Starting in the Sanctuary
In the semi-dome over the main altar is the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This painting follows the earliest tradition of Christ with his mother seated on the same throne. She sits at His right hand as He places a crown of roses on her head. Surrounded by angels, the God the Father looks down, while the Holy Spirit, as a dove, hovers between them. The crown of roses symbolizes heavenly joy.
To the left of the main altar is Saint Joseph instructing the boy Jesus with a father's tenderness, patience and loving care.
The next panel is the Agony in the Garden. Here Jesus in his humanness, like us, has to struggle to choose God's way.
To the right is the Annunciation. The archangel Gabriel announces to Mary that she is to be the mother of Jesus Christ. This is the mystery of the incarnation. Divine rays leading to Mary's ear indicate the Word made flesh.
Mary's acceptance "be it done to me according to your word" is a model for us even today -that with faith all things are possible.
The last panel is of St. Theresa. A young French Carmelite nun known as the Little Flower. This painting was added after the disastrous Saint Patrick's day flood of 1936 when the church was repaired and repainted, the flood waters rose just above the top of the pews.
Above the St. Joseph side altar, obscured by soot and time, is the Baptism of King Mieszko in 966. This was the first step in the conversion of Poland to Christianity. In offering Poland's allegiance to the Catholic faith, they were able to gain a higher power which would be invaluable to them in their struggles and a source of rebirth in their misfortunes.
Above the Blessed Virgin altar is the Death of St. Adelbert. While saying Mass in 997 he was attacked by Prussian pagan priests and killed with seven spears.
Ceiling vaults (starting from the sanctuary)
1st Vault. Jan Sobieski's defeat of the Turks at Vienna. In 1683 the Turks with a force of 140,000 men swept through southern Europe with Vienna as their goal. At dawn on September 12, 1683, Sobieski and his Polish calvary, with wings on their shoulders to frighten the Turk's horses, charged into the plains where the vast Turkish army was assembled. The victory seemed miraculous -so sudden and overwhelming that Vienna could not believe the Turks were defeated. Sobieski gave credit for his victory to God, saying "I came, I saw, God conquered." This was the decisive defeat of the Turks who were finally driven from central Europe for good.
2nd Vault - Death of Saint Stanislaus Kostka. Surrounded by the angles Stanislaus enters the ranks of the heavenly choir to eternally praise God. Stanislaus was the first member of the then "new" Jesuit order (founded in 1540) to be beatified in 1605. Stanislaus is also the patron Saint of Jesuit novices and those suffering from broken bones. Stanislaus older brother badgered and physically abused hirr, while they attended school in Vienna.
3rd Vault - The Four Evangelists - Writers of the Four Gospels. Gospel means the Good News. Matthew is symbolized by a man with wings, a reference to the human and Divine nature of Christ. Matthew was a tax collector for the Roman occupying forces when Jesus called him to be an apostle. Traditionally he is the author of the first Gospel. He begins his gospel with the human ancestry of Jesus. Matthew teaches us about the Divine and human nature of Christ through the Incarnation -the Word made flesh. His Gospel was directed to the Jewish Christian and has many references to the Old Testament, showing Jesus as the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy.
Mark is symbolized by a winged lion -the voice of the lion roaring in the desert, "prepare the way of the Lord." Mark was a companion of St. Peter from whom he received the facts and incidents to compose his Gospel. He begins his Gospel with the mission of St. John the Baptist. He wrote for non-Jewish Christians. His Gospel contains many explanations of Jewish custom, though seldom quoting from the Old Testament. Mark likes miracles and action and these are his by-lines. His message is that Jesus is the Son of God, rather than the Messiah of the Old Testament. He presents Jesus as the suffering Redeemer, who was misunderstood and rejected until His Resurrection.
