The Institution of the Rosary with Scenes from Sacred History

Second half of the 20th century
Stained glass
Frauenkirche, Munich, Germany

Seven panels trace Christ's passion, resurrection, and ascension into Heaven, in an L-shaped sequence of panels starting in the upper left corner and finishing in the third panel of the second row from the bottom. A complementary ⅂-shaped sequence tells the Virgin Mary's story from the Annunciation to Pentecost, starting with the second panel of the top row and continuing to the right and down. In the center, the institution of the rosary comprises six panels in the center.

In the bottom row we see four figures seated on thrones:

1. St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus (1873-97), an object of widespread devotion in the 20th century.
2. Pope Leo XIII (reigned 1878-1903), here labeled Lumen de Caelo, a title sometimes accorded him.
3. St. Pius V, who promoted devotion to the rosary, especially after the victory at Lepanto in 1571.
4. St. Bernard of Clairvaux, labeled with his official title, Doctor Mellifluus.

The words below the four panels form a phrase from the "Hail Mary" prayer: MATER DEI ORA PRO | NOBIS PECCATORIBUS | NUNC ET IN HORA | MORTIS NOSTRÆ, "Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death."

View detail photographs and commentary on these panels of the window:

• Mary and Jesus Give St. Dominic the Rosary
• The Annunciation
• St. Bernard
• The Three Marys at the Tomb
• Pius V

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Photographed at the site by Richard Stracke, shared under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.