Hail Mary
(Immaculate Conception)
The very first window is dedicated to “Hail Mary,” a most fitting start because Mary, Mother of God, as Queen of the Saints, has the pre-eminent position in the hierarchy of the heavenly court. The singular privilege of Mary, her Immaculate Conception, means that she was preserved from the stain of original sin in the first instant of her conception in the womb of her mother, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ.
The familiar prayer gradually developed over the centuries until its present form was adopted for general use in the sixteenth century. It can be divided into three parts: the words of the Archangel Gabriel, “Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou amongst women;” the words of Elizabeth, “Blessed is the fruit of thy womb (Jesus);” and a petition that was later added, “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.”
the sixth Provincial Council of Baltimore, in 1846, the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of the Immaculate Conception was chosen as Patroness of the United States. The doctrine was defined by Pope Pius IX on December 8, 1854.
St. Joseph
His ancestry as traced back by St. Matthew and St. Luke, Joseph was of royal descent, with his genealogy stemming from King David. He was the legal husband of Mary and the legal father of Jesus, giving the latter the right to be called the “Son of David,” a title prophesied of the Messiah.
Joseph is characterized in the Gospel as a “just man,” meaning he was very conscientious in observing the Hebraic law. The law or practice of the rabbis at that time commonly taught that men should marry between the ages of 13 and 19. Joseph probably conformed to this practice. Since he is not mentioned during the public ministry of Jesus, he most likely died before he was fifty years old.
At the time of Jesus’ conception and birth Mary was “betrothed” to Joseph. This means in Hebrew practice much more than being engaged. It means there was a formal contract making them husband and wife, but several months usually elapsed before a wedding ceremony was performed in which the man received the woman into his house. This is why Joseph was so agonized and disturbed at first by Mary’s obvious pregnancy and “not wishing to expose her to reproach, was minded to put her away privately.” This means he intended to divorce her privately without having to reveal to the public the reason for his decision. After an angel revealed to Joseph the mystery of Mary’s conception and he took her into his house. Catholic doctrine insists on the perpetual virginity of Mary.
The Gospel speaks of Jesus’ “parents” and Mary is quoted at the finding in the temple as saying, “Your father and I,” thus investing Joseph with full parental rights and making him a true, equally virgin parent of Jesus.
St. Michael
The name of Michael occurs frequently in the Old Testament. The name in Hebrew means “Who is like God?” There is no doubt that the archangel Michael played a large part in the literature of the Jewish communities before the coming of Christ and that early Christian cult was influenced by the prominent place given to him in the ancient Books of the Old Testament.
The scriptures refer to Michael as “one of the chief princes,” or “the great Prince, guardian of your people.” He is represented as the angel protector of Israel and the source of comfort and strength for Israel in times of extreme distress.
In New Testament times it is written in the Apocalypse of Saint John that, “there was a great battle in Heaven. Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon fought and his angels; and they prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven. And that great dragon was cast out, that old serpent who is called the Devil and Satan, who seduceth the whole world; and he was cast unto the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.”
With the name of Archangel Michael established as the captain of the heavenly host and the great protector, the appeals made to his beneficent influence have grown since the early centuries. His victory over the fallen angels confirms the fact that he is a particularly powerful advocate against all that is negative toward the goodness of the human condition. He was venerated in the East as having
St. Anne and St. Joachim
The fascinating text of an ancient document, written in the late second century, is the only source of information we have about the parents of Mary. The story told is that Joachim, a rich and respected man of Israel, met with public reproaches because of his sterility. Feeling downcast, he left his wife Anne and retired to the desert for forty days to pray and fast. Meanwhile Anne, too, mourned and prayed before the Lord, lamenting over her child-lessness, which she regarded as a punishment from God. Finally, the prayers of both spouses were answered. An angel appeared to Anne and announced that she would conceive and bear a child who would be spoken of throughout the world. In reply, Anne offered to bring the child to the Lord as a gift to minister to Him in all holy things. At the same time, Joachim in the desert had a similar vision, and returned home full of joy. In due time Mary was born to them.
Devotions to St. Anne date back as early as the sixth century, when the Emperor Justinian I dedicated a shrine to her in Constantinople. Widespread devotion to her did not begin until the fourteenth century, when numerous churches, chapels and confraternities were dedicated to her throughout Europe. She became extraordinarily popular in France and one of her greatest shrines today is in French-speaking Quebec, Ste. Anne de Beaupre.
The popularity of Anne and Joachim is the fact that the family, especially in former days, could not be thought of without including the grandparents. They are a part of the Holy Family–the grandparents Our Saviour.