About Stained Glass

St. Barbara was an early Christian saint and martyr who lived in the third century AD in the country now known as Turkey. She is sometimes called the “Great Martyr Barbara”. Her heathen father kept her locked in a lonely tower. When he was away Barbara instructed the builders of a bathroom to insert three […]

St. Natalia of Nicomedia and St. Adrian of Nicomedia, a young married couple, lived in the third century AD during the reign of Emperor Maximian. They had been married for only one year when Adrian, who was a Herculian Guard overseeing the persecution of Christians, decided to convert to Christianity. This resulted in him being […]

St. Andrew was the first disciple of Christ, and he was joined by his brother St. Peter, both of them having been fisherman, Jesus promised that He would make them “fishers of men” when they followed Him. Not surprisingly then, St. Andrew is the patron saint of fishermen, fishmongers and rope makers. In sacred art […]

St. Andrew was the first disciple of Christ, and he was joined by his brother St. Peter, both of them having been fisherman, Jesus promised that He would make them “fishers of men” when they followed Him. Not surprisingly then, St. Andrew is the patron saint of fishermen, fishmongers and rope makers. In sacred art […]

According to tradition, St. Catherine of Alexandria was the daughter of the pagan King and Queen of Alexandria. As a princess she is often depicted in stained glass art as being richly dressed, standing next to a segment of broken wheel representing the instrument of torture on which she was martyred. She became a devout Christian in her […]

Bl. Miguel Pro was born José Ramón Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez, and was also known by the nickname ‘Cocol’. He was born in Mexico in 1891, and was a mischievous and adventurous child. At the age of twenty he joined the Jesuits. Three years later terrible persecution broke out in Mexico, forcing Miguel to flee […]

Catherine Labouré was a French saint who lived during the nineteenth century. Her mother died when she was nine years old and it is said that after her mother’s funeral the young Catherine kissed a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary saying; “Now you will be my mother”. St. Catherine Labouré was very devout, and […]

St. Cecilia is the patroness of music and musicians, due to the story that she heard heavenly music and sang in her heart to the Lord while she was married. Catholic art and stained glass designs frequently show her playing a viola, a small organ or other musical instrument. She is one of the most […]

Rose Philippine Duchesne was born in Grenoble, France in 1769. She was the second of seven daughters and one son, and they grew up in a castle together with their twelve cousins. As a child, Rose survived a smallpox outbreak and was educated at a monastery near Grenoble. She became a religious sister and a […]

St. Albert the Great is also known as Albertus Magnus or Albert of Cologne. He was a German Dominican friar and a Catholic bishop who lived during the thirteenth century and had been called “the greatest German philosopher and theologian of the Middle Ages.” He was among the first and greatest of the natural scientists […]