Sacred Illumination, Missoula, Montana

Okay, I was momentarily tempted to title this post “Stairway to Heaven” - but thankfully, my filter kicked in and insisted, "Ahem!...that might be a bit much.".

Stained glass windows are a multifaceted marvel - the history of telling story in picture, the intricate piecework, the survival through generations, the mesmerizing factor that saves struggling children from perceived monotony. Forget zen - contemplation of these beauties always induces calm for me. 

A big thanks to St. Francis Xavier for maintaining these circa-1903 works of art.