St. Charles Borromeo Parish at 1818 Coal Pl SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 US - Stained Glass Windows - A Historicial View
| Stained Glass Windows - A Historicial View |
In reviewing St. Charles Borromeo archives, we came across the publication “The Health City Sun” dated March 15, 1935. The publication focused around various church issues in Albuquerque in the 1930’s. Included are two articles, which spoke of the completion of St. Charles Borromeo Church dedicated on March 21, 1935, and it’s many unique features. The following is an excerpt from the two articles describing the Church’s windows in detail: “The windows of the new church are the very latest in heavy section steel casement windows with leaded opalescent glass in geocentric design. The eight large windows in the nave, a departure from conventional church type, contain special medallions, which we copied from designs executed by Father Cassidy. Twenty-five windows-each one donated by a parishioners or friend of the Church, shall be the constant source of inspiration to the worshiper within. The window over the altar, a circular glass stained one, is symbolic of the Creation of the World by God, and the Redemption of the human race by the Son of God. There are eight main windows –four on the eastern side and four on the church’s west side, each symbolizing a religious episode from the Old and New Testament relative to the Prophesy and its Scriptural fulfillment. The worshiper within or the viewer from without will find these stained glass windows, which were drawn and designed by Father Philip J. Cassidy, to symbolize the following events in the following order: Eastern windows, first from entrance, Creator’s Star-Creation; second window, The Fall of Adam and Eve; third window, Prophesy Of Isaiah, relative to the Incarnation; last window, Melchizedek offering bread and wine. Windows on the west side; first, New Foundation of Life-the New Creation, next, the Sacrament of Penance; third, the Annuncaiton; fourth, the Holy Eucharist. The finished windows were produced and fired by Baker & Baker of El Paso.”