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Since your web browser does not support JavaScript, here is a non-JavaScript version of the image slideshow: Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The front of St. Anthony’s Church. The exterior is composed of red sandstone quarried in Springfield and Longmeadow, Massachusetts. The steeple is 256 feet high. The tympanum above the main door says, in Latin, "The working people of Saint Anthony have built this temple to the Lord." Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The front of St. Anthony’s Church. The exterior is composed of red sandstone quarried in Springfield and Longmeadow, Massachusetts. The steeple is 256 feet high. The tympanum above the main door says, in Latin, "The working people of Saint Anthony have built this temple to the Lord." Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A look at St. Anthony’s from the south. The length of the Church is 241 feet and the height of the Church (not the steeple) and the length of the transept is 135 feet. We’re looking at the back of the massive stained glass window of Christ the King. The tomb of the first pastor, Fr. Hormisdas Deslauriers (1861-1916) is in the grass in the center at the bottom of the photograph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Picture of the nave of St. Anthony’s Church, which is 241 feet long and seats, within the nave, about 1480 persons (with room for 300 more in the first loft and another couple of hundred in the pews of the chancel!). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Picture of the nave with particular attention to the beautiful frescoes on the vault. The scaffolding on the left, now long removed, was to repair some water damage. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Photo of the Nave from the choir loft, which is well more than 40 feet high. The Church was designed by Joseph Venne, who also designed the famous Basilica of the Oratory of St. Joseph in Montreal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Wide angle shot of the nave, capturing some of the Stations of the Cross and stained glass windows on the side. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Panoramic view of the sanctuary from the choir loft. The symmetry of the Church, architecturally intended to call to mind God’s perfection, is apparent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the nave with the emblem of St. Anthony’s in the floor of the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A panoramic view of the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The sanctuary, main and high altar. Notice the six enormous cherubim looking down at the altar from above, with their huge wings, which distinguish them from the angels below the clerestory. The splendor of the Cross of Christ dominates the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Main Altar. At the top of the image, we see the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, who is present in the tabernacle. Six angels and four cherubim follow, significant of the fact that all of the heavenly hosts praised the Son of God made man present in the Eucharist. The tabernacle itself has the image of the Good Shepherd on the door. Underneath the mensa or table of the altar is a sculpture of the Last Supper, during which Jesus fulfilled the ancient Passover right and gave us his flesh and blood for the first time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Close up of the tabernacle, with the image of the Good Shepherd on the door. It is in the Eucharist that the Good Shepherd feeds his sheep, because the Eucharist is how the Good Shepherd laid down his life for his sheep. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An even greater close-up of the tabernacle with the image of the Good Shepherd. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Vision of Saint Anthony, above the main altar and the tabernacle. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Vision of Saint Anthony, when the child Jesus appeared to St. Anthony at Camposanpiero, near Padua. St. Anthony, before going to bed for the night, was reading his Bible. Suddenly, the Infant Jesus appeared resting on the Bible and proceed to come into the arms of St. Anthony and stroked St. Anthony’s face. The Word of God was appearing to the man who had so well preached His Word. For this reason, most images of St. Anthony depict him holding a Bible with the Infant Jesus. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicted the mutual love and desire of St. Anthony and the Infant Jesus, destined to end in a loving embrace. Even as a child, the Lord Jesus is under the shadow of the Cross, a fact not missed by St. Anthony’s vision. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Wide angel shot including, from left to right, the fresco of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Vision of Saint Anthony sculpture above the main altar, the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary stained glass window, and, above, the Holy Spirit descending upon the sanctuary surrounded by the four evangelists whom he inspired. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. One can see the Vision of St. Anthony on the left in the sanctuary and the huge stained glass window of the Coronation on the right. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A picture of our 1912 Casavant Frères Organ, which has just recently been restored. The organ has four keyboards of 61 notes each, 56 stops and 30 couplers. The choir loft has room for 40 members of the choir. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The size of the beautiful choir loft is apparent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel holding a candelbra before the high altar. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with a trumpet heralding the presence of the Son of God on the altar. The models for the face came from parishioners when the Church was being built. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel underneath the clerestory. Angel refers to the office of divine messenger, and we see the angel bearing a message from God. Notice the emblem of St. Anthony’s above the angel’s head. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angel in greater detail. All of the faces of the angels come from parishioners of St. Anthony at the turn of the last century. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with the stained glass window of Christ the King and the clerestory in the background. The seraphim have trumpets and adorn the four principle arches of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Seraph with trumpet overlooking the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory as we head toward the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the chancel organ pipes making music to the praise of God. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory heading toward the choir loft. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory captured from the choir loft with the vision of St. Anthony in the background. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels lifting up the monstrance from which Jesus, the Eucharistic King of Kings, is shown to the people he saved. Found in the arch above the Vision of Saint Anthony above the high altar. Notice some of the 5500 lights in the Church above the angels. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The front of St. Anthony’s Church. The exterior is composed of red sandstone quarried in Springfield and Longmeadow, Massachusetts. The steeple is 256 feet high. The tympanum above the main door says, in Latin, "The working people of Saint Anthony have built this temple to the Lord." Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The front of St. Anthony’s Church. The exterior is composed of red sandstone quarried in Springfield and Longmeadow, Massachusetts. The steeple is 256 feet high. The tympanum above the main door says, in Latin, "The working people of Saint Anthony have built this temple to the Lord." Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A look at St. Anthony’s from the south. The length of the Church is 241 feet and the height of the Church (not the steeple) and the length of the transept is 135 feet. We’re looking at the back of the massive stained glass window of Christ the King. The tomb of the first pastor, Fr. Hormisdas Deslauriers (1861-1916) is in the grass in the center at the bottom of the photograph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Picture of the nave of St. Anthony’s Church, which is 241 feet long and seats, within the nave, about 1480 persons (with room for 300 more in the first loft and another couple of hundred in the pews of the chancel!). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Picture of the nave with particular attention to the beautiful frescoes on the vault. The scaffolding on the left, now long removed, was to repair some water damage. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Photo of the Nave from the choir loft, which is well more than 40 feet high. The Church was designed by Joseph Venne, who also designed the famous Basilica of the Oratory of St. Joseph in Montreal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Wide angle shot of the nave, capturing some of the Stations of the Cross and stained glass windows on the side. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Panoramic view of the sanctuary from the choir loft. The symmetry of the Church, architecturally intended to call to mind God’s perfection, is apparent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the nave with the emblem of St. Anthony’s in the floor of the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A panoramic view of the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The sanctuary, main and high altar. Notice the six enormous cherubim looking down at the altar from above, with their huge wings, which distinguish them from the angels below the clerestory. The splendor of the Cross of Christ dominates the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Main Altar. At the top of the image, we see the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, who is present in the tabernacle. Six angels and four cherubim follow, significant of the fact that all of the heavenly hosts praised the Son of God made man present in the Eucharist. The tabernacle itself has the image of the Good Shepherd on the door. Underneath the mensa or table of the altar is a sculpture of the Last Supper, during which Jesus fulfilled the ancient Passover right and gave us his flesh and blood for the first time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Close up of the tabernacle, with the image of the Good Shepherd on the door. It is in the Eucharist that the Good Shepherd feeds his sheep, because the Eucharist is how the Good Shepherd laid down his life for his sheep. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An even greater close-up of the tabernacle with the image of the Good Shepherd. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Vision of Saint Anthony, above the main altar and the tabernacle. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Vision of Saint Anthony, when the child Jesus appeared to St. Anthony at Camposanpiero, near Padua. St. Anthony, before going to bed for the night, was reading his Bible. Suddenly, the Infant Jesus appeared resting on the Bible and proceed to come into the arms of St. Anthony and stroked St. Anthony’s face. The Word of God was appearing to the man who had so well preached His Word. For this reason, most images of St. Anthony depict him holding a Bible with the Infant Jesus. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicted the mutual love and desire of St. Anthony and the Infant Jesus, destined to end in a loving embrace. Even as a child, the Lord Jesus is under the shadow of the Cross, a fact not missed by St. Anthony’s vision. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Wide angel shot including, from left to right, the fresco of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Vision of Saint Anthony sculpture above the main altar, the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary stained glass window, and, above, the Holy Spirit descending upon the sanctuary surrounded by the four evangelists whom he inspired. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. One can see the Vision of St. Anthony on the left in the sanctuary and the huge stained glass window of the Coronation on the right. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A picture of our 1912 Casavant Frères Organ, which has just recently been restored. The organ has four keyboards of 61 notes each, 56 stops and 30 couplers. The choir loft has room for 40 members of the choir. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The size of the beautiful choir loft is apparent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel holding a candelbra before the high altar. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with a trumpet heralding the presence of the Son of God on the altar. The models for the face came from parishioners when the Church was being built. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel underneath the clerestory. Angel refers to the office of divine messenger, and we see the angel bearing a message from God. Notice the emblem of St. Anthony’s above the angel’s head. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angel in greater detail. All of the faces of the angels come from parishioners of St. Anthony at the turn of the last century. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with the stained glass window of Christ the King and the clerestory in the background. The seraphim have trumpets and adorn the four principle arches of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Seraph with trumpet overlooking the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory as we head toward the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the chancel organ pipes making music to the praise of God. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory heading toward the choir loft. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory captured from the choir loft with the vision of St. Anthony in the background. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels lifting up the monstrance from which Jesus, the Eucharistic King of Kings, is shown to the people he saved. Found in the arch above the Vision of Saint Anthony above the high altar. Notice some of the 5500 lights in the Church above the angels. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
The front of St. Anthony’s Church. The exterior is composed of red sandstone quarried in Springfield and Longmeadow, Massachusetts. The steeple is 256 feet high. The tympanum above the main door says, in Latin, "The working people of Saint Anthony have built this temple to the Lord."
