Before His death and resurrection, Christ served His earthly ministry, performing miracles, sharing His wisdom, and demonstrating compassion to the outcasts. As we reflect on Jesus’ life and Passion this Lent, we invite you to discover where you can find key moments of His public ministry portrayed in the art of the Basilica. From shining stained-glass windows to vibrant mosaics, these art pieces invite us to contemplate Christ’s example of holiness.
1. The Baptism of the Lord Mosaic
One of the colorful mosaics in the Rosary Walk and Garden, The Baptism of the Lord vividly represents one of the most significant events in the life of Christ. It portrays Jesus in the waters of the Jordan, as John the Baptist anoints Him and the Holy Spirit hovers above Him as a dove.
Remarkably, during Christ’s baptism, all three Persons of the Trinity were present at the same time: the Son being baptized, the Holy Spirit descending, and the Father speaking from the heavens. In this event, the Father and the Holy Spirit confirm the deity of Christ, who submits to His Father’s will. According to the account in Matthew 3:16-17:
“After Jesus was baptized, He came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened [for Him], and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove [and] coming upon Him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’”
By choosing to be baptized, Jesus fulfilled all righteousness – preparing Himself to be a perfect sacrifice for us.
2. The Wedding at Cana Mosaic
Another mosaic found in the Rosary Walk and Garden, the Wedding at Cana mosaic depicts the first of Jesus’ miracles: turning the water into wine. Not only was this miracle the first of His public ministry, it demonstrated His divine power, inspiring the disciples to believe in His authority. John 2:3,7-11 relates:
“When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to Him, ‘They have no wine.’ Jesus told them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ So they filled them to the brim. Then He told them, ‘Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.’ So they took it. And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from (although the servers who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.’ Jesus did this as the beginning of His signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed His glory, and His disciples began to believe in Him.”
3. Jesus Teaching by the Sea Stained-Glass Window
Serving as the entrance to the Crypt Church Sacristy, the Jesus Teaching by the Sea stained-glass window depicts the Gospel story of Mark in which Jesus, standing in a boat, taught the faithful gathered on the shore. There, Jesus told the parables of the sower and the mustard seed, among others. After the crowd dispersed, He went out with the disciples in the boat. As a storm rocked the vessel, Jesus slept until the disciples woke Him and He then calmed the seas. Mark 4:37-41 says:
“A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke Him and said to Him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’ He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then He asked them, ‘Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?’ They were filled with great awe and said to one another, ‘Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?’”
4. The Miracle of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes Stained-Glass Window
Found in the cafeteria of the Basilica, this stained-glass window depicts one of the most prominent miracles in Scripture, the only miracle recorded in all four Gospels. As the eager crowd presses in about Him, Jesus, surrounded by a golden aureole, extends His hand of divine provision. Brought to life here in a brilliant array of colors, the miracle of the loaves and fishes serves as a beautiful reminder that the Lord will provide.
As Matthew 14:19-21 relates:
“And He ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over—twelve wicker baskets full. Those who ate were about five thousand men, not counting women and children.”
5. Christ’s Proclamation of the Kingdom of God Mosaic
Found in the Our Lady of Pompei Chapel, the Third Luminous Mystery mosaic portrays Christ’s Proclamation of the Kingdom of God, another important moment in His ministry. In Mark 1:14-15, the first spoken words of Jesus after He began His public ministry, Jesus urges a conversion of heart, demonstrating mercy by calling all to repentance:
“After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: ‘This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.’”
Source:
Rohling, Geraldine M., PhD, MAEd. The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception: Guide and Tour Book. Washington, D.C.: Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 2018.