The North Clerestory Windows: The Liturgy of the Hours
5. Sext
At the hour of Sext, high noon, the sun attains its maximum height; traditionally it was at this same hour that Christ was nailed to the Cross. Therefore, the sun – now at its apex in the heavens – is placed in the center of the window and a Chi-Rho (Christ) is superimposed on the Cross. There are two temporal comparisons made with Old Testament events. First, ancient legends set noon as the hour in which Adam and Eve had eaten the forbidden fruit in Paradise; a tree is present in the lower right of the window to recall this association between the hour of Humanity’s Fall and that of his Redemption. Secondly, it was at this hour that Abraham received the Three Angels who prefigured the Trinity. The presence of these three figures in the upper left of the window emphasizes Christ’s Divinity.
The theme of the Crucifixion is foremost in the window. The seven Last Words, which reflect the concerns of the Savior while on the cross, are symbolized as follows:
- “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” – the serpent in a downward movement as if leaving the above-mentioned tree.
- “This day you shall be with me in Paradise” – the cross of the good thief to the left.
- “Woman, behold your Son” – Mary and John enclosed within the form to the left at the foot of the Cross.
- “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?” – simply suggested by the Aramaic text “Eli, Eli lamma sabacthani” toward the top of the window.
- “I thirst” – the spear and sponge located just left-of-center at the top of the window.
- “It is consummated” – blood and water pouring from the side of Christ (Chi-Rho) and streaming to the bottom of the window.
- “Father, into your hands I commend my Spirit” – the hands of the Father enclosed about the upper part of the Chi-Rho.
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