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The front of St. Anthony’s Church. The exterior is composed of red sandstone quarried in Springfield and Longmeadow, Massachusetts. The steeple is 256 feet high. The tympanum above the main door says, in Latin, "The working people of Saint Anthony have built this temple to the Lord." Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A look at St. Anthony’s from the south. The length of the Church is 241 feet and the height of the Church (not the steeple) and the length of the transept is 135 feet. We’re looking at the back of the massive stained glass window of Christ the King. The tomb of the first pastor, Fr. Hormisdas Deslauriers (1861-1916) is in the grass in the center at the bottom of the photograph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Picture of the nave of St. Anthony’s Church, which is 241 feet long and seats, within the nave, about 1480 persons (with room for 300 more in the first loft and another couple of hundred in the pews of the chancel!). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Picture of the nave with particular attention to the beautiful frescoes on the vault. The scaffolding on the left, now long removed, was to repair some water damage. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Photo of the Nave from the choir loft, which is well more than 40 feet high. The Church was designed by Joseph Venne, who also designed the famous Basilica of the Oratory of St. Joseph in Montreal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Wide angle shot of the nave, capturing some of the Stations of the Cross and stained glass windows on the side. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Panoramic view of the sanctuary from the choir loft. The symmetry of the Church, architecturally intended to call to mind God’s perfection, is apparent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the nave with the emblem of St. Anthony’s in the floor of the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A panoramic view of the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The sanctuary, main and high altar. Notice the six enormous cherubim looking down at the altar from above, with their huge wings, which distinguish them from the angels below the clerestory. The splendor of the Cross of Christ dominates the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Main Altar. At the top of the image, we see the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, who is present in the tabernacle. Six angels and four cherubim follow, significant of the fact that all of the heavenly hosts praised the Son of God made man present in the Eucharist. The tabernacle itself has the image of the Good Shepherd on the door. Underneath the mensa or table of the altar is a sculpture of the Last Supper, during which Jesus fulfilled the ancient Passover right and gave us his flesh and blood for the first time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Close up of the tabernacle, with the image of the Good Shepherd on the door. It is in the Eucharist that the Good Shepherd feeds his sheep, because the Eucharist is how the Good Shepherd laid down his life for his sheep. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An even greater close-up of the tabernacle with the image of the Good Shepherd. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Vision of Saint Anthony, above the main altar and the tabernacle. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Vision of Saint Anthony, when the child Jesus appeared to St. Anthony at Camposanpiero, near Padua. St. Anthony, before going to bed for the night, was reading his Bible. Suddenly, the Infant Jesus appeared resting on the Bible and proceed to come into the arms of St. Anthony and stroked St. Anthony’s face. The Word of God was appearing to the man who had so well preached His Word. For this reason, most images of St. Anthony depict him holding a Bible with the Infant Jesus. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicted the mutual love and desire of St. Anthony and the Infant Jesus, destined to end in a loving embrace. Even as a child, the Lord Jesus is under the shadow of the Cross, a fact not missed by St. Anthony’s vision. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Wide angel shot including, from left to right, the fresco of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Vision of Saint Anthony sculpture above the main altar, the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary stained glass window, and, above, the Holy Spirit descending upon the sanctuary surrounded by the four evangelists whom he inspired. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. One can see the Vision of St. Anthony on the left in the sanctuary and the huge stained glass window of the Coronation on the right. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A picture of our 1912 Casavant Frères Organ, which has just recently been restored. The organ has four keyboards of 61 notes each, 56 stops and 30 couplers. The choir loft has room for 40 members of the choir. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The size of the beautiful choir loft is apparent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel holding a candelbra before the high altar. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with a trumpet heralding the presence of the Son of God on the altar. The models for the face came from parishioners when the Church was being built. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel underneath the clerestory. Angel refers to the office of divine messenger, and we see the angel bearing a message from God. Notice the emblem of St. Anthony’s above the angel’s head. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angel in greater detail. All of the faces of the angels come from parishioners of St. Anthony at the turn of the last century. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with the stained glass window of Christ the King and the clerestory in the background. The seraphim have trumpets and adorn the four principle arches of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Seraph with trumpet overlooking the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory as we head toward the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the chancel organ pipes making music to the praise of God. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory heading toward the choir loft. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory captured from the choir loft with the vision of St. Anthony in the background. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels lifting up the monstrance from which Jesus, the Eucharistic King of Kings, is shown to the people he saved. Found in the arch above the Vision of Saint Anthony above the high altar. Notice some of the 5500 lights in the Church above the angels. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A look at St. Anthony’s from the south. The length of the Church is 241 feet and the height of the Church (not the steeple) and the length of the transept is 135 feet. We’re looking at the back of the massive stained glass window of Christ the King. The tomb of the first pastor, Fr. Hormisdas Deslauriers (1861-1916) is in the grass in the center at the bottom of the photograph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Picture of the nave of St. Anthony’s Church, which is 241 feet long and seats, within the nave, about 1480 persons (with room for 300 more in the first loft and another couple of hundred in the pews of the chancel!). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Picture of the nave with particular attention to the beautiful frescoes on the vault. The scaffolding on the left, now long removed, was to repair some water damage. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Photo of the Nave from the choir loft, which is well more than 40 feet high. The Church was designed by Joseph Venne, who also designed the famous Basilica of the Oratory of St. Joseph in Montreal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Wide angle shot of the nave, capturing some of the Stations of the Cross and stained glass windows on the side. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Panoramic view of the sanctuary from the choir loft. The symmetry of the Church, architecturally intended to call to mind God’s perfection, is apparent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the nave with the emblem of St. Anthony’s in the floor of the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A panoramic view of the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The sanctuary, main and high altar. Notice the six enormous cherubim looking down at the altar from above, with their huge wings, which distinguish them from the angels below the clerestory. The splendor of the Cross of Christ dominates the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Main Altar. At the top of the image, we see the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, who is present in the tabernacle. Six angels and four cherubim follow, significant of the fact that all of the heavenly hosts praised the Son of God made man present in the Eucharist. The tabernacle itself has the image of the Good Shepherd on the door. Underneath the mensa or table of the altar is a sculpture of the Last Supper, during which Jesus fulfilled the ancient Passover right and gave us his flesh and blood for the first time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Close up of the tabernacle, with the image of the Good Shepherd on the door. It is in the Eucharist that the Good Shepherd feeds his sheep, because the Eucharist is how the Good Shepherd laid down his life for his sheep. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An even greater close-up of the tabernacle with the image of the Good Shepherd. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Vision of Saint Anthony, above the main altar and the tabernacle. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Vision of Saint Anthony, when the child Jesus appeared to St. Anthony at Camposanpiero, near Padua. St. Anthony, before going to bed for the night, was reading his Bible. Suddenly, the Infant Jesus appeared resting on the Bible and proceed to come into the arms of St. Anthony and stroked St. Anthony’s face. The Word of God was appearing to the man who had so well preached His Word. For this reason, most images of St. Anthony depict him holding a Bible with the Infant Jesus. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicted the mutual love and desire of St. Anthony and the Infant Jesus, destined to end in a loving embrace. Even as a child, the Lord Jesus is under the shadow of the Cross, a fact not missed by St. Anthony’s vision. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Wide angel shot including, from left to right, the fresco of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Vision of Saint Anthony sculpture above the main altar, the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary stained glass window, and, above, the Holy Spirit descending upon the sanctuary surrounded by the four evangelists whom he inspired. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. One can see the Vision of St. Anthony on the left in the sanctuary and the huge stained glass window of the Coronation on the right. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A picture of our 1912 Casavant Frères Organ, which has just recently been restored. The organ has four keyboards of 61 notes each, 56 stops and 30 couplers. The choir loft has room for 40 members of the choir. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The size of the beautiful choir loft is apparent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel holding a candelbra before the high altar. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with a trumpet heralding the presence of the Son of God on the altar. The models for the face came from parishioners when the Church was being built. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel underneath the clerestory. Angel refers to the office of divine messenger, and we see the angel bearing a message from God. Notice the emblem of St. Anthony’s above the angel’s head. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angel in greater detail. All of the faces of the angels come from parishioners of St. Anthony at the turn of the last century. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with the stained glass window of Christ the King and the clerestory in the background. The seraphim have trumpets and adorn the four principle arches of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Seraph with trumpet overlooking the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory as we head toward the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the chancel organ pipes making music to the praise of God. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory heading toward the choir loft. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory captured from the choir loft with the vision of St. Anthony in the background. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels lifting up the monstrance from which Jesus, the Eucharistic King of Kings, is shown to the people he saved. Found in the arch above the Vision of Saint Anthony above the high altar. Notice some of the 5500 lights in the Church above the angels. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
A look at St. Anthony’s from the south. The length of the Church is 241 feet and the height of the Church (not the steeple) and the length of the transept is 135 feet. We’re looking at the back of the massive stained glass window of Christ the King. The tomb of the first pastor, Fr. Hormisdas Deslauriers (1861-1916) is in the grass in the center at the bottom of the photograph.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Picture of the nave of St. Anthony’s Church, which is 241 feet long and seats, within the nave, about 1480 persons (with room for 300 more in the first loft and another couple of hundred in the pews of the chancel!). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Picture of the nave with particular attention to the beautiful frescoes on the vault. The scaffolding on the left, now long removed, was to repair some water damage. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Photo of the Nave from the choir loft, which is well more than 40 feet high. The Church was designed by Joseph Venne, who also designed the famous Basilica of the Oratory of St. Joseph in Montreal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Wide angle shot of the nave, capturing some of the Stations of the Cross and stained glass windows on the side. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Panoramic view of the sanctuary from the choir loft. The symmetry of the Church, architecturally intended to call to mind God’s perfection, is apparent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the nave with the emblem of St. Anthony’s in the floor of the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A panoramic view of the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The sanctuary, main and high altar. Notice the six enormous cherubim looking down at the altar from above, with their huge wings, which distinguish them from the angels below the clerestory. The splendor of the Cross of Christ dominates the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Main Altar. At the top of the image, we see the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, who is present in the tabernacle. Six angels and four cherubim follow, significant of the fact that all of the heavenly hosts praised the Son of God made man present in the Eucharist. The tabernacle itself has the image of the Good Shepherd on the door. Underneath the mensa or table of the altar is a sculpture of the Last Supper, during which Jesus fulfilled the ancient Passover right and gave us his flesh and blood for the first time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Close up of the tabernacle, with the image of the Good Shepherd on the door. It is in the Eucharist that the Good Shepherd feeds his sheep, because the Eucharist is how the Good Shepherd laid down his life for his sheep. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An even greater close-up of the tabernacle with the image of the Good Shepherd. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Vision of Saint Anthony, above the main altar and the tabernacle. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Vision of Saint Anthony, when the child Jesus appeared to St. Anthony at Camposanpiero, near Padua. St. Anthony, before going to bed for the night, was reading his Bible. Suddenly, the Infant Jesus appeared resting on the Bible and proceed to come into the arms of St. Anthony and stroked St. Anthony’s face. The Word of God was appearing to the man who had so well preached His Word. For this reason, most images of St. Anthony depict him holding a Bible with the Infant Jesus. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicted the mutual love and desire of St. Anthony and the Infant Jesus, destined to end in a loving embrace. Even as a child, the Lord Jesus is under the shadow of the Cross, a fact not missed by St. Anthony’s vision. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Wide angel shot including, from left to right, the fresco of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Vision of Saint Anthony sculpture above the main altar, the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary stained glass window, and, above, the Holy Spirit descending upon the sanctuary surrounded by the four evangelists whom he inspired. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. One can see the Vision of St. Anthony on the left in the sanctuary and the huge stained glass window of the Coronation on the right. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A picture of our 1912 Casavant Frères Organ, which has just recently been restored. The organ has four keyboards of 61 notes each, 56 stops and 30 couplers. The choir loft has room for 40 members of the choir. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The size of the beautiful choir loft is apparent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel holding a candelbra before the high altar. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with a trumpet heralding the presence of the Son of God on the altar. The models for the face came from parishioners when the Church was being built. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel underneath the clerestory. Angel refers to the office of divine messenger, and we see the angel bearing a message from God. Notice the emblem of St. Anthony’s above the angel’s head. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angel in greater detail. All of the faces of the angels come from parishioners of St. Anthony at the turn of the last century. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with the stained glass window of Christ the King and the clerestory in the background. The seraphim have trumpets and adorn the four principle arches of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Seraph with trumpet overlooking the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory as we head toward the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the chancel organ pipes making music to the praise of God. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory heading toward the choir loft. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory captured from the choir loft with the vision of St. Anthony in the background. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels lifting up the monstrance from which Jesus, the Eucharistic King of Kings, is shown to the people he saved. Found in the arch above the Vision of Saint Anthony above the high altar. Notice some of the 5500 lights in the Church above the angels. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Picture of the nave of St. Anthony’s Church, which is 241 feet long and seats, within the nave, about 1480 persons (with room for 300 more in the first loft and another couple of hundred in the pews of the chancel!).
