4 Saint Teresas

A detail of the stained-glass window.

I came across a beautiful stained glass window which I found very interesting as four different Saint Teresas are combined together as a heavenly allegory. We were so used to two Teresas for a few decades, but all of a sudden we end up with 4 well-known saints of the same name. One can see in this stained glass depiction the older Saint Teresa of Avila, canonized in 1622, on the right, welcoming the newest canonized saint Teresa of Calcutta, canonized last year, who is kneeling in her traditional sari. Then on the left is Saint Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower, canonized in 1925. Standing in the center is Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, also known as St Edith Stein, the Jewish convert who died in the concentration camps during World War II, and was canonized in 1998. 

The complete window.

All four Teresas are also popular in our Catholic church and it’s good to see an artist combining their holiness in one window. I could not find its actual location, but at least we have a good image of this holy quartet. (please click to enlarge)

The inscription with the names of each Teresa.