About Stained Glass

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 […]

An Italian saint, born in the thirteenth century, St. Thomas Aquinas is well-known as an influential academic and a scholar. Artworks in stained glass often show him holding a book or scroll, and he is understandably the patron saint of all universities and students. His feast day is January 28th. From the young age of […]

St. Angela Merici was an Italian religious leader and saint born in 1474. Her parents died when she was fifteen, leaving her and an older sister as orphans. Angela was very disturbed when her sister died suddenly without receiving the Last Sacraments and she prayed fervently for her sister’s soul. In response she received a […]

St. Blaise lived during the Third Century AD in Armenia, born to a rich and noble family who raised him as a Christian. He was a physician and a bishop. There are many church art works depicting St. Blaise, and he is often seen in stained glass images holding a pair of crossed candles which […]

St. Timothy is revered as a first century Christian, Bishop, martyr and saint. In the New Testament he is described as a disciple of St. Paul, accompanying him on his missionary journeys. Timothy grew up in Lystra and was grounded in the scriptures by his Jewish mother, Eunice, and grandmother, Lois, who subsequently became Christians […]

St. Agnes of Rome is the patron saint of chastity, gardeners, engaged couples, rape victims, virgins and Children of Mary. She is depicted in art and stained glass accompanied by a lamb, as her name is similar to the Latin word for lamb (agnus). The brief life of St. Agnes was one of purity and […]

St. Sebastian, patron saint of archers, soldiers and athletes, is a popular choice for Catholic churches, with 45 in the USA being named after him. Stained glass windows portray St. Sebastian as a brave and energetic defender of the faith. He lived in Rome around 260 AD, making many converts and healing the sick. When […]