Artwork above the Sanctuary
When Fr. James Cholewka succeeded Fr. Benedict as pastor in 1939, he decided to redecorate the interior of the church with murals. Those above the Sanctuary are by Anton Albens of Philadelphia.
Paintings are from left to right:
St. Raphael
The name of this archangel (Raphael = "God has healed") does not appear in the Hebrew Scriptures, and in the Septuagint only in the Book of Tobias. Here he first appears disguised in human form as the traveling companion of the younger Tobias, calling himself "Azarias the son of the great Ananias". The story of the adventurous journey during which the protective influence of the angel is shown in many ways including the binding "in the desert of upper Egypt" of the demon who had previously slain seven husbands of Sara, daughter of Raguel, is picturesquely related in Tobit 5-11, to which the reader is referred. After the return and the healing of the blindness of the elder Tobias, Azarias makes himself known as "the angel Raphael, one of the seven, who stand before the Lord" (Tob., xii, 15. Cf. Rev., viii, 2).
St. Michael
(Hebrew "Who is like God?"). St. Michael is one of the principal angels; his name was the war-cry of the good angels in the battle fought in heaven against the enemy and his followers. Four times his name is recorded in Scripture:
(1) Daniel 10:13, (2) Daniel 12, (3) The Letter of St. Jude verse 9, and (4) The Revelation to St. John 12:7,
Following these Scriptural passages, Christian tradition gives to St. Michael four offices:
One of the seven, who stand before the Lord.
St. Ambrose
Bishop of Milan from 374 to 397; born probably 340, at Trier, Arles, or Lyons; died 4 April, 397. He was one of the most illustrious Fathers and Doctors of the Church
St. Augustine
This famous son of St. Monica was born (354- 430 CE) in Africa and spent many years of his life in wicked living and in false beliefs. Though he was one of the most intelligent men who ever lived and though he had been brought up a Christian, his sins of impurity and his pride darkened his mind so much, that he could not see or understand the Divine Truth anymore. Through the prayers of his holy mother and the marvelous preaching of St. Ambrose, Augustine finally became convinced that Christianity was the one true religion.
He was baptized, became a priest, a bishop, a famous Catholic writer, Doctor of the Church, and the most influential theologian of Latin Christianity. Founder of religious priests, and one of the greatest saints that ever lived. He became very devout and charitable
God the Son Jesus Christ King of the People
God the Almighty
God the Holy Spirit
St. Gregory
St. Gregory, born at Rome about the year 540. After the death of his father, he built six monasteries in Sicily and founded a seventh in his own house in Rome, which became the Benedictine Monastery of St. Andrew. Here, he himself assumed the monastic habit in 575, at the age of thirty-five.
After the death of Pelagius, St. Gregory was chosen Pope by the unanimous consent of priests and people. Now began those labors which merited for him the title of Great. His zeal extended over the entire known world, he was in contact with all the Churches of Christendom and, in spite of his bodily sufferings, and innumerable labors, he found time to compose a great number of works. He is known above all for his magnificent contributions to the Liturgy of the Mass and Office. He is one of the four great Doctors of the Latin Church. He died March 12, 604.
St. Jerome
Doctor of the Church. St. Jerome was baptized when he was 18 by Pope Liberius. While living in Rome as a secretary to Pope Damasus, and under his direction, St. Jerome completed copying the New Testament into Latin. He was only 40 years old at the time. He then continued with the Old Testament, having the assistance of several learned companions. During his life he made numerous enemies because of his fierce attacks on pagan Life, his denouncement of several heresies, and his sometimes-abrupt demeanor. On the death of Pope Damasus, who was his supporter and protector, he decided to return to the East, and eventually settled in Bethlehem with a small community he had formed. St. Jerome died in Bethlehem, with his head resting in the manger where Our Lord was born.
St. Gabriel
The name Gabriel means "man of God," or "God has shown himself mighty." It appears first in the prophesies of Daniel in the Old Testament. The angel announced to Daniel the prophecy of the seventy weeks. His name also occurs in the apocryphal book of Enoch. He was the angel who appeared to Zachariah to announce the birth of St. John the Baptist. Finally, he announced to Mary that she would bear a Son Who would be conceived of the Holy Spirit, Son of the Most High, and Savior of the world.
One of the seven, who stand before the Lord.
St. Uriel
Uriel (the name means "God is my light" ) is mentioned in 4 Esdras and in the Book of Enoch. One of the seven angels who stand before God (Rev 8:2) And I saw that the seven angels who stood before God were given seven trumpets.
