Devotion to the Infant Jesus
Many of the statues here portray the Infant Jesus. The childhood of Jesus is an active devotion in the Church for nearly a thousand years. Early church fathers like Saint Athanasius and Saint Jerome had a fervent devotion to the Child Jesus. Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Saint Anthony of Padua, Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Theresa of Avila, were also noted for their devotion to the Child Jesus. Individual depiction of the Child Jesus first appeared in the 14th century. The oldest sculptures can be found in German convents. These statues were often found with one hand raised in blessing while holding in the other: a bird, apple, book, a cross or a bunch of grapes. They were made of wood, ivory, wax, bronze and stone. In the Baroque period it became habit to dress the statue of the infant Jesus.
1. Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, also depicted in one of the stained glass windows, born 1207, died 1231, canonized 1235, Memorial November 17th. Patron of bakers because of her charitable practice of supplying bread to the poor and her generous gift of bread and grain to famine stricken Germany in the 1200's. Patron of charity societies and workers, the homeless, hospitals and nursing homes because of her tireless work at caring for the sick, poor and destitute. She turned on of her castles into a hospital and personally ministered care to the repulsively ill. Her family opposed her living the charity of the Gospel. She is often depicted with roses because on one occasion when distributing food to the poor, her husband demanded she open her cloak and show him what she was concealing. When she did so, roses cascaded out. She renounced her royal position, sold all her possessions and dedicated her life to serving those in need. This statue came from the main altar at Saint Elizabeth church
2. Baptismal Font Made of wood and in a faux marble finish. The statue depicts Saint John baptizing Jesus. The purpose of the font cover was to protect the holy water. In the middle ages the covers became elaborately carved. Under the rim of the font are carved angels, messengers from God, guardians, guides and protectors. Towards the bottom of the font are stylized demons kept at bay by the redemptive grace of God through Baptism and serve as a reminder of our Baptismal vow -to renounce Satan and all his works,.
3. Saint Anthony of Padua Also depicted in one of the stained glass windows. Born in Lisbon, Portugal in 1195. Died in Padua, Italy June 13, 1231. Canonized in 1232. Declared a Doctor of the Church in 1946. At the age of 15, Ferdinand de Bulhoes, son of a knight at the court of King Alfonso II, became an Augustinian monk. He was ordained in 1219 or 1220. He lived a quiet prayerful life. In 1220 the relics of several recent Franciscan martyrs were brought from Morocco. Ferdinand was fired with missionary zeal and pleaded for transfer to the Franciscan order. He took the name Anthony, in honor of the great patriarch of monks, Anthony the Abbot. At the age of 26 he sailed to Morocco to convert the Islamics to Christianity. On the journey Anthony become so ill he had to return to Portugal. A storm drove the ship upon the coast of Sicily and he landed at Messina. From Sicily he made his way to Assisi in 1221, the last chapter open to all members of the order. Brother Elias, vicar general, presided over the chapter, with Saint Francis seated at his feet. When the chapter meeting ended the brothers returned to their respective posts, but Anthony belonged nowhere. When he sought admission into the monastery in Italy, he met with difficulty because of his sickly appearance. He was sent to a rural hospice where he lived as a hermit and was put to work in the kitchen. He toiled with great humility, none suspecting his talents or learning, among a group of simple and untutored monks. One day at an ordination, having no one to preach, Anthony was called upon to preach. His sermon created a deep impression. His rich voice, arresting manner and moving eloquence were a mere shadow under the theme and substance of his discourse. All were enraptured. Upon hearing of his talent, Saint Francis gave Anthony licence to expound theology in all of the monasteries of the order. Occasionally he took a teaching post at several universities. But it was at preaching that Anthony revealed his supreme gift. In 1226 he was commissioned by the pope to produce “Sermons for Feast Days” From 1227 to 1230 he wrote “Sermons for Sundays”. He secured a release from the pope to preach exclusively. He resided in Padua and there composed his sermons on the saints. He had a remarkable knowledge and understanding of the bible. His sermons impressed the erudite no less than the simple, wether speaking on behalf of Christian living or against false doctrine. He was strong and fearless, merciless towards the oppressors of the defenseless and towards venal clergy. On one occasion after preaching to the faithful he turned and reprimanded the archbishop for his vices. Anthony worked to abolish debtor’s prisons and usury, and for justice. His last public act was to procure the release of prisoners. In his life time he was called the “hammer of heretics”. God’s word through him enabled him to overwhelm the sinner and convert them to God. He preached to crowded congregations -the churches could not hold the throngs. The shops were shut, people waited all night to hear him. His words broke down the barriers of apathy and impenitence. Anthony radiated holiness; sometimes the mere sight of him brought sinners to their knees. In 1231 Anthony became ill with dropsy and died at age 36. The texts of his many sermons have survived, and because of these and his reputation as a biblical scholar the Church has honored him with the title “Doctor”. After his death, his tongue remained incorrupt.