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Picture of the nave with particular attention to the beautiful frescoes on the vault. The scaffolding on the left, now long removed, was to repair some water damage. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Photo of the Nave from the choir loft, which is well more than 40 feet high. The Church was designed by Joseph Venne, who also designed the famous Basilica of the Oratory of St. Joseph in Montreal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Wide angle shot of the nave, capturing some of the Stations of the Cross and stained glass windows on the side. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Panoramic view of the sanctuary from the choir loft. The symmetry of the Church, architecturally intended to call to mind God’s perfection, is apparent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the nave with the emblem of St. Anthony’s in the floor of the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A panoramic view of the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The sanctuary, main and high altar. Notice the six enormous cherubim looking down at the altar from above, with their huge wings, which distinguish them from the angels below the clerestory. The splendor of the Cross of Christ dominates the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Main Altar. At the top of the image, we see the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, who is present in the tabernacle. Six angels and four cherubim follow, significant of the fact that all of the heavenly hosts praised the Son of God made man present in the Eucharist. The tabernacle itself has the image of the Good Shepherd on the door. Underneath the mensa or table of the altar is a sculpture of the Last Supper, during which Jesus fulfilled the ancient Passover right and gave us his flesh and blood for the first time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Close up of the tabernacle, with the image of the Good Shepherd on the door. It is in the Eucharist that the Good Shepherd feeds his sheep, because the Eucharist is how the Good Shepherd laid down his life for his sheep. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An even greater close-up of the tabernacle with the image of the Good Shepherd. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Vision of Saint Anthony, above the main altar and the tabernacle. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Vision of Saint Anthony, when the child Jesus appeared to St. Anthony at Camposanpiero, near Padua. St. Anthony, before going to bed for the night, was reading his Bible. Suddenly, the Infant Jesus appeared resting on the Bible and proceed to come into the arms of St. Anthony and stroked St. Anthony’s face. The Word of God was appearing to the man who had so well preached His Word. For this reason, most images of St. Anthony depict him holding a Bible with the Infant Jesus. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicted the mutual love and desire of St. Anthony and the Infant Jesus, destined to end in a loving embrace. Even as a child, the Lord Jesus is under the shadow of the Cross, a fact not missed by St. Anthony’s vision. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Wide angel shot including, from left to right, the fresco of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Vision of Saint Anthony sculpture above the main altar, the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary stained glass window, and, above, the Holy Spirit descending upon the sanctuary surrounded by the four evangelists whom he inspired. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. One can see the Vision of St. Anthony on the left in the sanctuary and the huge stained glass window of the Coronation on the right. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A picture of our 1912 Casavant Frères Organ, which has just recently been restored. The organ has four keyboards of 61 notes each, 56 stops and 30 couplers. The choir loft has room for 40 members of the choir. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The size of the beautiful choir loft is apparent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel holding a candelbra before the high altar. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with a trumpet heralding the presence of the Son of God on the altar. The models for the face came from parishioners when the Church was being built. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel underneath the clerestory. Angel refers to the office of divine messenger, and we see the angel bearing a message from God. Notice the emblem of St. Anthony’s above the angel’s head. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angel in greater detail. All of the faces of the angels come from parishioners of St. Anthony at the turn of the last century. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with the stained glass window of Christ the King and the clerestory in the background. The seraphim have trumpets and adorn the four principle arches of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Seraph with trumpet overlooking the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory as we head toward the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the chancel organ pipes making music to the praise of God. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory heading toward the choir loft. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory captured from the choir loft with the vision of St. Anthony in the background. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels lifting up the monstrance from which Jesus, the Eucharistic King of Kings, is shown to the people he saved. Found in the arch above the Vision of Saint Anthony above the high altar. Notice some of the 5500 lights in the Church above the angels. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Picture of the nave with particular attention to the beautiful frescoes on the vault. The scaffolding on the left, now long removed, was to repair some water damage.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Photo of the Nave from the choir loft, which is well more than 40 feet high. The Church was designed by Joseph Venne, who also designed the famous Basilica of the Oratory of St. Joseph in Montreal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Wide angle shot of the nave, capturing some of the Stations of the Cross and stained glass windows on the side. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Panoramic view of the sanctuary from the choir loft. The symmetry of the Church, architecturally intended to call to mind God’s perfection, is apparent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the nave with the emblem of St. Anthony’s in the floor of the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A panoramic view of the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The sanctuary, main and high altar. Notice the six enormous cherubim looking down at the altar from above, with their huge wings, which distinguish them from the angels below the clerestory. The splendor of the Cross of Christ dominates the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Main Altar. At the top of the image, we see the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, who is present in the tabernacle. Six angels and four cherubim follow, significant of the fact that all of the heavenly hosts praised the Son of God made man present in the Eucharist. The tabernacle itself has the image of the Good Shepherd on the door. Underneath the mensa or table of the altar is a sculpture of the Last Supper, during which Jesus fulfilled the ancient Passover right and gave us his flesh and blood for the first time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Close up of the tabernacle, with the image of the Good Shepherd on the door. It is in the Eucharist that the Good Shepherd feeds his sheep, because the Eucharist is how the Good Shepherd laid down his life for his sheep. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An even greater close-up of the tabernacle with the image of the Good Shepherd. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Vision of Saint Anthony, above the main altar and the tabernacle. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Vision of Saint Anthony, when the child Jesus appeared to St. Anthony at Camposanpiero, near Padua. St. Anthony, before going to bed for the night, was reading his Bible. Suddenly, the Infant Jesus appeared resting on the Bible and proceed to come into the arms of St. Anthony and stroked St. Anthony’s face. The Word of God was appearing to the man who had so well preached His Word. For this reason, most images of St. Anthony depict him holding a Bible with the Infant Jesus. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicted the mutual love and desire of St. Anthony and the Infant Jesus, destined to end in a loving embrace. Even as a child, the Lord Jesus is under the shadow of the Cross, a fact not missed by St. Anthony’s vision. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Wide angel shot including, from left to right, the fresco of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Vision of Saint Anthony sculpture above the main altar, the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary stained glass window, and, above, the Holy Spirit descending upon the sanctuary surrounded by the four evangelists whom he inspired. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. One can see the Vision of St. Anthony on the left in the sanctuary and the huge stained glass window of the Coronation on the right. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A picture of our 1912 Casavant Frères Organ, which has just recently been restored. The organ has four keyboards of 61 notes each, 56 stops and 30 couplers. The choir loft has room for 40 members of the choir. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The size of the beautiful choir loft is apparent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel holding a candelbra before the high altar. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with a trumpet heralding the presence of the Son of God on the altar. The models for the face came from parishioners when the Church was being built. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel underneath the clerestory. Angel refers to the office of divine messenger, and we see the angel bearing a message from God. Notice the emblem of St. Anthony’s above the angel’s head. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angel in greater detail. All of the faces of the angels come from parishioners of St. Anthony at the turn of the last century. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with the stained glass window of Christ the King and the clerestory in the background. The seraphim have trumpets and adorn the four principle arches of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Seraph with trumpet overlooking the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory as we head toward the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the chancel organ pipes making music to the praise of God. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory heading toward the choir loft. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory captured from the choir loft with the vision of St. Anthony in the background. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels lifting up the monstrance from which Jesus, the Eucharistic King of Kings, is shown to the people he saved. Found in the arch above the Vision of Saint Anthony above the high altar. Notice some of the 5500 lights in the Church above the angels. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Photo of the Nave from the choir loft, which is well more than 40 feet high. The Church was designed by Joseph Venne, who also designed the famous Basilica of the Oratory of St. Joseph in Montreal.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Wide angle shot of the nave, capturing some of the Stations of the Cross and stained glass windows on the side. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Panoramic view of the sanctuary from the choir loft. The symmetry of the Church, architecturally intended to call to mind God’s perfection, is apparent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the nave with the emblem of St. Anthony’s in the floor of the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A panoramic view of the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The sanctuary, main and high altar. Notice the six enormous cherubim looking down at the altar from above, with their huge wings, which distinguish them from the angels below the clerestory. The splendor of the Cross of Christ dominates the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Main Altar. At the top of the image, we see the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, who is present in the tabernacle. Six angels and four cherubim follow, significant of the fact that all of the heavenly hosts praised the Son of God made man present in the Eucharist. The tabernacle itself has the image of the Good Shepherd on the door. Underneath the mensa or table of the altar is a sculpture of the Last Supper, during which Jesus fulfilled the ancient Passover right and gave us his flesh and blood for the first time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Close up of the tabernacle, with the image of the Good Shepherd on the door. It is in the Eucharist that the Good Shepherd feeds his sheep, because the Eucharist is how the Good Shepherd laid down his life for his sheep. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An even greater close-up of the tabernacle with the image of the Good Shepherd. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Vision of Saint Anthony, above the main altar and the tabernacle. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Vision of Saint Anthony, when the child Jesus appeared to St. Anthony at Camposanpiero, near Padua. St. Anthony, before going to bed for the night, was reading his Bible. Suddenly, the Infant Jesus appeared resting on the Bible and proceed to come into the arms of St. Anthony and stroked St. Anthony’s face. The Word of God was appearing to the man who had so well preached His Word. For this reason, most images of St. Anthony depict him holding a Bible with the Infant Jesus. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicted the mutual love and desire of St. Anthony and the Infant Jesus, destined to end in a loving embrace. Even as a child, the Lord Jesus is under the shadow of the Cross, a fact not missed by St. Anthony’s vision. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Wide angel shot including, from left to right, the fresco of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Vision of Saint Anthony sculpture above the main altar, the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary stained glass window, and, above, the Holy Spirit descending upon the sanctuary surrounded by the four evangelists whom he inspired. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. One can see the Vision of St. Anthony on the left in the sanctuary and the huge stained glass window of the Coronation on the right. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A picture of our 1912 Casavant Frères Organ, which has just recently been restored. The organ has four keyboards of 61 notes each, 56 stops and 30 couplers. The choir loft has room for 40 members of the choir. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The size of the beautiful choir loft is apparent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel holding a candelbra before the high altar. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with a trumpet heralding the presence of the Son of God on the altar. The models for the face came from parishioners when the Church was being built. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel underneath the clerestory. Angel refers to the office of divine messenger, and we see the angel bearing a message from God. Notice the emblem of St. Anthony’s above the angel’s head. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angel in greater detail. All of the faces of the angels come from parishioners of St. Anthony at the turn of the last century. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with the stained glass window of Christ the King and the clerestory in the background. The seraphim have trumpets and adorn the four principle arches of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Seraph with trumpet overlooking the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory as we head toward the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the chancel organ pipes making music to the praise of God. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory heading toward the choir loft. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory captured from the choir loft with the vision of St. Anthony in the background. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels lifting up the monstrance from which Jesus, the Eucharistic King of Kings, is shown to the people he saved. Found in the arch above the Vision of Saint Anthony above the high altar. Notice some of the 5500 lights in the Church above the angels. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Wide angle shot of the nave, capturing some of the Stations of the Cross and stained glass windows on the side.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Panoramic view of the sanctuary from the choir loft. The symmetry of the Church, architecturally intended to call to mind God’s perfection, is apparent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the nave with the emblem of St. Anthony’s in the floor of the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A panoramic view of the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The sanctuary, main and high altar. Notice the six enormous cherubim looking down at the altar from above, with their huge wings, which distinguish them from the angels below the clerestory. The splendor of the Cross of Christ dominates the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Main Altar. At the top of the image, we see the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, who is present in the tabernacle. Six angels and four cherubim follow, significant of the fact that all of the heavenly hosts praised the Son of God made man present in the Eucharist. The tabernacle itself has the image of the Good Shepherd on the door. Underneath the mensa or table of the altar is a sculpture of the Last Supper, during which Jesus fulfilled the ancient Passover right and gave us his flesh and blood for the first time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Close up of the tabernacle, with the image of the Good Shepherd on the door. It is in the Eucharist that the Good Shepherd feeds his sheep, because the Eucharist is how the Good Shepherd laid down his life for his sheep. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An even greater close-up of the tabernacle with the image of the Good Shepherd. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Vision of Saint Anthony, above the main altar and the tabernacle. