Saint Romuald Window

 Our memorial window depicts scenes from the life of our patron saint. Romuald was born in the year 950 A.D. of a noble family from Ravenna in Italy. As a youth, Romuald witnessed his father killing a relative in a duel. Horror struck, he entered a monastery to do penance for this vile deed as well as to escapte a sinful world. The bottom panel depicts this event.

Many young men were attracted to the monastic life under the direction of Romuald. The upper right scene recalls the time when the son of a wealthy Duke entered the monastery. Romuald was presented with a fine horse by the Duke. Romuald exchanged the horse for a donkey, however, declaring that he felt closer to Jesus astride such a mount.

Lord Maldolo once had a vision of Romuald and his fellow monks all dressed in white climbing a ladder to heaven. The top panel portrays Romuald in the beatific vision of God. Romnald died in 1027 A.D.

As a young monk, Romuald received spiritual direction and tutleage from the saintly hermit Marinus in the vicinity of Venice. Under the care of Marinus, Romnald advanced in the way of perfection. The lower right scene portrays Romnald and Marinus.
Spiritual dryness affected Romuald's life after many years of founding hermitages and monasteries. One day as he was meditating on Psalm 32 verse 8, "I will give thee understanding and will instruct thee," he was filled with an extra-ordinary light and spirit of compunction. These spiritual gifts from God never left him. The middle left scene portrays this miraculous event.

Camaldoli, shown in the upper left panel, is the most famous of Romuald's monasteries and was founded in 1012 A.D. Here was where the new congregation of the Camaldolese Benedictines was founded, combining the lifestyle of both monk and hermit. the site was donated by the Lord Maldolo.

The lamb in the lower panel is a representation of the figure that once was on the old "High Altar" in our Church. Our window is a gift of Cecilia O'Donoghue Gillespie, in memory of all the deceased members of the O'Donoghue family. Our window was blessed and dedicated by the Most. Rev. John J. McRaith, Bishop of Owensoboro, on April 21, 1990.

The Saint Romuald Window was designed by Marvin Jarboe of Strickler's Stained Glass Studio in Auburn, Kentucky.

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