Stained Glass windows in the Sint-Walburga Church in Oudenaarde: The Rosary Window
The Saint-Walburga church is the main church in the city-center of Oudenaarde, and contains a number of beautifull stained glass windows. i’ll be splitting them out over several pages, to keep it in normal-sized chunks.
The choir has a lot of stained glass that can be divided in five parts, two on the left side (side and front). a series in the center and two on the right (side and front). This is about the window on the left, to the front.
The windows were planned and created by Gustave Ladon (1863-1942) from 1903 on in a neogothic style, but were destroyed at the end of world war I in 1918 and recreated between 1921-1939.
This window centers around the Rosary.
The rosary is a catholic prayer that contemplates Jesus and Mary through traditionally 15 (but now 20) ‘mysteries’. each of the mysteries is contemplated through praying the ‘our father’, 10x ‘hail Mary’ and one ‘glory to the father…’. the rosary has a long history in the church, and became more widespread in the middle ages. according to a legend, the rosary was given to Saint Dominic, the founder of the Dominican order, by Mary herself. The dominicans popularised the practice, and it is still prayed a lot by catholics around the world. Traditionally there were 15 mysteries, until pope John Paul II added 5 mysteries to it in 2002, but at the time of creation of this window there were 15.
the full window looks like this:
At the top there is a small rose window with a central window and 8 smaller windows around it with flower motives.
in the center is the vrigin Mary with child giving the rosary to Saint Dominic.
below are two of the many titles that are given to Mary traditionally: “Turis David” (tower of David) and “Sedes Sapien” (seat of wisdom).
Below are the 15 mysteries of the rosary. these are tradionally divided in three groups of five. shown in the window per row. in the top row are the five glorious mysteries. in the middle row the five sorrowfull mysteries in the lower row the five joyfull mysteries
1st Glorious Mystery: The resurrection
The first is the resurrection (John 20:1-8). the image of Jesus holding a flag is quite a common one.
Bible Text
1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” 3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.
(from biblegateway NIV)
2nd Glorious Mystery: The ascension
Next is the ascension (Luke 24:50-53) which is easy recognisable by the feet only being visible on top, and the footprints.
Bible Text
50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.
from biblegateway NIV
3rd Glorious Mystery: The sending of the holy spirit
the following is the sending of the holy spirit over Mary and the apostles (acts 2:1-4)
Bible Text
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
from biblegateway NIV
4th Glorious Mystery: The Asumption of Mary
in the next scene Mary is taken into heaven by angels
5th Glorious Mystery: The Coronation Of Mary
in the last glorious mystery Mary is being crowned in heaven by Jesus
1st Sorrowfull Mystery: The agony in the garden
the first in the middle row is the agony in the garden, the 3 disciples are asleep and Jesus prays to let this cup pass (which the angel is holding). (Matthew 26:36-46)
Bible Text
36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
from biblegateway NIV
2nd Sorrowfull Mystery: The Flagellation
next is the scene where Jesusnis flogged (Mark 15:15)
Bible text
15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified..
(from biblegateway NIV)
3rd Sorrowfull Mystery: Jesus is mocked and crowned with the crown of thorns
4th Sorrowfull Mystery: Jesus carrying of the cross
Next is Jesus carrying the cross (John 19:16b-17 )
Bible Texts
16b So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. 17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).
(from biblegateway NIV)
5th Sorrowfull Mystery: The crucifiction
The last sorrowfull mystery is the crucifiction. John and Mary are standing under the cross (John 19: 25-30)
Bible Text
25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. 28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
(from biblegateway NIV)
1st Joyfull Mystery: The Annunciation
The first Joyfull mystery is the annunciation (Luke 1,26-38). Gabriel is telling Mary she will get pregnant through the holy Spirit (visible on top)
Bible text
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
from Biblegateway NIV
2nd Joyfull Mystery:Mary Visiting her niece Elisabeth
Next is Mary visiting her cousin Elisabeth. Her husband Zachary is in the background (Luke 1:39-45)
Bible text
39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
From Biblegateway NIV
3th Joyfull Mystery:The birth of Jesus
the third is the nativity scene (Luke 2: 4-7)
Bible Text
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
(from biblegateway NIV)
4th Joyfull Mystery:Jesus is presented in the temple
Next Jesus is presented in the temple (Luke 2:22-40). on the left is Mary and Joseph (holding doves as an required offering), while simeon holds the baby Jesus and Anna
Bible Text
22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” 33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” 36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. 39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
(from biblegateway NIV)
5th Joyfull Mystery:Jesus is found in the temple
The last mystery is Jesus being found in the temple while he was teaching scriptures (Luke 2:41-52)
Bible Text
41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
From Biblegateway NIV
The choir of the church has also other stained glass, discussed on other pages, like the genesis window and the windows of the apostles and the old testament windows
All pictures taken by me and copyrighted, on 17 May 2025
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