessed Virgin looks at Him. St. Joseph turns towards the door where the Shepherds are appearing; in the background, the ass and the ox. Location: (Chapel Nave, West Two, Diamond) 
• Decade Four: Presentation. The Blessed Virgin with St. Joseph presents the Child Jesus to the Great Priest. Location: (Chapel Nave, West Three, Square) 
• Decade Five: Finding in Temple. Jesus talks with the Doctors. He is found by the Virgin and St .Joseph. Location: (Chapel Nave, West Four, Square) 

All five Glorious Mysteries are featured in the sanctuary and the nave as well. The three east side nave windows depict the Resurrection, the Ascension and the Descent of the Holy Spirit. The diamond in the sanctuary east side window six reveals the Assumption and the square of east side window seven features the Coronation. 

Glorious Mysteries  

• Decade One: Resurrection: An Angel takes off the stone of the Tomb. Jesus is raising up to Heaven. The guards, blinded, fall down. Location: (Chapel Sanctuary, East One) 
• Decade Two: Ascension: Jesus, in glory, is raising up the Heaven before the Apostles. Location: (Chapel Sanctuary, East Two) 
• Decade Three: Descent of the Holy Ghost: From the Hands of Our Lord, rays of light go towards the Virgin and Apostles. Over their heads, a blaze is appearing. Location: (Chapel Sanctuary, East Three) 
• Decade Four: Assumption. The Blessed Virgin Mary, going up the Heaven surrounded with light. Below, the Apostles kneel, following Her with their eyes. Location: (Chapel Nave, East Six, Diamond) 
• Decade Five: Coronation of Blessed Virgin. The Virgin is crowned by the Father and the Son. Below their thrones, Angels. Location: (Chapel Nave, East Seven, Square) 

Only three of the Sorrowful Mysteries are depicted in the stained glass. The Agony in the Garden is the theme of the third window on the west side of the sanctuary. In the fifth window of the nave, which is the window closest to the back of the chapel on the east side, the square is Mary meeting Jesus on the way to Calvary and the circle depicts the Crucifixion. 

“It’s interesting to note that two of the sorrowful mysteries are missing in the stained glass,” said Father Huemmer. “No explanation has been given so it makes us wonder why those were excluded.” 

Sorrowful Mysteries 

• Decade One: Agony in the Garden. Jesus at prayer sees an Angel appear to Him whilst the Apostles sleep. Location: (Chapel Sanctuary: West Three) 
• Decade Four: Mary meets Jesus on the way to Calvary. Jesus, bruised on the heaviness of the Cross, sees His mother. Behind Jesus, a guard gives Him a push. Location: (Chapel Nave, East Five, Square) 
• Decade Five: Crucifixion. Jesus crucified. The Virgin and St John are praying near Him. Location: (Chapel Nave, East Five, Circle) 

As the chapel was built 65 years before Saint John Paul II instituted the Luminous Mysteries, they are not depicted in the windows. However, the second western window of the sanctuary details the Institution of Blessed Sacrament which is the final luminous mystery. 

“We hope this knowledge of the stained-glass iconography and rosary guide will create a curiosity about the windows,” said Father Huemmer. “We hope guests will seek out this artwork and it will magnify their retreat experience at St. Joseph’s.” 

Follow this link to find the St. Joseph Chapel Stained Glass Rosary images and find a pocket guide to praying the rosary along with the images  https://www.stjosephretreat.org/st-joseph-chapel-stained-glass 

To read part one of the Iconography of the Stained Glass of the St. Joseph Chapel, follow this link https://stjosephretreat.org/blog/stained-glass-in-the-st-joseph-chapel-tells-a-story-of-salvation-part-one