About Stained Glass

St. Simon or Simeon (also spelled Symeon) of Jerusalem was a Jewish Christian leader of the first century. He is mentioned in the Bible as the son of Cleopas, the brother of St. Joseph. This would make him the first cousin of our Lord Jesus. According to most Christian traditions, St. Simon became the second […]

St. Valentine is undoubtedly associated with love, and stained glass art of this saint often includes roses and birds. Although many people celebrate St. Valentine’s Day on 14th February, few realise the poignant story behind the original St. Valentine. He was a holy priest in Rome, around the year 269 AD. During the reign of […]

The Irish St. Abigail was also known as “St. Gobnait”. The meaning of her name is “One who Brings Joy”. She lived during the Sixth Century AD in County Cork, where the community of Ballyvourney still celebrates her feast day on February 11th with a Mass at the well during which everyone takes water from […]

St. Scholastica was the twin sister of St. Benedict, born in Italy in the fifth century. She consecrated her life to God at a very young age and later went to live at Plombariola where she founded a monastery of nuns. This was near to the monastery which her brother had founded in Monte Cassino. […]

Born in 1522 in Italy, St. Catherine de Ricci was initially named Alessandra. When she joined the community of religious sisters of the Third Order of St. Dominic, she was given the name Catherine, after St. Catherine of Siena. From a very early age Catherine de Ricci was passionate about prayer and lived a strict […]

Paul (or Paulo) Miki was born in Japan in the mid-sixteenth century. He came from a wealthy Japanese family and was educated by Jesuit priests. He too became a Jesuit and was a successful preacher with many converts. At that time the ruler of Japan, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, began persecuting Catholics. Paul Miki was imprisoned, along […]

St. Richard the Pilgrim or St. Richard of Wessex was an Englishman born in Wessex. He was the father of Willibald, Winnebald and Walburga who also became saints. He took his two sons and set off on a pilgrimage from England to Rome, via France. When they reached Lucca in Italy, Richard suddenly became ill […]

St. Apollonia lived during the third century AD and was a virgin martyr who is honored not only in the Roman Catholic Church, but also in the Coptic, Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches. She suffered in Alexandria, during the reign of Emperor Philip. Legend tells that when she refused to renounce her faith, she had […]

St. Agatha lived in the Third Century AD in Sicily and was martyred for her faith as a young woman of twenty. Her memorial is on February 5th, and she is one of seven who are commemorated by name in the Canon of the Mass. She was born into a rich family, and at an […]

St. Brigid of Ireland, also known as St. Brigid of Kildare, is the patron saint of Ireland together with St. Patrick and St. Columba. She is sometimes known as “Mary of the Gael” and her feast day is February 1st. Renowned for her holiness, Brigid performed many miracles including healing and feeding the poor, and […]