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ST. AILBE
LITURGICAL FURNISHINGS |
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The St Ailbe Holy Family Shrine
The
Artist of St. Ailbe liturgical
Furnishings, Jerzy Kenar is well-known for his figurative
creations in wood, bronze and stone. One
cannot view one of these finished pieces in St. Ailbe
Church without realizing that the artist had something very
special in mind. These works represent a total package
- which embodies a progression of
ideas, images and passions which go
beyond the here and now. Each piece
was handcrafted by Jerzy Kenar and
worked on in his art studio. The
unique environment of St. Ailbe
was wonderful and provided a spiritual
atmosphere with a deep sense of
enlightenment. It has been shown
and proven that people feel
spiritually uplifted, encouraged and
gain a sense of well-being from Art. Many
thanks to those who have worked to
enhance thus artistic rendering to
create what is truly needed at St.
Ailbe Church..
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Deacon Bruce McElrath did an outstanding presentation on
our new liturgical furnishings at all of the liturgies last week
end. It was a wonderful catechetical/teaching moment for all that were
in attendance.
Reflections from the pastor. November 29/30, 2003
Some of the following descriptions of the
liturgical furnishings are from Deacon Bruce's Presentation. He did a lot of
research on many of the items. We are proud of the enhancements and the artistic
work at St. Ailbe. We would like you to be aware that every object at
St. Ailbe has its own special story and meaning. It is our intentions to share that information
with everyone.
The Altar 2003 |
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Symbols on the side represent
the bread - Lord of our Lord, Jesus Christ - engraved
with the look on the side risen flame which symbolizes
the Holy Spirit. The
altar has inscription of wheat sheaves on the front symbolizing
the bread which is Jesus body and on each side are symbols of
rising flames which is related to the Holy Spirit and the Word
of God |
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Ambo - The Lectern
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The ambo also has a figure of rising flames which
again
symbolizes the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.
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Jesus
on the Cross, Created 1997
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Kenar created Jesus on the Cross, so it could
be flexible for everyone. The curved strips and the
naturalistic figure represent the endless river of
love and the spirit and feeling of heaven. |
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The
Adoration Screen Created 1997
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Top Left Panel
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Top Center Panel
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Middle Center panel
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Bottom Left Panel
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Chairs - African American
Decor multi talented multi |
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Represents the Motherland - In Africa chairs were
designed for tribal chiefs - In the church the chairs
represent God, The Father and Holy Spirit. |
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Book of Gospel designed by Laura James
The
Book of the Gospels contains
the gospel readings, Mathew, Mark, Luke and John will
be carried in by the Deacon at the procession.
If no Deacon is present it will be carried in by one of the Lecturers.
Will be placed on the altar the altar is a symbol of Christ.
This symbol is united with the book of his words.
We are showing their oneness.
The Book of the Gospel will then be
processed from the altar to the ambo and read.
At
the conclusion of the Mass the Book of the Gospels will remain in the
church. Once the Gospel is
proclaimed, the Word is in our midst.
We carry it out with us and put it into action.
It is as if the Gospel is no longer in the book, but in our
hearts. |
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This book rest on the Altar, it is the Book
Of the Gospels and is the only
book carried by the Deacon or Lector. Cover and
interior art by Laura James. The cover dimensions are 11 1/4 x 17 3/8 x
1 1/2 inches. A two-column page design makes it easy to find the
identification of the reading and the rubrics, thus preventing mistakes
in proclamation. The gospel texts are printed in large 17-point type,
arranged in sense lines. Page turns have been eliminated wherever
possible. Feasts and many Sundays are illuminated with full-color art.
There are more than 30 original pieces of art in the interior of the
book. Included are all Gospel readings for Sundays, solemnities, feasts
of the Lord, and all ritual Masses. The edges of the pages are gilded,
and a wide ribbon marker is bound into the book. The cover art is bold,
clearly visible to those near and far. It bears the traditional images
of the four evangelists in colorful foil: the angel, Matthew; the lion,
Mark; the ox, Luke; the eagle, John. - Mark, Matthew, Luke and John.
Pictures on the front of the book are of -
Humans/Angels that represent Matthew reaching
out to man - A Lion that represents Mark - An Ox that
represents Luke - An Eagle that represents John.
Christian tradition links the four Evangelists
with these four symbols which are derived from
Ezekiel's famous vision in which he saw four
creatures, each with four faces. The creatures' faces
are described in
Ezekiel 1:10:Their faces looked like this: Each of
the four had the face of a man, and on the right side
each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face
of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle.
Parts of this vision are rehashed by John in
Revelation. In the fourth chapter, four creatures are
again encountered, and their appearance is described
in
Revelation 4:7: The first living creature was like
a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a
face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle
One theory suggests that the symbols are
related to the life of Christ, it claims that the man
symbolizes the Nativity, the lion shows His power,
royalty and majesty, the ox (calf), as a sacrificial
animal represents His sacrifice on the cross, and the
eagle His ascending to Heaven.
