Sunday, March 17, 2019

Saint Patrick and his unidentified friend ...



Since it is the feast day of St. Patrick, here's one of my favorite depictions of that saintly gentleman --- from the main altar at Sacred Heart Church in Chariton. Sacred Heart was built during 1915 and the altar installed soon thereafter, so he's been around a long time.

He has a partner on the altar, St. Boniface, but this is not Boniface's day --- so he doesn't get a closeup.



According to Sacred Heart tradition, parishioners of Irish descent purchased the depiction of Patrick for the altar; parishioners of German descent, the image of Boniface.

The mystery saint at Sacred Heart is in the tower, depicted in one of several smaller windows scattered around the building that were brought here in 1915 from the original parish home, then known as St. Mary's and located on Orchard Avenue.


There's no indication of a specific source for the window --- the spot where a dedicatory panel might have been is filled with clear glass. 


I suppose it could be Patrick, too --- he is not always depicted in green with shamrocks. Or is it Boniface? Not St. Joseph --- generally depicted with a halo, not wearing a bishop's mitre and carrying a crozier. Heaven only knows.

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