Baptizing into Christ Jesus

Beneath the Tree of Life, in the apse of the church, is the baptistry. The art around the font is a visual image of the church into which we enter through baptism: apostles, angels, sacraments, saints.

The Font

The baptismal font is carved of Mariposa Danby-White marble with a rim of gold mosaic and stands on four pillars of green Verde Antique marble. The four pillars suggest the four rivers of life depicted in the Tree of Life painting above. The altar, ambo, and ambry also stand on pillars of green marble, emphasizing the relationship of the eucharist, the word, baptism, and confirmation.

The baptism of an infant may be celebrated by immersion – the naked baby is gently dipped into the warm water of the font.

Adults being baptized at the Easter Vigil kneel in the recessed section of the base and water from the font is poured over them.

The fullness of these rites evokes the invisible reality of the sacrament – dying and rising with Christ to new life.

The Apostles

Above the twelve pillars of the ambulatory are portraits of the apostles with their Latin names, painted by Professor Vladimir Shamberk. This placement reflects their foundational place in the church.

Angels

Seven stained glass windows in the apse depict angels, each holding a symbol of a sacrament.

• The angel holding a shell with water flowing into a small font symbolizes baptism.
• The angel representing confirmation holds a shield embossed with a dove, representing the Holy Spirit.
• In the reconciliation window the angel holds keys, alluding to the power to “bind and to loose” from sin.
• The sacrament of the eucharist is represented by the center angel holding a chalice and a host.
• The angel holding a lectionary and ciborium evokes the preaching and sacramental roles of the priest, communicated through the sacrament of holy orders.
• For the sacrament of matrimony the angel holds a medallion with an image of a woman and a man, naked and innocent as in the Garden of Eden.
• A vessel of oil and a stole are in the hands of the angel representing the sacrament of the anointing of the sick.

Byzantine Style Mosaics

Between the angel windows are Byzantine style mosaics depicting three early popes and three theologians or doctors of the church. All six handed on the teachings of the apostles and the first councils through their writings and preaching. All but Jerome, a priest, are depicted wearing an archbishop's white pallium with black crosses. The shimmering gold background of these mosaics represents heavenly glory in the Byzantine tradition.

The Paschal Candle

The brass stand of the paschal candle is decorated with a Gordian knot symbolic of the covenant God makes with the baptized – a covenant that cannot be undone.

At the beginning of the Easter Vigil each year, a new paschal candle is inscribed with a cross, the Alpha and Omega, and the numerals of the current year. The candle burns throughout the fifty days of the Easter season, at baptisms, and at funerals. Each newly baptized Christian receives a candle lit from this paschal candle with the reminder that they have been “enlightened by Christ.”

The Ambry

The brass ambry stands on a pillar near the baptistry. The Chi Rho with Alpha and Omega monogram for Jesus Christ on the front of the pillar relates the oils to the power of Christ in the sacraments throughout life.

Within the ambry are housed glass vessels of the sacramental oils: holy chrism for post-baptismal anointing, confirmation, ordination, and the dedication of churches; the oil of catechumens which is used during the catechumenate for adults and before baptism for children; and the oil of the sick, used in the anointing of the sick. The vessels are marked with abbreviations for the Latin names of the oils: SC (sacra chrisma), OC (oleum catechumenorum), and OI (oleum infirmorum).

The carved image of a pelican recalls the pillar's previous use as a pedestal for a statue of the Sacred Heart.

MAGE: (long shot of baptistry)

IMAGE: (baptismal font)
The font is octagonal, a traditional symbol of the eighth day--the day of the new creation.

IMAGE: (baby dip - page 93)

 

IMAGE: (apostles - pg 42)
Matthias

IMAGE: (apostles - pg 42)
Simon

IMAGE: (apostles - pg 42)
James the Lesser (jacobus minor)

IMAGE: (apostles - pg 42)
Bartholomew (bartholomeus)

IMAGE: (apostles - pg 42)
Andrew (andreas)

IMAGE: (apostles - pg 42)
John (ioannus)

IMAGE: (apostles - pg 42)
Peter (petrus)

IMAGE: (apostles - pg 42)
Philip (philippus)

IMAGE: (apostles - pg 42)
Thomas

IMAGE: (apostles - pg 42)
James the Greater (jacobus major)

IMAGE: (apostles - pg 42)
Matthew (matthaeus)

IMAGE: (apostles - pg 42)
Thaddeus/Jude (thaddaeus)

 

IMAGE: (stain glass angel windows - pg 43)
Baptism

IMAGE: (stain glass angel windows - pg 43)
Confirmation

IMAGE: (stain glass angel windows - pg 43)
Reconciliation

IMAGE: (stain glass angel windows - pg 43)
Eucharist

IMAGE: (stain glass angel windows - pg 43)
Ordination

IMAGE: (stain glass angel windows - pg 43)
Marriage

IMAGE: (stain glass angel windows - pg 43)
Anointing of the Sick 

 

St. Ambrosivs (Ambrose)

Bishop of Milan in the fourth century and doctor of the church.

St. Avgvstinvs (Augustine)

Bishop of Hippo in North Africa in the fifth century and doctor of the church.

St. Clemens (Clement)

Bishop of Rome and third pope after Peter, martyr and patron of this church.

St. Leo Magnvs (Leo the Great)

Pope who confronted Attila the Hun and doctor of the church.

St. Gregorivs Magnvs (Gregory the Great)

Pope who described himself as “Servant of the Servants of God” and doctor of the church.

St. Hieronymvs (Jerome)

Priest, hermit, doctor of the church who translated the Bible into Latin in the fourth century.

 

Brass Ambry

The ambry holds vessels of sacramental oil.