Stained Glass Windows

I love stained glass windows.  The pieces alone mean nothing, but placed together, the pieces in stained glass windows tell stories.  In churches, synagogues, and mosques, the stained glass windows communicate stories of faith.   In homes, they may be used as decoration.  Some are created from broken glass and held together by a binding compound, such as lead.  All are made of pieces of colored glass- otherwise they would be just plain windows.

Stained glass windows are dark, unless light is shining through.  In the daylight, the colors don't appear lively.  At night, with no light, one would not be able to discern the individual pieces except for the lead in between.

Stained glass- when the light shines through are beautiful. Let the light shine.  They become "alive."


History of stained glass

Let the light shine through and make the stains of sin not over shadow the stained glass windows of the Word.  The Catholic Church is not alone in the history of sexual abuse nor cover ups.  That being said, the abusive staff and clergy used their positions to violate God's law.  Know God's law  and the practical application of those laws on reporting.  Start with knowing the signs.  Abuser use similar techniques no matter the location of their preying ground.  All of their behaviors are criminal. 

If you are a victim of past abuse, seek help. 

Google the report. It is in a pdf  form and can be downloaded.   Don't blame the messengers and do not blame all clergy.  Just as the universities, the Olympics, Hollywood and families have tried not to bring scandal, they have found the cover ups do just that.  God sees the bigger picture even before the artist assembles the pieces in a window or a report.

Eventually God allows the light to shine through the cover ups.  The adults in charge in this Grand Jury report ignored the messengers.  None of us are free from the stain of sin because sin has ripple effects. Those signed confidentiality agreements are stained with blood.

To be truly beautiful,  Keep the light on.

The light was shining through during the Eucharist consecration.  Jesus' face and halo were shining.

Jesus is the light of the world.  He came to us because of the stain of sin.  Hold our clergy accountable.  They are not infallible.   We have Peter and Judas in our history.   Stained glass windows do tell that story.
.

I am a cradle Catholic who was often a lazy Catholic in my early adult years.  I am no longer lazy.  I currently live in a "ground zero" city for the scandal. .. and I heard the cry of a friend.  So I am asking the faithful to read the report.  Find relevance in your background checks and training.  If you do not, you are part of the problem and you should get out of any ministry with which you are currently working.   I have told teachers the same thing about working in a school.

If you can't say something nice about someone, then that may mean the person is not kind.

If you think you are not worthy to speak up,  speak up, we are all broken. God uses the broken for the greater good.  The devil does not.

Article about how the Church tried to block grand jury report

When I have prayed for the truth to be revealed in my own life, God reveals it.  Sometimes I even get phone calls.


Marian R. Carlino
September 15, 2018