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Vision of Saint Anthony, when the child Jesus appeared to St. Anthony at Camposanpiero, near Padua. St. Anthony, before going to bed for the night, was reading his Bible. Suddenly, the Infant Jesus appeared resting on the Bible and proceed to come into the arms of St. Anthony and stroked St. Anthony’s face. The Word of God was appearing to the man who had so well preached His Word. For this reason, most images of St. Anthony depict him holding a Bible with the Infant Jesus. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicted the mutual love and desire of St. Anthony and the Infant Jesus, destined to end in a loving embrace. Even as a child, the Lord Jesus is under the shadow of the Cross, a fact not missed by St. Anthony’s vision. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Wide angel shot including, from left to right, the fresco of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Vision of Saint Anthony sculpture above the main altar, the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary stained glass window, and, above, the Holy Spirit descending upon the sanctuary surrounded by the four evangelists whom he inspired. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. One can see the Vision of St. Anthony on the left in the sanctuary and the huge stained glass window of the Coronation on the right. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A picture of our 1912 Casavant Frères Organ, which has just recently been restored. The organ has four keyboards of 61 notes each, 56 stops and 30 couplers. The choir loft has room for 40 members of the choir. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The size of the beautiful choir loft is apparent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel holding a candelbra before the high altar. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with a trumpet heralding the presence of the Son of God on the altar. The models for the face came from parishioners when the Church was being built. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel underneath the clerestory. Angel refers to the office of divine messenger, and we see the angel bearing a message from God. Notice the emblem of St. Anthony’s above the angel’s head. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angel in greater detail. All of the faces of the angels come from parishioners of St. Anthony at the turn of the last century. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with the stained glass window of Christ the King and the clerestory in the background. The seraphim have trumpets and adorn the four principle arches of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Seraph with trumpet overlooking the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory as we head toward the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the chancel organ pipes making music to the praise of God. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory heading toward the choir loft. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory captured from the choir loft with the vision of St. Anthony in the background. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels lifting up the monstrance from which Jesus, the Eucharistic King of Kings, is shown to the people he saved. Found in the arch above the Vision of Saint Anthony above the high altar. Notice some of the 5500 lights in the Church above the angels. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Panoramic view of the sanctuary from the choir loft. The symmetry of the Church, architecturally intended to call to mind God’s perfection, is apparent.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the nave with the emblem of St. Anthony’s in the floor of the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A panoramic view of the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The sanctuary, main and high altar. Notice the six enormous cherubim looking down at the altar from above, with their huge wings, which distinguish them from the angels below the clerestory. The splendor of the Cross of Christ dominates the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Main Altar. At the top of the image, we see the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, who is present in the tabernacle. Six angels and four cherubim follow, significant of the fact that all of the heavenly hosts praised the Son of God made man present in the Eucharist. The tabernacle itself has the image of the Good Shepherd on the door. Underneath the mensa or table of the altar is a sculpture of the Last Supper, during which Jesus fulfilled the ancient Passover right and gave us his flesh and blood for the first time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Close up of the tabernacle, with the image of the Good Shepherd on the door. It is in the Eucharist that the Good Shepherd feeds his sheep, because the Eucharist is how the Good Shepherd laid down his life for his sheep. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An even greater close-up of the tabernacle with the image of the Good Shepherd. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Vision of Saint Anthony, above the main altar and the tabernacle. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Vision of Saint Anthony, when the child Jesus appeared to St. Anthony at Camposanpiero, near Padua. St. Anthony, before going to bed for the night, was reading his Bible. Suddenly, the Infant Jesus appeared resting on the Bible and proceed to come into the arms of St. Anthony and stroked St. Anthony’s face. The Word of God was appearing to the man who had so well preached His Word. For this reason, most images of St. Anthony depict him holding a Bible with the Infant Jesus. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicted the mutual love and desire of St. Anthony and the Infant Jesus, destined to end in a loving embrace. Even as a child, the Lord Jesus is under the shadow of the Cross, a fact not missed by St. Anthony’s vision. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Wide angel shot including, from left to right, the fresco of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Vision of Saint Anthony sculpture above the main altar, the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary stained glass window, and, above, the Holy Spirit descending upon the sanctuary surrounded by the four evangelists whom he inspired. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. One can see the Vision of St. Anthony on the left in the sanctuary and the huge stained glass window of the Coronation on the right. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A picture of our 1912 Casavant Frères Organ, which has just recently been restored. The organ has four keyboards of 61 notes each, 56 stops and 30 couplers. The choir loft has room for 40 members of the choir. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The size of the beautiful choir loft is apparent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel holding a candelbra before the high altar. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with a trumpet heralding the presence of the Son of God on the altar. The models for the face came from parishioners when the Church was being built. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel underneath the clerestory. Angel refers to the office of divine messenger, and we see the angel bearing a message from God. Notice the emblem of St. Anthony’s above the angel’s head. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angel in greater detail. All of the faces of the angels come from parishioners of St. Anthony at the turn of the last century. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with the stained glass window of Christ the King and the clerestory in the background. The seraphim have trumpets and adorn the four principle arches of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Seraph with trumpet overlooking the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory as we head toward the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the chancel organ pipes making music to the praise of God. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory heading toward the choir loft. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory captured from the choir loft with the vision of St. Anthony in the background. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels lifting up the monstrance from which Jesus, the Eucharistic King of Kings, is shown to the people he saved. Found in the arch above the Vision of Saint Anthony above the high altar. Notice some of the 5500 lights in the Church above the angels. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Image of the nave with the emblem of St. Anthony’s in the floor of the nave.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A panoramic view of the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The sanctuary, main and high altar. Notice the six enormous cherubim looking down at the altar from above, with their huge wings, which distinguish them from the angels below the clerestory. The splendor of the Cross of Christ dominates the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Main Altar. At the top of the image, we see the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, who is present in the tabernacle. Six angels and four cherubim follow, significant of the fact that all of the heavenly hosts praised the Son of God made man present in the Eucharist. The tabernacle itself has the image of the Good Shepherd on the door. Underneath the mensa or table of the altar is a sculpture of the Last Supper, during which Jesus fulfilled the ancient Passover right and gave us his flesh and blood for the first time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Close up of the tabernacle, with the image of the Good Shepherd on the door. It is in the Eucharist that the Good Shepherd feeds his sheep, because the Eucharist is how the Good Shepherd laid down his life for his sheep. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An even greater close-up of the tabernacle with the image of the Good Shepherd. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Vision of Saint Anthony, above the main altar and the tabernacle. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Vision of Saint Anthony, when the child Jesus appeared to St. Anthony at Camposanpiero, near Padua. St. Anthony, before going to bed for the night, was reading his Bible. Suddenly, the Infant Jesus appeared resting on the Bible and proceed to come into the arms of St. Anthony and stroked St. Anthony’s face. The Word of God was appearing to the man who had so well preached His Word. For this reason, most images of St. Anthony depict him holding a Bible with the Infant Jesus. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicted the mutual love and desire of St. Anthony and the Infant Jesus, destined to end in a loving embrace. Even as a child, the Lord Jesus is under the shadow of the Cross, a fact not missed by St. Anthony’s vision. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Wide angel shot including, from left to right, the fresco of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Vision of Saint Anthony sculpture above the main altar, the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary stained glass window, and, above, the Holy Spirit descending upon the sanctuary surrounded by the four evangelists whom he inspired. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. One can see the Vision of St. Anthony on the left in the sanctuary and the huge stained glass window of the Coronation on the right. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A picture of our 1912 Casavant Frères Organ, which has just recently been restored. The organ has four keyboards of 61 notes each, 56 stops and 30 couplers. The choir loft has room for 40 members of the choir. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The size of the beautiful choir loft is apparent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel holding a candelbra before the high altar. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with a trumpet heralding the presence of the Son of God on the altar. The models for the face came from parishioners when the Church was being built. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel underneath the clerestory. Angel refers to the office of divine messenger, and we see the angel bearing a message from God. Notice the emblem of St. Anthony’s above the angel’s head. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angel in greater detail. All of the faces of the angels come from parishioners of St. Anthony at the turn of the last century. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with the stained glass window of Christ the King and the clerestory in the background. The seraphim have trumpets and adorn the four principle arches of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Seraph with trumpet overlooking the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory as we head toward the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the chancel organ pipes making music to the praise of God. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory heading toward the choir loft. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory captured from the choir loft with the vision of St. Anthony in the background. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels lifting up the monstrance from which Jesus, the Eucharistic King of Kings, is shown to the people he saved. Found in the arch above the Vision of Saint Anthony above the high altar. Notice some of the 5500 lights in the Church above the angels. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
A panoramic view of the sanctuary.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The sanctuary, main and high altar. Notice the six enormous cherubim looking down at the altar from above, with their huge wings, which distinguish them from the angels below the clerestory. The splendor of the Cross of Christ dominates the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Main Altar. At the top of the image, we see the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, who is present in the tabernacle. Six angels and four cherubim follow, significant of the fact that all of the heavenly hosts praised the Son of God made man present in the Eucharist. The tabernacle itself has the image of the Good Shepherd on the door. Underneath the mensa or table of the altar is a sculpture of the Last Supper, during which Jesus fulfilled the ancient Passover right and gave us his flesh and blood for the first time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Close up of the tabernacle, with the image of the Good Shepherd on the door. It is in the Eucharist that the Good Shepherd feeds his sheep, because the Eucharist is how the Good Shepherd laid down his life for his sheep. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An even greater close-up of the tabernacle with the image of the Good Shepherd. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Vision of Saint Anthony, above the main altar and the tabernacle. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Vision of Saint Anthony, when the child Jesus appeared to St. Anthony at Camposanpiero, near Padua. St. Anthony, before going to bed for the night, was reading his Bible. Suddenly, the Infant Jesus appeared resting on the Bible and proceed to come into the arms of St. Anthony and stroked St. Anthony’s face. The Word of God was appearing to the man who had so well preached His Word. For this reason, most images of St. Anthony depict him holding a Bible with the Infant Jesus. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicted the mutual love and desire of St. Anthony and the Infant Jesus, destined to end in a loving embrace. Even as a child, the Lord Jesus is under the shadow of the Cross, a fact not missed by St. Anthony’s vision. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Wide angel shot including, from left to right, the fresco of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Vision of Saint Anthony sculpture above the main altar, the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary stained glass window, and, above, the Holy Spirit descending upon the sanctuary surrounded by the four evangelists whom he inspired. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. One can see the Vision of St. Anthony on the left in the sanctuary and the huge stained glass window of the Coronation on the right. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A picture of our 1912 Casavant Frères Organ, which has just recently been restored. The organ has four keyboards of 61 notes each, 56 stops and 30 couplers. The choir loft has room for 40 members of the choir. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The size of the beautiful choir loft is apparent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel holding a candelbra before the high altar. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with a trumpet heralding the presence of the Son of God on the altar. The models for the face came from parishioners when the Church was being built. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel underneath the clerestory. Angel refers to the office of divine messenger, and we see the angel bearing a message from God. Notice the emblem of St. Anthony’s above the angel’s head. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angel in greater detail. All of the faces of the angels come from parishioners of St. Anthony at the turn of the last century. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with the stained glass window of Christ the King and the clerestory in the background. The seraphim have trumpets and adorn the four principle arches of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Seraph with trumpet overlooking the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory as we head toward the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the chancel organ pipes making music to the praise of God. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory heading toward the choir loft. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory captured from the choir loft with the vision of St. Anthony in the background. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels lifting up the monstrance from which Jesus, the Eucharistic King of Kings, is shown to the people he saved. Found in the arch above the Vision of Saint Anthony above the high altar. Notice some of the 5500 lights in the Church above the angels. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
