Prayer Window

 

The prayer window is dominated by its central scene extending across the top of the three central panels. The 12 disciples have requested Jesus, "Lord, teach us to pray." He responds with the Lord's Prayer.

The smoking censer below the figure of Jesus is an ancient symbol of prayer referred to in the Psalms, "Lord, let my prayer be set forth before thee as an incense." Above the head of Christ appears the open book; above left, the hand of God; and above right, a crown and the Greek letters, chi rho, one of the ancient monograms for Jesus Christ.

Three medallions in the first lancet and one in the second are devoted to Old Testament examples of prayer. At the top, Moses prays that the children of Israel be forgiven for worshipping the golden calf. Next below, Hannah prays for a child whom she named Samuel, and who is seen in the background. The call of  Jeremiah is symbolized by the prophet humbled under the mighty hand of God, and so certain of the validity of this call that he never wavered from his harsh duty to the end of his tragic life. Habbakkuk, at the bottom of the second lancet, is pictured at a time when the old burning questions were still unanswered, but when in faith he could break out with the prayer that, whatever befell him or his people, "Yet,  I will rejoice in the Lord."

In the central medallion Christ prays in the garden of Gethsemane while Peter, James and John lie sleeping. An angel comforts our Lord. The four medallions in the fourth and fifth lancets are New Testament examples. Beginning with the fourth lancet, bottom, the Pharisee and the Publican are at prayer, the first in pride, the second in abject humility. In the fifth lancet, bottom, Peter and Cornelius pray simultaneously resulting in the spread of the faith by men like Peter to Gentiles like Cornelius. Next above is the picture of the women in the house of Mary of Jerusalem praying for the release of Simon Peter from prison while Simon himself stands without pounding on the door to enter. Stephen the first Christian martyr in the medallion top right, prays for those who were stoning him to death.

The medallions in the lower section of this window portray Christians of the ongoing church. In the leftmost lancet, at top, is the scholar Jerome who lived in a monastery in Bethlehem where he translated the Bible into the common tongue, his translation being known as the Vulgate. Below, Monica the mother of Augustine of Hippo, prays for her wayward son who in time was converted to the Christian faith and became the great saint and scholar of the church. Next, the Pilgrims pray gratefully as they land in the new world. Susanna Wesley in the third lancet, top, hears the prayers of her children. Peter Cartwright, bottom, conducts a service in a camp meeting. George Washington is shown in the well-known scene at Valley Forge where he prays in the snow. Robert E. Lee in the road with an army chaplain prays for God's guidance in a forthcoming military campaign. The Chaplain (Peter Marshall was used as the model) of one of the houses of Congress opens a session with an invocation to Almighty God.

 

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