WINDOW 7: Blessed Virgin Mary

This window was chosen to pay homage to Mary, Mother of God. It is also that the United States Catholic Church and our own Diocese of Bismarck has Mary as our Patroness.

Pope Pius IX infallibly proclaimed in 1854 that “the most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.” Mary, being free from sin, was in perfect condition to be the Mother of Jesus. The white lily at the bottom of the window symbolizes Mary’s purity, innocence and virginity. As early as the 7th century, the Venerable Bede (early Church saint) likened the Virgin Mary to a white lily, the white petals symbolizing her pure virginal body and the golden anthers the radiance of her soul.

When the archangel Gabriel announced that Mary would give birth to “the Son of the Most High” without knowing man, by the power of the Holy Spirit, Mary responded with the obedience of faith, certain that “with God nothing will be impossible.” Mary surrendered herself completely to the Divine Plan in what is known as the Fiat. Fiat means simply “yes.” In the Gospel of Luke, Mary says, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). Mary's “yes” to God counteracts Eve's “yes” to temptation and sin. Satan's successful temptation of Adam and Eve into Original Sin brought suffering and death into the world. However, God promises a Redeemer: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15). In this window, we see Mary standing on the serpent. Her obedience to God's will crushes the evil of Eve's disobedience. During her visit with Elizabeth, her cousin, Mary responds with a spontaneous prayer rooted in her familiarity with Scriptures. Mary’s Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55) has become our prayer as we pray the “Canticle of Mary” each evening in the Liturgy of the Hours which is the official prayer of the Catholic Church.

Allow Mary’s prayer to inspire you to say “yes” to the will of God. When spending time with this window of Mary, ask yourself: How has God blessed my life? When have I said “yes” to God even though I was scared? When I have said “no”? In what ways can I turn to Mary for support? Let us pray in the words of Mary, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for He has looked with favor on His lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name.”