The sanctuary, main and high altar. Notice the six enormous cherubim looking down at the altar from above, with their huge wings, which distinguish them from the angels below the clerestory. The splendor of the Cross of Christ dominates the sanctuary.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Main Altar. At the top of the image, we see the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, who is present in the tabernacle. Six angels and four cherubim follow, significant of the fact that all of the heavenly hosts praised the Son of God made man present in the Eucharist. The tabernacle itself has the image of the Good Shepherd on the door. Underneath the mensa or table of the altar is a sculpture of the Last Supper, during which Jesus fulfilled the ancient Passover right and gave us his flesh and blood for the first time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Close up of the tabernacle, with the image of the Good Shepherd on the door. It is in the Eucharist that the Good Shepherd feeds his sheep, because the Eucharist is how the Good Shepherd laid down his life for his sheep. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An even greater close-up of the tabernacle with the image of the Good Shepherd. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Vision of Saint Anthony, above the main altar and the tabernacle. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Vision of Saint Anthony, when the child Jesus appeared to St. Anthony at Camposanpiero, near Padua. St. Anthony, before going to bed for the night, was reading his Bible. Suddenly, the Infant Jesus appeared resting on the Bible and proceed to come into the arms of St. Anthony and stroked St. Anthony’s face. The Word of God was appearing to the man who had so well preached His Word. For this reason, most images of St. Anthony depict him holding a Bible with the Infant Jesus. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicted the mutual love and desire of St. Anthony and the Infant Jesus, destined to end in a loving embrace. Even as a child, the Lord Jesus is under the shadow of the Cross, a fact not missed by St. Anthony’s vision. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Wide angel shot including, from left to right, the fresco of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Vision of Saint Anthony sculpture above the main altar, the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary stained glass window, and, above, the Holy Spirit descending upon the sanctuary surrounded by the four evangelists whom he inspired. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. One can see the Vision of St. Anthony on the left in the sanctuary and the huge stained glass window of the Coronation on the right. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A picture of our 1912 Casavant Frères Organ, which has just recently been restored. The organ has four keyboards of 61 notes each, 56 stops and 30 couplers. The choir loft has room for 40 members of the choir. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The size of the beautiful choir loft is apparent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel holding a candelbra before the high altar. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with a trumpet heralding the presence of the Son of God on the altar. The models for the face came from parishioners when the Church was being built. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel underneath the clerestory. Angel refers to the office of divine messenger, and we see the angel bearing a message from God. Notice the emblem of St. Anthony’s above the angel’s head. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angel in greater detail. All of the faces of the angels come from parishioners of St. Anthony at the turn of the last century. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with the stained glass window of Christ the King and the clerestory in the background. The seraphim have trumpets and adorn the four principle arches of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Seraph with trumpet overlooking the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory as we head toward the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the chancel organ pipes making music to the praise of God. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory heading toward the choir loft. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory captured from the choir loft with the vision of St. Anthony in the background. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels lifting up the monstrance from which Jesus, the Eucharistic King of Kings, is shown to the people he saved. Found in the arch above the Vision of Saint Anthony above the high altar. Notice some of the 5500 lights in the Church above the angels. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Image of the Main Altar. At the top of the image, we see the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, who is present in the tabernacle. Six angels and four cherubim follow, significant of the fact that all of the heavenly hosts praised the Son of God made man present in the Eucharist. The tabernacle itself has the image of the Good Shepherd on the door. Underneath the mensa or table of the altar is a sculpture of the Last Supper, during which Jesus fulfilled the ancient Passover right and gave us his flesh and blood for the first time.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Close up of the tabernacle, with the image of the Good Shepherd on the door. It is in the Eucharist that the Good Shepherd feeds his sheep, because the Eucharist is how the Good Shepherd laid down his life for his sheep. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An even greater close-up of the tabernacle with the image of the Good Shepherd. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Vision of Saint Anthony, above the main altar and the tabernacle. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Vision of Saint Anthony, when the child Jesus appeared to St. Anthony at Camposanpiero, near Padua. St. Anthony, before going to bed for the night, was reading his Bible. Suddenly, the Infant Jesus appeared resting on the Bible and proceed to come into the arms of St. Anthony and stroked St. Anthony’s face. The Word of God was appearing to the man who had so well preached His Word. For this reason, most images of St. Anthony depict him holding a Bible with the Infant Jesus. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicted the mutual love and desire of St. Anthony and the Infant Jesus, destined to end in a loving embrace. Even as a child, the Lord Jesus is under the shadow of the Cross, a fact not missed by St. Anthony’s vision. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Wide angel shot including, from left to right, the fresco of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Vision of Saint Anthony sculpture above the main altar, the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary stained glass window, and, above, the Holy Spirit descending upon the sanctuary surrounded by the four evangelists whom he inspired. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. One can see the Vision of St. Anthony on the left in the sanctuary and the huge stained glass window of the Coronation on the right. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A picture of our 1912 Casavant Frères Organ, which has just recently been restored. The organ has four keyboards of 61 notes each, 56 stops and 30 couplers. The choir loft has room for 40 members of the choir. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The size of the beautiful choir loft is apparent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel holding a candelbra before the high altar. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with a trumpet heralding the presence of the Son of God on the altar. The models for the face came from parishioners when the Church was being built. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel underneath the clerestory. Angel refers to the office of divine messenger, and we see the angel bearing a message from God. Notice the emblem of St. Anthony’s above the angel’s head. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angel in greater detail. All of the faces of the angels come from parishioners of St. Anthony at the turn of the last century. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with the stained glass window of Christ the King and the clerestory in the background. The seraphim have trumpets and adorn the four principle arches of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Seraph with trumpet overlooking the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory as we head toward the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the chancel organ pipes making music to the praise of God. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory heading toward the choir loft. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory captured from the choir loft with the vision of St. Anthony in the background. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels lifting up the monstrance from which Jesus, the Eucharistic King of Kings, is shown to the people he saved. Found in the arch above the Vision of Saint Anthony above the high altar. Notice some of the 5500 lights in the Church above the angels. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Close up of the tabernacle, with the image of the Good Shepherd on the door. It is in the Eucharist that the Good Shepherd feeds his sheep, because the Eucharist is how the Good Shepherd laid down his life for his sheep.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An even greater close-up of the tabernacle with the image of the Good Shepherd. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Vision of Saint Anthony, above the main altar and the tabernacle. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Vision of Saint Anthony, when the child Jesus appeared to St. Anthony at Camposanpiero, near Padua. St. Anthony, before going to bed for the night, was reading his Bible. Suddenly, the Infant Jesus appeared resting on the Bible and proceed to come into the arms of St. Anthony and stroked St. Anthony’s face. The Word of God was appearing to the man who had so well preached His Word. For this reason, most images of St. Anthony depict him holding a Bible with the Infant Jesus. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicted the mutual love and desire of St. Anthony and the Infant Jesus, destined to end in a loving embrace. Even as a child, the Lord Jesus is under the shadow of the Cross, a fact not missed by St. Anthony’s vision. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Wide angel shot including, from left to right, the fresco of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Vision of Saint Anthony sculpture above the main altar, the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary stained glass window, and, above, the Holy Spirit descending upon the sanctuary surrounded by the four evangelists whom he inspired. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. One can see the Vision of St. Anthony on the left in the sanctuary and the huge stained glass window of the Coronation on the right. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A picture of our 1912 Casavant Frères Organ, which has just recently been restored. The organ has four keyboards of 61 notes each, 56 stops and 30 couplers. The choir loft has room for 40 members of the choir. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The size of the beautiful choir loft is apparent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel holding a candelbra before the high altar. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with a trumpet heralding the presence of the Son of God on the altar. The models for the face came from parishioners when the Church was being built. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel underneath the clerestory. Angel refers to the office of divine messenger, and we see the angel bearing a message from God. Notice the emblem of St. Anthony’s above the angel’s head. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angel in greater detail. All of the faces of the angels come from parishioners of St. Anthony at the turn of the last century. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with the stained glass window of Christ the King and the clerestory in the background. The seraphim have trumpets and adorn the four principle arches of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Seraph with trumpet overlooking the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory as we head toward the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the chancel organ pipes making music to the praise of God. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory heading toward the choir loft. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory captured from the choir loft with the vision of St. Anthony in the background. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels lifting up the monstrance from which Jesus, the Eucharistic King of Kings, is shown to the people he saved. Found in the arch above the Vision of Saint Anthony above the high altar. Notice some of the 5500 lights in the Church above the angels. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
An even greater close-up of the tabernacle with the image of the Good Shepherd.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Vision of Saint Anthony, above the main altar and the tabernacle. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Vision of Saint Anthony, when the child Jesus appeared to St. Anthony at Camposanpiero, near Padua. St. Anthony, before going to bed for the night, was reading his Bible. Suddenly, the Infant Jesus appeared resting on the Bible and proceed to come into the arms of St. Anthony and stroked St. Anthony’s face. The Word of God was appearing to the man who had so well preached His Word. For this reason, most images of St. Anthony depict him holding a Bible with the Infant Jesus. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicted the mutual love and desire of St. Anthony and the Infant Jesus, destined to end in a loving embrace. Even as a child, the Lord Jesus is under the shadow of the Cross, a fact not missed by St. Anthony’s vision. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Wide angel shot including, from left to right, the fresco of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Vision of Saint Anthony sculpture above the main altar, the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary stained glass window, and, above, the Holy Spirit descending upon the sanctuary surrounded by the four evangelists whom he inspired. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. One can see the Vision of St. Anthony on the left in the sanctuary and the huge stained glass window of the Coronation on the right. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A picture of our 1912 Casavant Frères Organ, which has just recently been restored. The organ has four keyboards of 61 notes each, 56 stops and 30 couplers. The choir loft has room for 40 members of the choir. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The size of the beautiful choir loft is apparent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel holding a candelbra before the high altar. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with a trumpet heralding the presence of the Son of God on the altar. The models for the face came from parishioners when the Church was being built. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel underneath the clerestory. Angel refers to the office of divine messenger, and we see the angel bearing a message from God. Notice the emblem of St. Anthony’s above the angel’s head. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angel in greater detail. All of the faces of the angels come from parishioners of St. Anthony at the turn of the last century. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with the stained glass window of Christ the King and the clerestory in the background. The seraphim have trumpets and adorn the four principle arches of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Seraph with trumpet overlooking the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory as we head toward the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the chancel organ pipes making music to the praise of God. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory heading toward the choir loft. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory captured from the choir loft with the vision of St. Anthony in the background. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels lifting up the monstrance from which Jesus, the Eucharistic King of Kings, is shown to the people he saved. Found in the arch above the Vision of Saint Anthony above the high altar. Notice some of the 5500 lights in the Church above the angels. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
The Vision of Saint Anthony, above the main altar and the tabernacle.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Vision of Saint Anthony, when the child Jesus appeared to St. Anthony at Camposanpiero, near Padua. St. Anthony, before going to bed for the night, was reading his Bible. Suddenly, the Infant Jesus appeared resting on the Bible and proceed to come into the arms of St. Anthony and stroked St. Anthony’s face. The Word of God was appearing to the man who had so well preached His Word. For this reason, most images of St. Anthony depict him holding a Bible with the Infant Jesus. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicted the mutual love and desire of St. Anthony and the Infant Jesus, destined to end in a loving embrace. Even as a child, the Lord Jesus is under the shadow of the Cross, a fact not missed by St. Anthony’s vision. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Wide angel shot including, from left to right, the fresco of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Vision of Saint Anthony sculpture above the main altar, the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary stained glass window, and, above, the Holy Spirit descending upon the sanctuary surrounded by the four evangelists whom he inspired. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. One can see the Vision of St. Anthony on the left in the sanctuary and the huge stained glass window of the Coronation on the right. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A picture of our 1912 Casavant Frères Organ, which has just recently been restored. The organ has four keyboards of 61 notes each, 56 stops and 30 couplers. The choir loft has room for 40 members of the choir. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The size of the beautiful choir loft is apparent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel holding a candelbra before the high altar. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with a trumpet heralding the presence of the Son of God on the altar. The models for the face came from parishioners when the Church was being built. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel underneath the clerestory. Angel refers to the office of divine messenger, and we see the angel bearing a message from God. Notice the emblem of St. Anthony’s above the angel’s head. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angel in greater detail. All of the faces of the angels come from parishioners of St. Anthony at the turn of the last century. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with the stained glass window of Christ the King and the clerestory in the background. The seraphim have trumpets and adorn the four principle arches of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Seraph with trumpet overlooking the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory as we head toward the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the chancel organ pipes making music to the praise of God. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory heading toward the choir loft. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory captured from the choir loft with the vision of St. Anthony in the background. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels lifting up the monstrance from which Jesus, the Eucharistic King of Kings, is shown to the people he saved. Found in the arch above the Vision of Saint Anthony above the high altar. Notice some of the 5500 lights in the Church above the angels. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
