The Nave Windows
The dedication of this church to St. Stephen, the First Christian Martyr, made it fitting to commemorate many early martyrs in the windows. Beginning with the window nearest the sanctuary on the Epistle side and continuing around the body of the church, the symbols reading from top to bottom in each window are as follows:
OUR LADY QUEEN OF MARTYRS. Monogram of MARIA woven together and crowned.
ST. PETER. Crossed keys, recalling Our Lord’s commission to him.
ST. PAUL. Book inscribed with the words, “Spiritus Gladius,” and a sword, because he was beheaded.
St. Andrew. Two fishes crossed, recalling his original occupation.
ST. JAMES THE GREATER. Three scallop shells (symbol of pilgrimage).
ST. JOHN. Chalice out of which crawls a serpent. According to tradition, early writers state that an attempt was made to slay St. John by giving him a poisoned chalice.
ST. THOMAS. Carpenter’s square and spear. He is said to have erected a church with his own hands and was killed with a spear.
ST. JAMES THE LESS. A mill. It is said by some that this saint suffered death between millstones.
ST. PHILIP. Slender cross and two loaves of bread, suggested by his remark when Our Lord fed the multitude.
ST. BARTHOLOMEW. Thought to have been flayed to death, hence three flaying knives.
ST. MATTHEW. Three purses, referring to his original calling.
ST. SIMON. Book upon which lies a fish.
ST. THADDAEUS (or JUDE) A Sailboat. He traveled to preach the Gospels.
ST. LINUS. Triple cross and fleeing demon. He was second pope. Triple cross refers to threefold mission of popes – priest, teacher, and shepherd. Fleeing demon signifies his victory over Satan.
ST. CLETUS. Papal tiara and Roman numeral III. He was the third pope and a convert of St. Peter.
ST. CLEMENT. Triple cross and anchor. He was drowned, weighted with an anchor.
ST. MATTHIAS. Symbol, an open book and double battle ax. He was beheaded for preaching the Gospels.
ST. BARNABAS. Opening words of St. Matthew’s Gospel (found with his body) and three stones. He was stoned to death.
ST. IGNATIUS. Heart inscribed with HIS (early abbreviation for Jesus) encircled with chains and lions, expressing his eagerness to meet the beasts in the arena.
ST. ALEXANDER. Nails and a stiletto. Instruments of his torture and martyrdom.
STS. MARCELLINUS AND PETER. Sword and chains, symbolizing evil spirit conquered.
ST. FELICITAS. Cauldron of oil and a sword. Instruments by which she was martyred.
ST. PERPETUA. Spiked ladder guarded by a dragon. Objects she saw in a dream which heralded her martyrdom. St. Perpetua died with St. Felicitas. Through their joint martyrdom, said St. Augustine, they purchased “perpetual felicity.”
ST. AGATHA. Shears and severed breasts. Concerns manner of torture which caused her martyrdom.
ST. LUCY. Lighted lamp (a play on her name in Latin: Lux, Lucis).
ST. AGNES. Lamb on book suggests the association of her name with the wool from which palliums are made.
ST. CECILIA. Harp, as patroness of sacred music.
ST. ANASTASIA. Posts and blazing fire. She was burned at the stake.
Angel holding palm and gold crown, emblems of victory and reward
Under the figure of the angel are the symbols of the manner of death of the three deacon martyrs whose names are together in the litany of the saints.
ST. STEPHEN Deacon’s dalmatic and stones.
ST. LAWRENCE Gridiron
ST. VINCENT Millstone and Raven
The symbols in this window recall the Passion of Our Lord.
The empty cross, the spear, the sponge on a reed, the nails, and the angel holding scourge and crown of thorns.