4. Saint Theresa of Lisieux Marie Francois Theresa Martin was born at Alencon, France, on January 2, 1873. She was the youngest of nine children. Although a sickly child she was warm and affectionate, deeply devoted to her family. After her mother’s death she was filled with sadness and sensitivity that lasted eight years. Theresa referred to this time as her ‘winter trial’. She was a bright student but found school life an unpleasant experience. At the age of ten, Theresa was very ill with convulsions, hallucinations and comas. The illness lasted three months. Theresa prayed to the Blessed Mother and believed the cure was miraculous. Christmas 1886 was when Theresa experienced her conversion. It was at Christmas midnight mass when she felt that Jesus had changed her heart. Her sister Celine stated that Theresa’s soul “could be seen to develop and grow in the practice of zeal and charity”. Theresa enter the Carmelite Order at the age of fifteen, and spent the remaining nine and a half years as a contemplative religious. Theresa articulated her love of God in her “Little Way”. Pope Benedict XV said “it contained the secret of sanctity for the entire world.” There was nothing new in her “Little Way” only a fresh and dynamic restatement of basic Christian truths. Theresa’s “little Way” is an attitude of the whole soul, which is a basis of an entire relationship with God. Tuberculosis began to manifest itself in Theresa, her last eighteen months were filled with fatigue, pain, suffering and temptation against her faith. A few months before she died, she was confined to the infirmary. Her final words on September 10th 1897, were: “My God, I love You.” Marie Francois Theresa Martin was canonized a Saint on May 17th, 1925, less than 28 years after her death. Theresa of Lisieux is the patron of missionaries. In 1997, because of her insightful writings and their influence in so many lives, Theresa of Lisieux was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope John Paul II. This is a title she shares with only two other women, Saint Theresa of Avila and Saint Catherine of Siena.
5. Saint Ann This statue shows Ann, mother of the blessed virgin Mary, instructing her daughter. Saint Ann is also depicted in one of the stained glass windows.
6. Pieta This statue depicts Mary holding the lifeless body of her Son after Jesus was removed from the cross. Pieta is Greek for “Compassion” -a spiritual consciousness of the personal tragedy of another or others and the selfless tenderness directed towards the situation. What Mary must have kept in her heart all those years regarding the words of Simeon when Jesus was presented in the temple as an infant. Simeon said ”. . . Behold this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against. Yes, a sword will pierce your own soul also.” (Luke 2:34-35). The “Pieta” has been source of many paintings and sculptures, one of the most famous is the sculpture by Michelangelo.
7. Saint Joseph Altar The statue depicts Saint Joseph holding the child Jesus. Saint Joseph is also depicted in one of the stained glass windows.
8. Infant of Prague The image of the Child Jesus known as the “Infant Jesus of Prague” is in reality of Spanish origin. In the 17th century this beautiful statue was brought by a Spanish princess to Bohemia as a wedding present from her mother. It was eventually presented to a Carmelite monastery. In 1631 the Saxons invaded Prague and plundered the city as well as the monastery. The statue was found damaged, its arms broken off, in the trash heap behind the abandoned church. The statue was repaired and a number of miracles were linked to the statue. In 1655 the bishop of Prague crowned the infant Jesus with a crown. In the 19th century devotion spread to South America and Italy, then to the Philippines, China and Vietnam.
9. Pulpit Before the days of microphones, amplifiers and public address systems, the pulpit was often elevated so that the voice of the Priest could be heard throughout the church. Many times a decorative curved “umbrella” was positioned behind the pulpit to help project the Priests voice. The four statues on the pulpit represent the four Evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
10. Crucified Jesus over the Main Altar At the base of the crown canopy over the altar are the words in Latin, “Se Moriens In Pretium” which translates in English as “offering oneself in death for a ransom”. Christ, by His suffering and death on the cross, ransomed us and set us free from sin and death.
11. Saint Jude Thaddeus This statue is of the Apostle Jude, the patron of desperate causes. Jude was the brother of James the less, and is a mysterious figure, moving in and out of the Gospel story as a shadowy figure, almost as if he were deliberately seeking to submerge his own personality in that of Christ rather than draw any attention to himself. Jude is often depicted carrying an image of Jesus -Jude carried an image of Jesus to cure king Abagaro of Edessa from leprosy, the king and his people then became Christians. Jude is also shown with a tongue of fire over his head -as an Apostle he received the gift of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Tradition relates that Jude was martyred by being clubbed to unconsciousness, then his head shattered with an ax. Our parish holds Saint Jude devotions every Wednesday evening after the 7:00 p.m. mass. The devotions celebrated its’ 50th anniversary in 2000.
12. Blessed Virgin Mary The statue depicts Mary holding the child Jesus. This is the Altar of Repose. It is the custom to genuflect here out of reverence for the living presence of Jesus. The ever burning sanctuary lamp is another reminder of the Lord’s presence.
13. Grotto of the Poor Souls Here Mary holds the child Jesus -the poor souls beseech Him and He alone is the source of salvation.
14. Saint Stanislaus Kostka Patron of this church. Stanislaus holds the child Jesus. Stanislaus seems to beam with the bliss of heaven as he gazes tenderly into the eyes of the child Jesus.
Stations of the Cross carved in wood, date from 1888 and were in the original church when it was located on the third floor of the school building. The Stations of the Cross represent 14 incidents in the passion, crucifixion and death of Jesus. The title of each event is written in Polish. The Way of the Cross is believed to have been started as a devotion in the 14th century. Many pilgrims while in Jerusalem in the Holy Land, followed the “Via Dolorosa” -the path Jesus followed from Pilate’s palace to Golgotha, the place of crucifixion. For the returning pilgrims the Way of the Cross was a way to recall at home through prayer and meditation this hallowed journey. |