The Vision of Saint Anthony, when the child Jesus appeared to St. Anthony at Camposanpiero, near Padua. St. Anthony, before going to bed for the night, was reading his Bible. Suddenly, the Infant Jesus appeared resting on the Bible and proceed to come into the arms of St. Anthony and stroked St. Anthony’s face. The Word of God was appearing to the man who had so well preached His Word. For this reason, most images of St. Anthony depict him holding a Bible with the Infant Jesus.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicted the mutual love and desire of St. Anthony and the Infant Jesus, destined to end in a loving embrace. Even as a child, the Lord Jesus is under the shadow of the Cross, a fact not missed by St. Anthony’s vision. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Wide angel shot including, from left to right, the fresco of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Vision of Saint Anthony sculpture above the main altar, the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary stained glass window, and, above, the Holy Spirit descending upon the sanctuary surrounded by the four evangelists whom he inspired. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. One can see the Vision of St. Anthony on the left in the sanctuary and the huge stained glass window of the Coronation on the right. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A picture of our 1912 Casavant Frères Organ, which has just recently been restored. The organ has four keyboards of 61 notes each, 56 stops and 30 couplers. The choir loft has room for 40 members of the choir. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The size of the beautiful choir loft is apparent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel holding a candelbra before the high altar. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with a trumpet heralding the presence of the Son of God on the altar. The models for the face came from parishioners when the Church was being built. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel underneath the clerestory. Angel refers to the office of divine messenger, and we see the angel bearing a message from God. Notice the emblem of St. Anthony’s above the angel’s head. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angel in greater detail. All of the faces of the angels come from parishioners of St. Anthony at the turn of the last century. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with the stained glass window of Christ the King and the clerestory in the background. The seraphim have trumpets and adorn the four principle arches of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Seraph with trumpet overlooking the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory as we head toward the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the chancel organ pipes making music to the praise of God. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory heading toward the choir loft. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory captured from the choir loft with the vision of St. Anthony in the background. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels lifting up the monstrance from which Jesus, the Eucharistic King of Kings, is shown to the people he saved. Found in the arch above the Vision of Saint Anthony above the high altar. Notice some of the 5500 lights in the Church above the angels. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicted the mutual love and desire of St. Anthony and the Infant Jesus, destined to end in a loving embrace. Even as a child, the Lord Jesus is under the shadow of the Cross, a fact not missed by St. Anthony’s vision. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Wide angel shot including, from left to right, the fresco of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Vision of Saint Anthony sculpture above the main altar, the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary stained glass window, and, above, the Holy Spirit descending upon the sanctuary surrounded by the four evangelists whom he inspired. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. One can see the Vision of St. Anthony on the left in the sanctuary and the huge stained glass window of the Coronation on the right. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A picture of our 1912 Casavant Frères Organ, which has just recently been restored. The organ has four keyboards of 61 notes each, 56 stops and 30 couplers. The choir loft has room for 40 members of the choir. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The size of the beautiful choir loft is apparent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel holding a candelbra before the high altar. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with a trumpet heralding the presence of the Son of God on the altar. The models for the face came from parishioners when the Church was being built. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel underneath the clerestory. Angel refers to the office of divine messenger, and we see the angel bearing a message from God. Notice the emblem of St. Anthony’s above the angel’s head. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angel in greater detail. All of the faces of the angels come from parishioners of St. Anthony at the turn of the last century. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with the stained glass window of Christ the King and the clerestory in the background. The seraphim have trumpets and adorn the four principle arches of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Seraph with trumpet overlooking the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory as we head toward the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the chancel organ pipes making music to the praise of God. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory heading toward the choir loft. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory captured from the choir loft with the vision of St. Anthony in the background. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels lifting up the monstrance from which Jesus, the Eucharistic King of Kings, is shown to the people he saved. Found in the arch above the Vision of Saint Anthony above the high altar. Notice some of the 5500 lights in the Church above the angels. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicting angels praising God with timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicted the mutual love and desire of St. Anthony and the Infant Jesus, destined to end in a loving embrace. Even as a child, the Lord Jesus is under the shadow of the Cross, a fact not missed by St. Anthony’s vision. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Wide angel shot including, from left to right, the fresco of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Vision of Saint Anthony sculpture above the main altar, the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary stained glass window, and, above, the Holy Spirit descending upon the sanctuary surrounded by the four evangelists whom he inspired. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. One can see the Vision of St. Anthony on the left in the sanctuary and the huge stained glass window of the Coronation on the right. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A picture of our 1912 Casavant Frères Organ, which has just recently been restored. The organ has four keyboards of 61 notes each, 56 stops and 30 couplers. The choir loft has room for 40 members of the choir. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The size of the beautiful choir loft is apparent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel holding a candelbra before the high altar. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with a trumpet heralding the presence of the Son of God on the altar. The models for the face came from parishioners when the Church was being built. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel underneath the clerestory. Angel refers to the office of divine messenger, and we see the angel bearing a message from God. Notice the emblem of St. Anthony’s above the angel’s head. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angel in greater detail. All of the faces of the angels come from parishioners of St. Anthony at the turn of the last century. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with the stained glass window of Christ the King and the clerestory in the background. The seraphim have trumpets and adorn the four principle arches of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Seraph with trumpet overlooking the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory as we head toward the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the chancel organ pipes making music to the praise of God. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory heading toward the choir loft. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory captured from the choir loft with the vision of St. Anthony in the background. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels lifting up the monstrance from which Jesus, the Eucharistic King of Kings, is shown to the people he saved. Found in the arch above the Vision of Saint Anthony above the high altar. Notice some of the 5500 lights in the Church above the angels. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicted the mutual love and desire of St. Anthony and the Infant Jesus, destined to end in a loving embrace. Even as a child, the Lord Jesus is under the shadow of the Cross, a fact not missed by St. Anthony’s vision. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Wide angel shot including, from left to right, the fresco of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Vision of Saint Anthony sculpture above the main altar, the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary stained glass window, and, above, the Holy Spirit descending upon the sanctuary surrounded by the four evangelists whom he inspired. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. One can see the Vision of St. Anthony on the left in the sanctuary and the huge stained glass window of the Coronation on the right. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A picture of our 1912 Casavant Frères Organ, which has just recently been restored. The organ has four keyboards of 61 notes each, 56 stops and 30 couplers. The choir loft has room for 40 members of the choir. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The size of the beautiful choir loft is apparent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel holding a candelbra before the high altar. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with a trumpet heralding the presence of the Son of God on the altar. The models for the face came from parishioners when the Church was being built. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel underneath the clerestory. Angel refers to the office of divine messenger, and we see the angel bearing a message from God. Notice the emblem of St. Anthony’s above the angel’s head. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angel in greater detail. All of the faces of the angels come from parishioners of St. Anthony at the turn of the last century. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with the stained glass window of Christ the King and the clerestory in the background. The seraphim have trumpets and adorn the four principle arches of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Seraph with trumpet overlooking the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory as we head toward the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the chancel organ pipes making music to the praise of God. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory heading toward the choir loft. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory captured from the choir loft with the vision of St. Anthony in the background. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels lifting up the monstrance from which Jesus, the Eucharistic King of Kings, is shown to the people he saved. Found in the arch above the Vision of Saint Anthony above the high altar. Notice some of the 5500 lights in the Church above the angels. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Detail of the Vision of St. Anthony depicted the mutual love and desire of St. Anthony and the Infant Jesus, destined to end in a loving embrace. Even as a child, the Lord Jesus is under the shadow of the Cross, a fact not missed by St. Anthony’s vision.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Wide angel shot including, from left to right, the fresco of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Vision of Saint Anthony sculpture above the main altar, the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary stained glass window, and, above, the Holy Spirit descending upon the sanctuary surrounded by the four evangelists whom he inspired. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. One can see the Vision of St. Anthony on the left in the sanctuary and the huge stained glass window of the Coronation on the right. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A picture of our 1912 Casavant Frères Organ, which has just recently been restored. The organ has four keyboards of 61 notes each, 56 stops and 30 couplers. The choir loft has room for 40 members of the choir. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The size of the beautiful choir loft is apparent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel holding a candelbra before the high altar. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with a trumpet heralding the presence of the Son of God on the altar. The models for the face came from parishioners when the Church was being built. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel underneath the clerestory. Angel refers to the office of divine messenger, and we see the angel bearing a message from God. Notice the emblem of St. Anthony’s above the angel’s head. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angel in greater detail. All of the faces of the angels come from parishioners of St. Anthony at the turn of the last century. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with the stained glass window of Christ the King and the clerestory in the background. The seraphim have trumpets and adorn the four principle arches of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Seraph with trumpet overlooking the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory as we head toward the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the chancel organ pipes making music to the praise of God. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory heading toward the choir loft. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory captured from the choir loft with the vision of St. Anthony in the background. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels lifting up the monstrance from which Jesus, the Eucharistic King of Kings, is shown to the people he saved. Found in the arch above the Vision of Saint Anthony above the high altar. Notice some of the 5500 lights in the Church above the angels. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Wide angel shot including, from left to right, the fresco of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Vision of Saint Anthony sculpture above the main altar, the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary stained glass window, and, above, the Holy Spirit descending upon the sanctuary surrounded by the four evangelists whom he inspired.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. One can see the Vision of St. Anthony on the left in the sanctuary and the huge stained glass window of the Coronation on the right. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A picture of our 1912 Casavant Frères Organ, which has just recently been restored. The organ has four keyboards of 61 notes each, 56 stops and 30 couplers. The choir loft has room for 40 members of the choir. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The size of the beautiful choir loft is apparent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel holding a candelbra before the high altar. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with a trumpet heralding the presence of the Son of God on the altar. The models for the face came from parishioners when the Church was being built. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel underneath the clerestory. Angel refers to the office of divine messenger, and we see the angel bearing a message from God. Notice the emblem of St. Anthony’s above the angel’s head. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angel in greater detail. All of the faces of the angels come from parishioners of St. Anthony at the turn of the last century. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with the stained glass window of Christ the King and the clerestory in the background. The seraphim have trumpets and adorn the four principle arches of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Seraph with trumpet overlooking the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory as we head toward the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the chancel organ pipes making music to the praise of God. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory heading toward the choir loft. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory captured from the choir loft with the vision of St. Anthony in the background. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels lifting up the monstrance from which Jesus, the Eucharistic King of Kings, is shown to the people he saved. Found in the arch above the Vision of Saint Anthony above the high altar. Notice some of the 5500 lights in the Church above the angels. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. One can see the Vision of St. Anthony on the left in the sanctuary and the huge stained glass window of the Coronation on the right.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A picture of our 1912 Casavant Frères Organ, which has just recently been restored. The organ has four keyboards of 61 notes each, 56 stops and 30 couplers. The choir loft has room for 40 members of the choir. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The size of the beautiful choir loft is apparent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel holding a candelbra before the high altar. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with a trumpet heralding the presence of the Son of God on the altar. The models for the face came from parishioners when the Church was being built. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel underneath the clerestory. Angel refers to the office of divine messenger, and we see the angel bearing a message from God. Notice the emblem of St. Anthony’s above the angel’s head. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angel in greater detail. All of the faces of the angels come from parishioners of St. Anthony at the turn of the last century. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with the stained glass window of Christ the King and the clerestory in the background. The seraphim have trumpets and adorn the four principle arches of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Seraph with trumpet overlooking the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory as we head toward the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the chancel organ pipes making music to the praise of God. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory heading toward the choir loft. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory captured from the choir loft with the vision of St. Anthony in the background. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels lifting up the monstrance from which Jesus, the Eucharistic King of Kings, is shown to the people he saved. Found in the arch above the Vision of Saint Anthony above the high altar. Notice some of the 5500 lights in the Church above the angels. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
