From the Archives – Colorful Oculus Windows
The Basilica of Saint Mary is adorned with 18 small, round, “oculus” windows. Most of these colorful, beautiful windows are found in the nave, above the large stained-glass windows, or in the transepts. Two of the round win- dows are located in the sanctuary.
Each window is symbolic: chalices, wheat and grapes all represent the Eucharist, the Sacred Body and Blood of Christ. The ones with “IHS” (Greek letters Iota, Eta, Sigma) signify the first three letters of “Jesus,” and are closely associated with Saint Mary’s Jesuit founders. Those with an “M” represent Mary, our patroness.
Some of the windows complement the larger windows below them. For example, the Recumbent Lamb of God with Cross is a traditional symbol of the Resurrection, Jesus’ triumph over sin and death. The accompanying window is Mary Magdalene, the first person to encounter the risen Jesus at the tomb on Easter morning.
The Pelican might seem strange in a church, but this bird is an ancient symbol of Jesus. The pelican is said to shed her own blood to feed her babies, just as Jesus shed His blood for us on the Cross and feeds us in the Eucharist. This round window is located appropriately above the large double window depict- ing Saint Andrew the Apostle and Saint John the Baptist, martyrs who shed their blood for their faith.
The image of the Tower of Ivory, or House of Gold (titles for Mary found in the Litany of Loretto), on one of our oculus windows, represents attributes of Mary’s purity and innocence. This window is above the scene of Jesus wel- coming the little children, recognizing their innocence and purity, and is dedicated to Dr. Francis Murphy (1812- 1877), who dedicated his life caring for everyone and living a life of Christian virtues. – Kitty Guy, Parish Historian
In 2020, to commemorate the 225th anniversary of our parish, we started “From the Archives” as a weekly feature online and in our bulletin to spotlight the history of Saint Mary’s. Due to its popularity, we are continuing the series. An archive of the features is located here.