Luke is symbolized by an ox, a reference to the sacrificial aspects of Christ's life. Luke was a Greek physician, disciple and missionary, who traveled with St. Paul. He addressed his Gospel toward Christians who were already familiar with the actual Gospel message, and made a special effort to attract educated, non-Christians. He begins his Gospel with Zacharias, the priest at the altar, offering sacrifice. Saint Luke is often referred to as the recorder of God's loving kindness and as historian of the compassion of Christ. To Luke, Jesus was Savior to all people emphasizing the mercy and forgiveness of Jesus, as well the joy all should experience at the salvation offered by Christ. He also stresses the compassion of Jesus for the poor and outcast.
John is symbolized by a rising eagle, and as the eagle soars in pure and lofty regions of the atmosphere, Saint John soars to heights sublime in the very opening words of his Gospel. John was a Galilean fisherman. He wrote for the Christian communities around Ephesus in Asia Minor. At the crucifixion Jesus entrusted the care of His Mother to John. Saint John is the messenger of the Word of God. His gaze pierces further into the mysteries of Heaven and the theme through his gospel is the Divinity of Christ. His writings are rich in symbolism and hidden meanings, and is a theological reflection upon the life and teachings of Jesus as He lives on in the Church and the Sacraments. He stresses the eternal quality of the Son of God. In the center of this vault is a decorative ventilation grill
4th Vault - Enthroned Blessed Virgin Mary. One of the main characteristics of Polish Catholicism is the intense love and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 1656, after the siege of Jasma Gora, in the name of the whole nation, the king proclaimed and parliament confirmed that henceforth Mary would be venerated as "Queen of the Crown of Poland. The Madonna is holding the Christ child and they are surrounded by angles. Mary wears a cape of blue, the color of constancy, over a red dress the color of love and suffering. Mary is the supreme woman.
5th Vault - Triumph of the Church. A choir of angles and saints are gathered giving glory to God. Portrayed in this panel are ten Polish saints or religious who served at Saint Stanislaus Kostka parish.
6th Vault - Polish/Baltic Nationhood. In the center shield Poland is represented by their national symbol, the white eagle on a red field. Lithuania is represented by their national symbol, a mounted knight, Vytis, on a blue field. Ruthenia (the Ukraine) is represented by their national symbol, Saint Michael the Archangel. In the center of the emblem is famous image of Our Lady of Czestochowa - the Blessed Virgin Mary holding the Christ child. Surrounding the portrait are the Polish words, "Krolowo Korony Polskiej Modi Sie Za Nami." Below the emblem are the Polish words "Boze Zbaw Polske" -God save Poland. Two years are inscribed on the banner: 1722, 1793 and 1795 is inscribed above the banner. These dates signify the three political partitions of the Polish and Baltic states which for 122 years disappeared from the political map of Europe.
Behind the shield are 4 pennant flags with the dates: 1794, 1830, 1848 and 1863. These dates commemorate the Polish uprisings to regain independence but all failed despite the Poles heroic struggles for freedom.
At the top of the emblem is the Royal crown of Poland. Poland and Lithuania were united in 1386 by the marriage of Jadwega, Queen of Poland, to Jagiello, Grand Duke of Lithuania. In 1387, Lithuania, the last pagan country in Europe, converted to Christianity. In 1569 Poland and Lithuania for all intents and purposes, became one nation with separate identities. The republic was based on the principal of "the free with the free and the equal with the equal." This concept of a Federation or Commonwealth was unprecedented in Europe. The republic lasted until 1795 when Poland and Lithuania were partitioned by Russia, Prussia and Austria.
Gallery Medallions
Martyrdom of Stanislaus, Bishop of Cracow. After repeatedly denouncing King Boleslaw II for the cruel oppression of the people and after three failed attempts by the Kings' henchmen to kill Stanislaus, the King himself on May 8, 1079 used his crusaders' sword to behead and dismember Stanislaus. Stanislaus body was miraculously re-composed and was seen as a symbol of the resurrection of a unified Poland.
Martyrdom of Saint Adelbert. Also depicted in the panel over the Blessed Virgin altar. |