Eventually Christian iconography used these
four praising creatures as images of Mathew, Mark, Luke and John.
Mathew is the human/angel, for this gospel begins by telling the
human ancestry of Jesus. Mark
is the Lion; this gospel begins in the wilderness.
Luke is the ox because this gospel begins with the temple, place
of sacrifice, and then soon tells of the birth in the place where farm
animals lived. John is the
eagle, for this gospel begins far above all. For the cover New York
painter Laura James portrays the four creatures dancing and rampant on
large fields of color, a device common in the icons of Ethiopian
Christianity. Inside, she
adorns gospel stories with paintings done for this book in acrylic on
canvass, bridging centuries and continents in her adaptation of the
Ethiopian tradition.
Designer Anna Manhart planned the pages to be beautiful and at the
service of the liturgy. She
sets aside the identifying notes in red ink, while the large black text
of the gospel
readings is set alone for fluent proclamation.
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The Ambry 2003
The
supply is of oils is distributed to local churches is kept in the ambry.
Chrism used
in Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders as well as blessing
tower
bells and baptismal water and for consecrating churches, altars,
chalices,
and patens.
Only chrism among the holy oils includes balsam, or balm, giving
it
an unmistakable fragrance.
Oil of
Catechumens also known as the oil of the saints is used when a
catechumen is initiated.
Oil of the Sick
used in the Anointing of the Sick |
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A cabinet that holds
the Holy oils for anointing the sick. These oils are
distributed and blessed on Holy Thursday by a Bishop at Holy Name Cathedral in
down town Chicago.
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The Processional Cross
2003
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Signifies the risen and the
crucified Lord. He is our king - the most high
elevated above all - there is a stand in the sanctuary
especially designed to hold
the Processional Cross
(Background Cross). The Processional Cross is
usually lead by either an altar server or one of the
participating ministers at the Mass and
Is placed in a position of respect and will remain there during
the mass and
will be carried out at the conclusion of mass
The Vatican's take on crosses
demands that only one is to be presented within a
space of a sanctuary. A processional Cross, However,
is often, too small to carry that singular power
throughput the entire space, because of that Jerzy
Kenar was the first to invent and to hold the
copyrights to the idea and design of a
"Background Cross".
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The Credence (Table) 2003
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Only
the wine and bread
will be placed on the table. This reflects the Eucharist the Body (bread) and Blood
(wine) of Jesus Christ.
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Frame for Picture of Perpetual Mother of Help
2003
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This Picture pays respect to Mary the Mother of God. Willie and Anne Wilbert Co-founded The Confraternity
of Our Mother of Help and Benediction of the most
Blessed Sacrament Celebration of Novena at St. Ailbe.
Anne and Willie were devoted to the Blessed Mother.
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The
history of the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary as
"Mother of Perpetual Help", has a rich tradition
found in the history of the picture itself. Tradition
tells us that in the 15th Century a merchant brought to
Rome the original icon which we now call "Mother of
Perpetual Help", that he had stolen from a Church on
the island of Crete. Upon his death, the picture was
passed on to a local Roman family, with the promise
that the picture would be given to a church where it could
be rightfully honored. However, the family did not keep
their promise and instead held on to it.
Taking matters into her own hands, the Blessed Virgin
appeared to one of the children of the family that had
possession of the picture. Calling herself "Holy Mary
of Perpetual Help", the Blessed Mother made a request
to the girl that she tell her parents to take the picture
to St. Matthew's Church in Rome. In the year 1499, the
picture was finally placed inside St. Matthew's of Rome.
It stayed there for more than three-hundred years, and
experienced great devotion with many miracles attributed
to its veneration... more |
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The Holy Family Shrine 2003 |
Jesus in a special light - for he truly is Christ the
King.
Jesus
is depicted at an
age which is very rare, 8-10 years old.
Joseph is depicted as
a strong man.
Most
carpenters are strong. He
is also surrounding his family (protection)
Mary is reaching out
to her son, Jesus.
The Holy Family Shrine has a haunting quality
that makes one want to engage in thought and silent
prayer. Each family member has a face of familiarity
and a deep, meaningful, powerful gaze. These
are faces
you can derive strength from.
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The Water Font 1997
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You can find more information on all the artifacts that
can be found in St. Ailbe Church, by just clicking on
St. Ailbe Archives.
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Liturgical Furnishing Photography
by Joan Singleton and Natalie Brooks
St. Ailbe Catholic Church - 9015
South Harper - Chicago Il 60619
Wheelchair Assessable
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© 2003 St. Ailbe Catholic Church. All rights reserved
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