Melchizedek

In the pase of Corpus Christi Church, on the gospel side, is a stained glass window of  Melchizedek.   Melchizedek was a king and priest who blesses Abram in the 14^th chapter of the Book of Genesis.  In the chapter, he is introduced as the king of Salem, and priest of El Elyon (“God most High”).  He brings out bread and wine and blesses Abram and Elyon.

The depiction of Melchizedek in the Jenkins Memorial-Corpus Christi Church makes perfect sense when one considers the fact that Catholics find the roots of their priesthood in the tradition of Melchizedek[i] .  In Genesis 14:18, Melchizedek offers a sacrifice of bread and wine. Christ therefore fulfilled the prophecy of Psalm 110:4, that he would be a priest "after the order of Melchizedek," at the Last Supper, when he broke and shared bread with his disciples.  

Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying,“Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.  And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand. Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.[ii]

Catholics take Christ's command that the Apostles should "do this in memory of Me" seriously.  As such, the Catholic Church continues to offer sacrifices of bread and wine at Mass, as part of the sacrament of the Eucharist.

This particular stained glass window is completely filled with the figure of Melchizedec offering his sacrifice of bread and wine.  His mantel of ruby red becomes the finest color in the midday rays of the sun.  In small compartments in the lower part of the light are also represented the falling manna of the desert, and the loaves of proposition from the Holy of Holies; and in small shields at either side are the wheat and the vine, emblems of the Blessed Sacrament as the others are the types.[iii]

Before I close, I cannot resist sharing another artistic rendition of the meeting between Abraham and Melchizedek, this one by Dieric Bouts the Elder (1464-1467) at The Church of Saint Peter in Leuven, Belgium where I went to college.  This painting is part of the Altarpiece of the Holy Sacrament which has 4 additional panels: The Last Supper (central piece), Elijah and the Angel, the Gathering of the Manna and The Feast of the Passover.

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[i] Cathechism of the Catholic Church, 1544

[ii]Genesis 14:18-20 New International Version (NIV)

[iii] Jenkins Memorial Church of Corpus Christi, Baltimore, Md. : a description of its stained glass windows and the subjects depicted therein