Liturgical Symbols – Plants
What are these liturgical symbols and what do they mean?
Written by: Conrad Schmitt Studios
In addition to animals, liturgical symbols also include flowers and foliage which symbolize beauty and meaning. These elements of the natural world are often utilized as repetitive patterns and border decorations within glass, murals, and painted stencils, while also standing alone as single design components. Some examples include:
Often referencing the piety of the Virgin Mary, lily flowers symbolize rebirth and hope. These flowers are also used to reference the Resurrection of Christ after his death on the cross. This window features the young St. Kateri Tekakwitha, known as the Lily of the Mohawks. She is depicted placing crosses throughout the countryside in a field of trees and lilies. This window was installed at the Aquinas Academy in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.
At Holy Hill Basilica and National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians, St. Theresa Chapel in Hubertus, Wisconsin the stylized lily flower, or fleur de lis, is a pattern on St. Therese of Lisieux’s garment, a saint known as the “Little Flower.” The gold fleur de lis arranged on the Saint’s blue dress also resembles stars in the night sky, showcasing other visual parallels to nature.
Mystical Rose (Rosa Mystica) – Virgin Mary
While roses are often associated with love and beauty, the “Mystical Rose” symbolizes the Virgin Mary as the Queen of spiritual flowers. At St. Mary Catholic Church in Menasha, Wisconsin painted Roses appear along vines, bordering pointed Gothic arches.
Palm branches – victory
Like laurel leaves, palm branches are often associated with victory and with Palm Sunday, when Christ triumphantly rode on a donkey into Jerusalem before his crucifixion. While Christ was victorious over death through his resurrection, Palm Sunday anticipates the remembrance of this costly sacrifice before the church celebration of Easter. At St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, St. Stanislaus himself holds a palm branch in his right hand, a symbol of his sainthood.
Acanthus leaves
Commonly adorning the capitals (tops) of Corinthian columns, acanthus leaves are a recurring architectural feature in Classical-style buildings. Windows in progress for the Chapel of the Holy Cross at Jesuit High School in Tampa, Florida highlight these motifs as carefully rendered structures within ornate column decoration.
Vine/Tree – Jesus / Family
In John 15:5 Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches.” At the LaPorte Hospital Family Chapel in LaPorte, Indiana, CSS designed and fabricated a six feet wide by twenty-six feet high stained glass window. As a gift from the hospital to the entire community, this theme of connection is reflected both inside and out. To allow the window to also be enjoyed from the exterior, portions of the window were fabricated from a unique iridescent glass and selected areas of the exterior lead were gilded with 23kt gold leaf.
Celebrating the Studio’s history as a family-owned and operated company, three-generations of Gruenke gather around the cut glass for LaPorte in this iconic photo, serving as a literal family tree. With every generation, Conrad Schmitt Studios, Inc. not only upholds historical tradition, but also provides artistic innovation when incorporating symbols and motifs for communities throughout the country.
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