The Women of Montreal
East side stained glass window
Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal
The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
and all peoples see his glory. Psalm 97:6 {NIV)
You could easily miss it when you enter the vast space of Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal. This stained glass window was one of the first I saw. I knew it was important but I didn’t know the stories it was telling.
One interpretation of the stained glass window is that of two critically important women, St. Marguerite Bourgeoys and Jeanne Mance, bringing education and nursing to the new community of Montreal. Another interpretation is that we see representation of both religious and secular responses to suffering in the same window.
After returning from that Canadian trip, I was introduced to the book, Becoming by Beholding by Lanta Davis, who demonstrates how ancient icons, mosaics and paintings can act as guides to our current and deepest dilemmas. It is a powerful response to our short attention spans. We can with “beholding” develop a deeper understanding of our own stories and struggles. The visualization of whom we “behold” forms the identity of our lives.
Thanks be to God for the witness of the arts of healing.
Marvin
References:
St. Marguerite Bourgeoys (1620-1700)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marguerite_Bourgeoys
https://www1.cnd-m.org/en/marguerite-bourgeoys-a-woman-with-a-heart-of-gold/#:~:text=Marguerite's arrival in Ville-Marie,of Mother of the Colony.
Jeanne Mance (1606-1673)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeanne_Mance
https://www.cdnmedhall.ca/laureates/jeannemance (See video)
Hage, M.L.(2025) Then and Now
https://healingagents.blogspot.com/2025/07/then-now.html
Davis, L (2025) Becoming by Beholding: The Power of the Imagination in Spiritual Formation, Baker Publishing