A picture of our 1912 Casavant Frères Organ, which has just recently been restored. The organ has four keyboards of 61 notes each, 56 stops and 30 couplers. The choir loft has room for 40 members of the choir.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The size of the beautiful choir loft is apparent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel holding a candelbra before the high altar. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with a trumpet heralding the presence of the Son of God on the altar. The models for the face came from parishioners when the Church was being built. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel underneath the clerestory. Angel refers to the office of divine messenger, and we see the angel bearing a message from God. Notice the emblem of St. Anthony’s above the angel’s head. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angel in greater detail. All of the faces of the angels come from parishioners of St. Anthony at the turn of the last century. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with the stained glass window of Christ the King and the clerestory in the background. The seraphim have trumpets and adorn the four principle arches of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Seraph with trumpet overlooking the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory as we head toward the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the chancel organ pipes making music to the praise of God. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory heading toward the choir loft. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory captured from the choir loft with the vision of St. Anthony in the background. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels lifting up the monstrance from which Jesus, the Eucharistic King of Kings, is shown to the people he saved. Found in the arch above the Vision of Saint Anthony above the high altar. Notice some of the 5500 lights in the Church above the angels. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
The size of the beautiful choir loft is apparent.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel holding a candelbra before the high altar. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with a trumpet heralding the presence of the Son of God on the altar. The models for the face came from parishioners when the Church was being built. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel underneath the clerestory. Angel refers to the office of divine messenger, and we see the angel bearing a message from God. Notice the emblem of St. Anthony’s above the angel’s head. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angel in greater detail. All of the faces of the angels come from parishioners of St. Anthony at the turn of the last century. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with the stained glass window of Christ the King and the clerestory in the background. The seraphim have trumpets and adorn the four principle arches of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Seraph with trumpet overlooking the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory as we head toward the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the chancel organ pipes making music to the praise of God. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory heading toward the choir loft. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory captured from the choir loft with the vision of St. Anthony in the background. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels lifting up the monstrance from which Jesus, the Eucharistic King of Kings, is shown to the people he saved. Found in the arch above the Vision of Saint Anthony above the high altar. Notice some of the 5500 lights in the Church above the angels. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
An angel holding a candelbra before the high altar.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with a trumpet heralding the presence of the Son of God on the altar. The models for the face came from parishioners when the Church was being built. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel underneath the clerestory. Angel refers to the office of divine messenger, and we see the angel bearing a message from God. Notice the emblem of St. Anthony’s above the angel’s head. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angel in greater detail. All of the faces of the angels come from parishioners of St. Anthony at the turn of the last century. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with the stained glass window of Christ the King and the clerestory in the background. The seraphim have trumpets and adorn the four principle arches of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Seraph with trumpet overlooking the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory as we head toward the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the chancel organ pipes making music to the praise of God. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory heading toward the choir loft. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory captured from the choir loft with the vision of St. Anthony in the background. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels lifting up the monstrance from which Jesus, the Eucharistic King of Kings, is shown to the people he saved. Found in the arch above the Vision of Saint Anthony above the high altar. Notice some of the 5500 lights in the Church above the angels. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
A seraph with a trumpet heralding the presence of the Son of God on the altar. The models for the face came from parishioners when the Church was being built.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. An angel underneath the clerestory. Angel refers to the office of divine messenger, and we see the angel bearing a message from God. Notice the emblem of St. Anthony’s above the angel’s head. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angel in greater detail. All of the faces of the angels come from parishioners of St. Anthony at the turn of the last century. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with the stained glass window of Christ the King and the clerestory in the background. The seraphim have trumpets and adorn the four principle arches of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Seraph with trumpet overlooking the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory as we head toward the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the chancel organ pipes making music to the praise of God. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory heading toward the choir loft. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory captured from the choir loft with the vision of St. Anthony in the background. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels lifting up the monstrance from which Jesus, the Eucharistic King of Kings, is shown to the people he saved. Found in the arch above the Vision of Saint Anthony above the high altar. Notice some of the 5500 lights in the Church above the angels. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
An angel underneath the clerestory. Angel refers to the office of divine messenger, and we see the angel bearing a message from God. Notice the emblem of St. Anthony’s above the angel’s head.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angel in greater detail. All of the faces of the angels come from parishioners of St. Anthony at the turn of the last century. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with the stained glass window of Christ the King and the clerestory in the background. The seraphim have trumpets and adorn the four principle arches of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Seraph with trumpet overlooking the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory as we head toward the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the chancel organ pipes making music to the praise of God. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory heading toward the choir loft. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory captured from the choir loft with the vision of St. Anthony in the background. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels lifting up the monstrance from which Jesus, the Eucharistic King of Kings, is shown to the people he saved. Found in the arch above the Vision of Saint Anthony above the high altar. Notice some of the 5500 lights in the Church above the angels. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Angel in greater detail. All of the faces of the angels come from parishioners of St. Anthony at the turn of the last century.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A seraph with the stained glass window of Christ the King and the clerestory in the background. The seraphim have trumpets and adorn the four principle arches of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Seraph with trumpet overlooking the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory as we head toward the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the chancel organ pipes making music to the praise of God. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory heading toward the choir loft. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory captured from the choir loft with the vision of St. Anthony in the background. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels lifting up the monstrance from which Jesus, the Eucharistic King of Kings, is shown to the people he saved. Found in the arch above the Vision of Saint Anthony above the high altar. Notice some of the 5500 lights in the Church above the angels. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
A seraph with the stained glass window of Christ the King and the clerestory in the background. The seraphim have trumpets and adorn the four principle arches of the Church.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Seraph with trumpet overlooking the nave. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory as we head toward the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the chancel organ pipes making music to the praise of God. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory heading toward the choir loft. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory captured from the choir loft with the vision of St. Anthony in the background. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels lifting up the monstrance from which Jesus, the Eucharistic King of Kings, is shown to the people he saved. Found in the arch above the Vision of Saint Anthony above the high altar. Notice some of the 5500 lights in the Church above the angels. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Seraph with trumpet overlooking the nave.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory as we head toward the sanctuary. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the chancel organ pipes making music to the praise of God. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory heading toward the choir loft. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory captured from the choir loft with the vision of St. Anthony in the background. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels lifting up the monstrance from which Jesus, the Eucharistic King of Kings, is shown to the people he saved. Found in the arch above the Vision of Saint Anthony above the high altar. Notice some of the 5500 lights in the Church above the angels. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Angels under the clerestory as we head toward the sanctuary.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the chancel organ pipes making music to the praise of God. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory heading toward the choir loft. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory captured from the choir loft with the vision of St. Anthony in the background. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels lifting up the monstrance from which Jesus, the Eucharistic King of Kings, is shown to the people he saved. Found in the arch above the Vision of Saint Anthony above the high altar. Notice some of the 5500 lights in the Church above the angels. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Angels under the chancel organ pipes making music to the praise of God.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory heading toward the choir loft. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory captured from the choir loft with the vision of St. Anthony in the background. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels lifting up the monstrance from which Jesus, the Eucharistic King of Kings, is shown to the people he saved. Found in the arch above the Vision of Saint Anthony above the high altar. Notice some of the 5500 lights in the Church above the angels. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Angels under the clerestory heading toward the choir loft.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels under the clerestory captured from the choir loft with the vision of St. Anthony in the background. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels lifting up the monstrance from which Jesus, the Eucharistic King of Kings, is shown to the people he saved. Found in the arch above the Vision of Saint Anthony above the high altar. Notice some of the 5500 lights in the Church above the angels. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Angels under the clerestory captured from the choir loft with the vision of St. Anthony in the background.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Angels lifting up the monstrance from which Jesus, the Eucharistic King of Kings, is shown to the people he saved. Found in the arch above the Vision of Saint Anthony above the high altar. Notice some of the 5500 lights in the Church above the angels. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Angels lifting up the monstrance from which Jesus, the Eucharistic King of Kings, is shown to the people he saved. Found in the arch above the Vision of Saint Anthony above the high altar. Notice some of the 5500 lights in the Church above the angels.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Image of the Holy Spirit surrounded by the four evangelists. Seen from the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit is actively swooping down toward the altar. The Holy Spirit took upon the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity has been depicted in this way ever since. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
St. John the Evangelist, seated on his traditional symbol of an eagle, indicating the souring theological nature of his Gospel. The four images of the evangelists surround the Holy Spirit, who inspired them in their writing. In fact, the first Greek word in the text of the pages opened from his Gospel is pneuma, meaning “Spirit.” He has two fingers pointing toward heaven and three clenched in his fist, giving witness to the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. (The symbols of the four evangelists — eagle, ox, lion and angel looking like a man dates to St. Ireneus of Lyons’ 2nd century interpretation of the passages of Ezekiel 1:10 and Rev 4:7).
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
St. Luke the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the ox, pointing to the fact that St. Luke gave us the beautiful infancy narratives in which the ox was found in the stable keeping the little Lord Jesus warm. He is calling our attention to the words of Sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for our salvation.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
St. Mark the Evangelist seated on his traditional symbol, the lion, a symbol of royalty and hence the way he presented Jesus as the king of the kingdom of heaven and Son of God. He is looking straight at us, as if to remind us that he is writing his Gospel for us.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
St. Matthew the Evangelist with his traditional symbol of an angel looking like a man. St. Matthew features the appearances of angel in dreams to St. Joseph.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
The altar of St. Anne, the grandmother of God, to the right of the main sanctuary. This altar is used for baptisms and as the altar of repose on Holy Thursday night. The statue of St. Anne was being repaired when this photograph was taken.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Altar of St. Joseph in the chancel. He is depicted with the staff by which he led the Holy Family into Egypt and back, and each year three times up to the Temple in Jerusalem. Above him is a round fresco of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which is a symbol of the Church universal of which St. Joseph is the patron and protector.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle, the patron saint of hopeless causes.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, a witness to the devotion of the Portuguese, so many of whom now with the French, call St. Anthony’s home. This statue is taken out by the Portuguese in procession on the feast day of St. Anthony and around the 13th of October, the date of the last of the 1917 apparitions in the Cova d’Iria in Fatima, Portugal.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
A six-winged seraph singing Alleluia, the Jewish word for “Praise the Lord.” This image is found in the stained glass windows of the choir loft. The 117 stained glass windows in St. Anthony's required 9000 pieces of glass and 2670 hours in Guido Nincheri's Montreal studio.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
A Cherub with the Eucharist. Don’t notice the incorrect spelling of the Latin for “Holy,” which should be sanctus! In a Church this beautiful and ornate, there was bound to be a mistake like this!
