I am the True Vine

"I am the true vine and my Father is the vinegrower."  This is the first verse of this weekend's gospel reading, John 15:1-8.  It immediately reminded me of one of the two large mosaics in the front of Corpus Christi church, on either side of the apse.  

The two mosaics were installed in 1913-1914, as the Baltimore Sun reported in early August:

“What experts pronounce to be the two finest mosaics in the United States were blessed a few days ago at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, Mount Royal and Lafayette avenues, by the Rev. James F. Nolan, pastor of the church. The mosaics are a gift of Michael Jenkins in memory of his wife, who is buried at the church.  [...] The mosaics represent the Eucharistic Christ. They are eight feet high and five feet wide.  Ten thousand pieces were used in the making of each mosaic.  They are the work of the John Harden Company, London, and it took two years to complete.  [...] The hundreds of persons who have visited the church to see the mosaics have been impressed by their great beauty and dignity."[1]

In the mosaic, Christ is wearing a white vestment worn at Benediction.  The large outer garment is called a cope and the white tunic is called an alb.    He is shown treading the wine press and wine from the press flows into three communion chalices below.  Interlacing grapevines form the border of the central figure.  Beneath the mosaic is the text "I am the true vine."   Two angels with blue wings hold up a red tapestry that also includes the first verse of John 15.

[1] "Fine Mosaics Blessed: Those at Corpus Christi Pronounced Best in Country." Sun [Baltimore] 8 Aug. 1914: 7. ProQuest Historical Newspapers. Web. 31 Jan. 2015.

Doubting Thomas and St. Margaret

This weekend at mass we will hear the story of doubting Thomas, or St. Thomas the Apostle, who doubted the resurrection when it was first told to him (John 20:19-29).  He is depicted in one of the stained glass windows in the back of our church.

There are two figures in this large stained glass window: St. Thomas the Apostle, and St. Margaret, Queen of Scotland.  Underneath you can read the caption "In Loving Memory of Thomas C. Jenkins and his wife Louisa Carrell.  The windows were installed in 1890 in memory of the founders' parents, Thomas Courtney Jenkins and Louisa Carrell.  Quite possibly St. Margaret and St. Thomas the Apostle were selected because they both represent charity for the poor, a rule which was very dear to Thomas and Louisa Jenkins. 

St. Thomas the Apostle is shown with his emblem the carpenter's square.  A 4th century apocryphal romance, The Acts of Thomas, tells of the apostle's missionary journey to India where a heathen King Gundaphorus ordered him to design and build a palace.  In the king's absence Thomas converted many of his subjects to Christianity and gave all the money to the poor.  On his return Gundaphorus was infuriated to be told that he would not see the palace until after his death, since it was built in paradise.  However, a dead brother of the king unexpectedly came back to life and confirmed what Thomas claimed was true, and so Gundaphorus became a Christian.  This charming tale is the origin of Thomas' patronage of builders and architects.  It is a common theme in Gothic cathedrals. [1] In his right hand, St. Thomas holds a spear, the instrument of his martyrdom.  Some literature states that St. Thomas died a martyr, in Persia or India, by the wounds of the four spears pierced into his body by local soldiers. 

St. Margaret, Queen of Scotland (1050-1093) wears her crown and her royal robe of ermine.  Her hand is extended and around her waist she wears a large burse.   An appropriate lady patron for a family of English descent.  St. Margaret of royal English lineage became the wife of Malcolm, the King of Scotland who reigned in the latter half of the 11th century.  She was the mother of eight children, numbering among them the King David I of Scotland.  She was renowned for her governing prudence and personal sanctity.  According to her chronicles, St. Margaret attended to charitable works every day before she ate, and washed the feet of the poor in imitation of Christ.  

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[1] Hall, James. Dictionary of Subjects and Symbols in Art. Boulder: Westview, 2008. Print.