La Belle Verriere: From Chartres to San Francisco

La Notre Dame de la Belle Verriere is a reproduction of the central image of a stained glass window from Notre Dame of Chartres cathedral in France. In the large window, which is in the South wall above the choir entrance in Chartres, angels carry harps and censers in adoration of Mary. She is seated on a throne with the infant Jesus on her lap. Four angels carry the throne. The Holy Spirit is a dove in flight above her head. In the lower twelve medalions, scenes are drawn from the Gospel stories of Christ’s temptations and miracles. At the very top of the window, angels with joined hands ascend into heaven.

While on pilgrimage in Chartres, Dean Alan Jones saw the icon in a Loire stained glass studio and had it shipped back to San Francisco. He sees Mary as a powerful representation of what it means to be fully human. In Rediscovering Christianity, he writes, "She looks out at me from icon and stained glass and silently asks, ‘so you thought you knew what a human being is? Look. Here is a wonder. The awesome humility and availability of God’."

Jones is struck by the deep mystery of Mary, and is reminded of the mystery in his own life, as well as the mystery of others. "The image of Mary giving birth to Jesus stirs up in me the mystery of my own birth and subsequent ‘births’ of my development as a person."

Thanks to the generosity of the late philanthropist, Al Wilsey, the window was installed in Grace Cathedral. Chanoine Francois Legaux, then rector of Chartres cathedral, was able to dedicate La Belle Verriere in its new home.

The humanity of Mary is the idea that resonates most with the Dean, and this is controversial in the sense that many focus on Mary’s divinity and virginity as her principal qualities. Doctrines of the Catholic Church are very specific with regard to the Immaculate Conception, and Assumption, and, in Jones’ mind, this blurs the issue of Mary’s deeper nature. "What we have in common is the conviction that when we look at her image with the baby at her breast or on her lap, we something of the heart of God. We are drawn into the awesome mystery of intimacy with God."

La Belle Verriere is housed in a back lit case that sits on the cathedral floor. A simple kneeler and candelabra are in front of it. Mary’s eyes gaze gently from the glass and look directly into the eyes of the viewer, questioning and inviting. Jones describes Mary’s invitation thus: "Mary is a book we can read. The Holy Spirit has written the Word in us. This is how we tick. This is how we are wired. Don’t get caught in the sticky mess of doctrinal controversy. Just look."