Sanctuary Glass
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The striking wall of translucent glass at the back of the sanctuary represents Christ's triumph over sin, suffering and death in the Resurrection. Amidst a field of wheat is an abstract representation of the Risen Christ, surrounded by a dodecagon, a twelve-sided figure that here represents the twelve apostles. When the Processional Cross is placed within the circle and dodecagon, it shows how inextricably bound together, like two sides of a coin, are the events of Good Friday and Easter Sunday. The Cross's corpus continues this idea - the representation of Jesus is not the familiar one of suffering, but of Christ in majesty and glory. This is the theme that runs throughout St. John's account of Jesus' passion and death, and that concretizes the metaphor of John 12:24, the theme of life out of death. The rear side of the Processional Cross contains a small cross of steel from a structural beam of the World Trade Center, connecting this hope and promise to the events of September 11th. To the left of the sanctuary, the carved rays of glass emanating from the Tabernacle celebrate Christ as the light of the World. Natural light, provided by the wall's southern exposure, floods the Chapel throughout the day, reminding us "to walk always as children of the light" (Ritual of Baptism)."9/11 caused all of us to reflect on life and death. It's been very meaningful to have an opportunity to re-examine the Catholic beliefs I learned as a child, and reflect as an adult on their meaning and then, as an artist, interpret those themes to a larger audience."
- Christopher Cosma, Amses Cosma Studios, Brooklyn, NY