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Stained glass window of St. Joseph from the Altar of St. Joseph within the chancel. We see Jesus and Mary in Joseph’s workshop. Jesus is already carrying wood on his shoulder. God the Father is looking down from heaven and blessing the salvific nature of Jesus’ hidden life doing ordinary human work.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Stained glass window of the Finding in the Temple. Jesus is sitting in the midst of the teachers of the law, not merely listening to them and asking them questions, as St. Luke’s Gospel describes, but pointing out to them points they missed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days. They did not know that he would be in his Father’s house, underneath the Father’s watchful gaze (above).
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Stained Glass Window of the Agony of the Garden. Peter, James and John are asleep, just as they were in the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus is praying to his Father. The angel is ministering to him. The image of the chalice which Jesus prayed to be taken from him if it be his Father’s will is evident, as is the host of the Eucharist, Jesus’ body, surrounded by the crown of thorns that the angel above holds ready for him.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Stained glass window of the scourging at the pillar. The ferocity of the guards and the vulnerability of Jesus are on full display. An angel above stands ready to wipe Christ’s precious blood.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Stained glass window of the Crowning with Thorns. We see Pilate’s turning to the mob. We hear the shouts, "Crucifige eum" (“Crucify him”) and "Ecce homo" (“Behold the man!”. God the Father looks with loving concern from above. If one looks closely through the lattice work, one can see the distinct faces of many in the crowd, a real manifestation of the talent of Guido Nincheri’s stained glass talent.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Stained glass window of the carrying of the Cross. Notice, above, the Father’s loving glance and participation in his son’s passion. The women of Jerusalem look on weeping.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Stained glass window of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Mary (left), Mary Magdalene (foot of the Cross) and St. John stand around the Cross with Jesus, images of purity, penitence and priesthood, respectively. God the Father reaches down from heaven with both hands ready to receive His beloved Son through the swiftly descending power of the Holy Spirit.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Stained glass window of the Resurrection of Christ. The seraphim is blowing the great news from above. The guards are frightened. The sun is about to rise above Jesus, with the white banner of triumph.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Stained glass image of the Ascension of the Lord. Notice the Lord’s pointing toward heaven, as well as the Father’s waiting for him from above. There are mixed reactions from the disciple, from longing to be with him, to joy, to sadness in thinking that he was gone. Before he ascended, however, he promised to be with us until the end of time.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Stained Glass window of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit descending from above as Tongues of Fire on the eleven apostles and Mary — tongues to be used for speaking, and fire, the symbol of ardent love.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
The Assumption of our Lady, body and soul into heaven, where her Son, Jesus, above, awaits. The flowers around her tomb, which have not withered or faded, symbolize her perpetual purity and the continuance of her blossoming before God in heaven.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
The north transept stained glass window of the Coronation of the Virgin, which completes the cycle of stained glasses windows of the then fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We observe the Blessed Virgin in the center being crowned queen of heaven and earth by her Son, Christ the King. She remains overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and under the loving glance of God the Father. Beneath her we see the roses given in prayers to her which comprise the rosary and the saying, Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia! “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia!” On the left hand panel, we see St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and great promoter of the Rosary; St. Pius V, who declared the feast of our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) on October 7, 1571, after having triumphed over the Muslims in the naval Battle of Lepanto one year earlier; and St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian girl and patroness of young people who was killed at 12 by an attempted rapist who was trying to steal her purity. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI only two years before the installation of this stained glass window. On the right panel we see St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thérèse Lisieux and St. Pius X.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
The south transept stained glass window of Christ the King. Christ is in the center of the image, reigning over heaven and earth. Above him are the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the eternal Father with outstretched arms. Beneath Jesus is the monstrance with the Eucharist, to indicate the identity between Christ the King and Christ in the Monstrance. There are many figures in the image. Surrounding the three persons of the Blessed Trinity are many cherubim, seraphim and angels. To the right of the altar is Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), who established the feast day of Christ the King during the Jubilee year of 1925. On the opposite side of the altar is then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), who declared St. Anthony a doctor of the Church in 1946. On the left panel are featured missionaries who have tried to spread the kingdom of Christ the King. We notice St. John de Brebeuf, SJ, who died as a martyr among the Iroquois, as well as Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Iroquois girl who converted to the faith and tried to spread it among her tribesman. On the right panel, we see St. Francis Xavier, SJ, the patron of the missions, as well as St. Peter Chanel, who founded the Marish order of missionaries.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Stained glass windows of the two greatest apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter is shown with his characteristic keys, for the Lord Jesus had promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bound and loose on heaven and earth. St. Paul is shown with his sword, which puts to the word of God as the sword of the spirit (spiritus gladius, in the book above) as well as to the fact that he died by having his head cut off by a sword in witness to Christ.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Stained glass window of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is holding the book which he wrote. St. Simon is holding the saw by which he was martyred. Their feast day is celebrated together on October 28, when their bodies were interred together at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Stained glass window of St. Bartholomew, left, and St. Thomas. Bartholomew was the last name of Nathaniel, the scholar of the law who recognized Jesus’ reference to his being under the fig tree as a revelation that he is the Messiah. Hence his contemplatively praying Sacred Scripture. The knife on top of Sacred Scripture was what was used to flay him to death. St. Thomas is shown with his finger extended, which Jesus invited him to use to probe Jesus’ nail marks after his resurrection.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Stained glass Image of the apostles St. James the Greater (brother of St. John) and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter). St. James is depicted with a pilgrim’s staff, because his tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was one of the three greatest pilgrimage spots of the middle ages (along with Rome and Jerusalem). St. Andrew is depicted with his decussate (x-shaped) Cross, on which he was crucified. Notice the fish above him, which he caught both as a fisherman on the sea of Galilee as well as, as a fisher of men, on the seas of the world.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Stained glass images of the prophets Elijah, left, and Elisha, his successor. Above Elijah is an image of a chariot of fire, by which he was brought up to heaven.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Stained glass images of Ezekiel, left, and Daniel. Above Daniel you can see an image of a lion, since he escaped from a lion’s den. Above Ezekiel is an image of the all seeing eye of God, whose vision Ezekiel, like all the prophets, was trying to convey to God’s people.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Stained glass window of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. On top of Isaiah is the scroll, which he used for writing down what the Lord had said to him. Jeremiah is scratching his head, wondering again whether the Lord had duped him into the task of preaching his saving word to those who refused to hear it.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Stained glass window of Solomon, who asked the Lord for wisdom and received that gift. We see on the right the scales, the ancient symbol of prudence. We also see a sword, from the famous time he threatened to cut a young child in half to settle a maternity dispute. In his left hand is a regal scepter; in his right a book, one of the several wisdom books he is reputed to have written.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Stained glass window of Moses, left, and Samuel. Moses is shown with the ten commandements, which he received from God on two stone tablets. Above him is the ark of the covenant, in which he put the tablets, as he carried the ark with him out of Egypt into the desert. The prophet Samuel is shown with a scroll on which he wrote his two books.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Stained Glass window of St. Gregory the Great (Pope from 590-604) in the Choir Loft. He is the founder of Gregorian chant and did much to promote sacred music. Considered by many to be the greatest pope who ever lived, because he was so huge within the Church and so huge without the Church, saving western civilization by sending Benedictine monks to various feudal kings to convert them. Monks who remained home in monasteries often copied the manuscripts that ensured that the great treasures of antiquity would not be lost.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Fresco of Christ the Redeemer rising from the dead and vanquishing the devil at its feet. See God the Father and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the head of Christ, symbolizing their participation in his resurrection. Christ is holding his sign of victory, the Cross, pointing toward the altar where his risen body and blood are given to the people he has redeemed, and is looking toward the stained glass window of his mother’s coronation, who is the first (and until now, the only) person whose body as well as soul is with Christ in heaven, sharing fully in his triumph over death. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Fresco image of Our Lady of Grace, the Star of the Sea. She is helping not only sailors reach their destination at the eternal port, but is helping mothers raise children to be like she raised her children here on earth. This fresco was done by Guido Nicheri, who was responsible for the renovation of the Church from 1952-1956, and also made the stained glass windows and designed the pulpit.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Round fresco of an Old Testament Altar of Holocaust, which was a prefigurement of the acceptable sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the Cross, shared in upon the altar of the Church.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Round Fresco of Old Testament foreshadowings of Christ in the Eucharist. The menorah in front, taken from the sacrifice of the Jews at the time of Judas Maccabeus, a foreshadowing of Christ’s defense to the death of us; the Ark of the Covenant, which foretold the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, who held within the treasure of God’s presence; and the showbread, which was a foretaste of the sacrifice we would be able to consume.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Round Fresco showing the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the cherubim, under the watchful all-seeing eye of God. The ark was the image of God’s presence among men during Old Testament times. Christ was the fulfillment of this presence when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Round fresco of the “Cathedra,” or the “chair” representing the teaching authority of the Church. In the ancient world, teachers and magistrates sat down, much like judges use “benches” today. We see the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing that teaching authority, guiding the Church into all truth and preventing her from erring, once, on something we need to believe (faith) or do (morals) to please God and enter full into his life. The four books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are within the Chair, symbolizing that the came from within the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The fountain before the chair symbolizes that this is a font of life-giving water in the Church, welling up inside to life eternal. This chair represents not only the teaching authority of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, but also of St. Anthony, the great Scripture scholar who was declared by Pope Pius XII to be a doctor of the Church in 1946.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Round fresco of the Eucharist, symbolized by the host and the chalice, within the context of the raw material, grain and grapes, which the “work of human hands” helps to transform into the substance Jesus changes completely into his body, blood, soul and divinity in the consecration of the Mass. Jesus began not with grain and grapes, which God gave to the earth, but with bread and wine because he wanted to involve the cooperation of his creatures in this greatest of works, much like he did in the wedding feast of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fish.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others! Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
The great present enigma of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. There seems to be no reference in the bible nor in the life of St. Anthony that suggests a flock of geese flying in formation. If someone knows the reference, please contact us so that we can share it with others!
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Round fresco of the Holy Cross of Christ, which played such a huge role in the life of St. Anthony and in the life of Christians in general throughout the centuries. Notice the Easter lilies and the other plant life that comes from “seeds that fall to the ground and die,” like Christ did on Good Friday, only to rise again toward an eternal springtime. The sun behind the Cross shows the brilliance of Christ, the light of the world, even through the darkness of suffering and death.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Round fresco of Melchisedek, the King of Salem, whose offering of bread and wine to God was a foreshadowing of what Christ, the King of Kings, would do in Jeru-Salem about 1800 years later. Christ was a priest “according to the order of Melchisedek,” not according to the Old Testament levitical order. Melchisedek, therefore, is an image of Christ the High Priest and of all those priests of the New Covenant ordained, like Christ, in the order of Melchisedek. The image is found over the pews in the chancel.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”). Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Round fresco of a Pelican opening up her breast to feed her starving young. This is an image of Christ, who allowed his own side to be pierced, to feed his starving young with his flesh and blood. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the beautiful Eucharistic hymn, Adoro Te Devote, “Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine / Me immundum munda tuo sanguine / Cuius una stilla salvum facere / Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere” (“Jesus, Lord, O loving pelican, clean me thoroughly by your blood, one drop of which is enough to save the whole world from every sin”).
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe. Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Round fresco of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, where St. Anthony died and was buried. The image symbolizes that we are spiritually united with all those who have devotion to St. Anthony across the globe.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Virtual Tour. Photos copyright © 2005 St. Anthony of Padua Church & George Martell (georgemartell.com). All rights reserved. Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
Round fresco of St. Anthony’s bread, which is given out in the name of the saint to the poor, often on Tuesdays, a day of particular devotion to St. Anthony. To gain his intercession, many with spiritual needs would pray to the saint by giving such alms.. At St. Anthony’s, New Bedford, we give out bread and food from our food pantry every Thursday.
