| Chapel Tour |  | |
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 | Symbolism | |
| Wood Carving | |
| Holy Family | ||
| The Chapel | ||
| Monstrance | ||
| Crucifix | ||
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| Stained Glass | ||
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| Melchizadek | |
| Manna | ||
| Loaves and Fishes | ||
| 7th Century Lamp | ||
| Catacombs | ||
| Doves and Grapes | ||
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| Farewell | ||
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| Lord's Prayer Litany | |
| Return Home | ||
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Three of the stained glass windows represent Biblical stories from both the Old and New Testaments. The first window tells the story of Melchizedek, a priest of God who brought out bread and wine to Abraham and gave praise and thanksgiving to God, thus prefiguring the Eucharist. The second window depicts the gift of manna, also a prefigurement of the Eucharist in the book of Exodus, in which God the Father sustains the lives of His people with bread from heaven. Finally, the third window represents the miracle of the loaves and the fishes from the Gospel according to Matthew, in which Jesus feeds the multitudes who come to Him.
The elements used in the three stained glass windows located at the back of the Chapel were all taken from various symbols from the early Church. The first of these windows depicts the Eucharist under both species, with the fish representing the Sacred Body, and the vase containing the Sacred Blood. It was taken from a symbol found on a seventh century lamp. The second of these windows is from a symbol taken from a fresco in the catacombs. It employs several different symbolic elements. The Holy Eucharist, the vase containing our Lord's Most Sacred Blood, stands atop a pillar which represents the Church. The lamb at the right represents the faithful yearning after the blood of the Redeemer. The lamb at the left, turned away from the pillar, represents those who would not accept this marvelous gift, but turned away from it. Upon close examination of the faces of the lambs, one can see that the lamb that is facing the pillar is joyful, while the lamb that has turned away is bitter. The final stained glass window in this sequence depicts a bird and grape motif. This motif is often found on sarcophagi dating from the ancient classic times. The faithful are symbolized by the doves who are feeding upon the grapes - the Blood of Christ.
The large crucifix represents our Lord's crucifixion, the sacrifice of the Lamb that is repeated at every Mass during the Eucharistic celebration.
There are 11 pews in the Chapel. Jesus had 12 original Apostles, but only eleven of them gave glory to Him. It was those eleven who first received the Body and Blood of Our Lord, Jesus Christ.
The Stations of the Cross depict our Lord's complete and total obedience to His Eternal Father, to which we are likewise called.
The glass windows embedded in the Chapel doors are etched with images of wheat and grapes, representing the Bread of Life and our Lord's Most Sacred Blood.
There are seven sanctuary candles. The number seven is the most important symbolic number in the Bible. God created the world in seven days; having completed the work of creation in six days, God rested on the seventh, blessing that day and making it holy. Likewise, the Feast of Unleavened Bread was a seven day event. When Jesus performed the miracle of the loaves and the fishes, there were five loaves and two fishes. Again, the number seven. The six sanctuary lamps, which burn perpetually on either side of our Lord, and the seventh lamp which is located next to the statue of the Holy Family, represent the weekly prayer petitions of those people who have requested them. Jesus has said that what we ask of the Father in our Lord's name will be granted to us, if it is in accord with the Father's Will. These prayer intentions are placed behind the Eucharistic Tower during Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, and are prayed for by all of the people who come to worship our Lord in adoration.
Finally, the stained glass window at the center of the stairway leading up to the Chapel depicts St. Francis of Assisi, who had great reverence for and devotion to the Holy Eucharist. On the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, September 14, 1224, as the gentle Saint was contemplating the passion and death of Christ, he saw a seraph flying towards him. There was a figure of a man attached to a cross between the wings. After the vision disappeared, the hands and feet of the Saint were found to be marked with nails, and there was a wound in his side. He had received the sacred stigmata, the wounds of the nails and the lance as a testimony to his oneness of spirit with Christ. It has been said that of all people who have borne the Christian name, none resembled Christ Himself so much as the “dear poor man” of Assisi.
The symbolism represented in this Chapel is a sequence that binds us, here and now, to the full panorama of Church history:
This is the Church's history.
This is our history.
Jesus gave to His Eternal Father all honor and glory.
Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit to help us follow in His steps to also give all honor and glory to His Eternal Father.
When we come to Jesus in adoration, we bring much honor and glory to God, His Eternal Father, our Eternal Father, by allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us and transform us into becoming more and more like Jesus Himself.
Not just a symbol.
A fact.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Have faith in God and Faith in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places; otherwise, how could I have told you that I was going to prepare a place for you? I am indeed going to prepare a place for you, and then I shall come back to take you with me, that where I am you also may be. You know the way that leads where I go.”
“Lord,” said Thomas, “we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus told him:
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father also. From this point on you know Him; you have seen Him.”
“Lord,” Philip said to him, “show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” “Philip,” Jesus replied, “after I have been with you all this time, you still do not know me?”
“Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not spoken of myself; it is the Father who lives in me accomplishing His works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works I do. I solemnly assure you, the man who has faith in me will do the works I do, and far greater than these. Why? Because I go to the Father, and whatever you ask in my name I will do, so as to glorify the Father in the Son. Anything you ask me in my name I will do. If you love me and obey the commands I give you, I will ask the Father and He will give you another Paraclete - to be with you always: the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, since it neither sees Him nor recognizes Him; but you can recognize Him because He remains with you and will be within you. I will not leave you orphaned; I will come back to you. A little while now and the world will see me no more; but you see me as one who has life, and you will have life. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. He who obeys the commandments he has from me is the man who loves me; and he who loves me will be loved by my Father. I too will love him and reveal myself to him.”
Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, why is it that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?” Jesus answered:
“Anyone who loves me will be true to my word, and my Father will love him; we will come to him and make our dwelling place with him. He who does not love me does not keep my words. Yet the word you hear is not mine; it comes from the Father who sent me. This much have I told you while I was still with you; the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, will instruct you in everything, and remind you of all that I told you. 'Peace' is my farewell to you, my peace is my gift to you; I do not give it to you as the world gives peace. Do not be distressed or fearful. You have heard me say, 'I go away for a while, and I come back to you.' If you truly loved me you would rejoice to have me go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. I tell you this now, before it takes place, so that when it takes place you may believe. I shall not go on speaking to you longer; the Prince of this world is at hand. He has no hold on me, but the world must know that I love the Father and do as the Father has commanded me.”
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