Panes of Glory

Mary Rose Bacani Valenti

June 10, 2009
mrwalkIt is always a pleasure for me to spend time with wonderful, faithful priests! During my visit to St. Peter’s Seminary, I was able to do an interview with Fr. Alan Momney, Formation Advisor and Spiritual Director; and with Fr. Bill McGrattan, Rector, for my Catholic Focus episode on St. John Vianney and the Year for Priests (a year which begins June 19, 2009). Fr. Momney even shared his personal reflection on celibacy for priests, which I found very enlightening.
It was also a time to visit with Fr. Michael Prieur, Professor of Moral and Sacramental Theology and author of the award-winning book “Panes of Glory.” Salt + Light is in the pre-production stage of a program highlighting the “Panes of Glory,” the beautiful stained-glass windows of St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel in St. Peter’s. These windows present the central mysteries of the Catholic faith, the doctors of the Church and some of the great missionary preachers in Church history.
martinIt was most exciting to witness Fr. Prieur’s sense of wonder and excitement at discovering the hidden meanings behind each window. For example, when looking at the window of St. Martin of Tours, he asked me why I thought there was a dog in the window. He explained that the dog and the poor man would make one think of the parable of Lazarus and the dog who licked his sores. Martin of Tours is helping this man unlike the rich man in that parable. He also spoke about how the sword, horizontally placed, was like a division between the Roman Martin and the Martin who was one with the poor and helpless. Very interesting insights.
Watch out for the Salt + Light program on Panes of Glory coming out in the fall of 2010.