This window is
centered on Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta and Jesus crucified. In this
window Mother Theresa is giving Jesus a simple drink of water in response to
his statement ÒI thirstÓ when dying on the cross. . It was her relationship to
Jesus in the distressing disguise of the poor that inspired and graced her
apostolate among the poorest of the poor. This thirst was not only physical but
was a thirst for love. As her transformation unto Christ deepened she was
raised to a worldwide icon of charity and justice not only for the poorest of
the poor but also for the unborn, the victim children of war, poor aids
patients, homeless street people and poor women in prison. She pricked the
conscience of the world and admonished the wealthy and powerful to respond to the
crying needs of the poor throughout the world. Through her life of prayer and
service she became a living icon of Jesus the world over. Her witness of agape
love and justice continues today in the thousands of her sisters who pray and
serve in dozens of countries all over the world.
On top of her portrait is a dove that represents the Holy Spirit that
set Mother Theresa on fire with love for Jesus and him in the distressing
disguise of the poor. Cascading downward from the Holy Spirit are twenty light
blue beads representing the twenty mysteries of the rosary, which Theresa
contemplated everyday and were an important facet of her transformation unto
Jesus. On the bottom of the
window under the central are two large circles that flank the Sacred Heart of
Jesus Within each circle are eight circles that represent the spiritual and
corporal works of mercy. The circle on the right represent the spiritual works
of mercy: instructing the ignorant, admonishing the sinner, counseling the
doubtful, consoling the sorrowful, forgiving offenses, bearing wrongs
patiently, and praying for the conversion of sinners. The circle on the left
represent the corporal works of mercy: feeding the hungry, sheltering the
homeless, visiting the sick, visiting the imprisoned, burying the dead, and
giving alms to those in need.
Mother Theresa practiced these spiritual and corporal works of mercy to
a heroic degree and was an exemplary model for her sisters to follow. On each
side of the central image are two large circles each containing the six pointed
star of the Old Testament and the eight pointed star of the New Testament both
of which speak of and point to the one Word of God - Jesus, who fed Mother
Theresa everyday in word and sacrament.