Lent in Stained Glass: A Journey Through the Passion and Resurrection of Christ
Lent is not merely a season—it is a soul's pilgrimage.
It leads us into the wilderness, through the agony of the cross, and into the glorious light of resurrection. For centuries, churches have captured this sacred journey in stained glass—fragments of color and light, meticulously arranged to reflect the divine mystery of suffering and hope.
In each pane, we see the heart of the Christian story: sorrow etched in crimson, mercy illuminated in gold, and resurrection rising in white brilliance. Through these windows, the Passion of Christ lives on—not as a distant history, but as an invitation to transformation.
Let us walk through Lent, moment by moment, guided by the sacred language of stained glass.
Ash Wednesday: Marked by Mercy
The journey begins in silence and ash.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent—a day of humility and solemnity. Its roots are found in ancient Biblical traditions of repentance, where dust and ashes were used to symbolize mourning and the need for forgiveness. As ashes are placed upon the foreheads of the faithful, the words echo through centuries: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19). It is not meant to shame, but to awaken. Lent begins by reminding us of our mortality, our sin, and our deep need for redemption.
Stained glass windows reflecting Ash Wednesday are often stark and subdued. You might see a lone cross, barren trees, or Jesus in the wilderness. The colors—ashes of gray, penitential purples—invite us into a season of soul-searching and surrender.
Palm Sunday: The Crown Before the Cross
Palm Sunday arrives with a strange blend of joy and foreshadowed pain. Crowds gather to welcome Jesus into Jerusalem, waving palm branches and crying, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”
In stained glass, the scene shimmers with movement—green fronds lifted high, children reaching up, robes thrown across the road like a royal carpet. But the majesty is humble. Christ does not ride a chariot but a donkey, his eyes fixed not on the crowd, but on the cross ahead.
There’s a tension captured in the art: celebration with an undercurrent of sorrow. It is the calm before the storm. The moment when the world's cheers are about to turn into cries for crucifixion.
Image: Jesus Enters Jerusalem - Panel #1873
Holy Week: The Passion Unfolds
Holy Week unfolds as the most sacred—and sorrowful—chapter in Christ’s earthly life.
Maundy Thursday: The Commandment of Love
The Last Supper is not merely a meal, but a revelation of love. On this night, Jesus shares His final meal with His disciples. He institutes the Eucharist, offering His body and blood in bread and wine (Luke 22:19–20). He kneels to wash their feet—an act of radical humility. And He reveals that betrayal is already in motion.
Stained glass windows of this scene are luminous with deep blues and warm candlelight, halos circling heads like silent flames. The chalice, the loaf, the basin of water—each element pulsing with meaning.
Good Friday: Love Crucified
Good Friday is the heart of the Passion. Jesus is tried, mocked, scourged, crowned with thorns, and crucified on Golgotha. His suffering is not just physical—it is the weight of sin borne in silence. “He was pierced for our transgressions… by His wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).
Stained glass windows of the crucifixion are raw and reverent. Christ’s arms stretch in surrender, His head bowed in agony. Blood drips like red glass. The sun darkens. The temple veil tears in two (Matthew 27:51), signifying that the barrier between God and humanity has been removed.
It is a brutal beauty—a love that bleeds, yet saves.
Holy Saturday: The Day of Waiting
Holy Saturday is the quiet grief between death and resurrection. It reflects the time when Christ’s body lay in the tomb and His followers mourned in silence and fear. According to tradition and Scripture (1 Peter 3:19), this day also represents Christ descending to the dead, proclaiming victory even in death’s domain.
In sacred art, this moment is often overlooked, yet stained glass may capture it through somber tones, sealed tombs, or the Holy Women in mourning. It is the spiritual pause—the emptiness before fulfillment, the silence that prepares the way for Easter joy.
Image: The Preparation of Jesus for Burial - Panel #16618
Easter Sunday: The Triumph of Light
Easter Sunday shatters the silence. The stone is rolled away. The grave is empty. Christ is risen. Death is defeated not with thunder, but with glory. In stained glass, Easter is a symphony of light. Gold bursts behind the risen Christ, who stands radiant, robes flowing like white fire. Angels hover with trumpets, lilies bloom in joyful clusters, and the scars on His hands and feet remain—proof of love, not loss.
These windows blaze with hope. They speak of victory not born in power, but in sacrifice. They are a testament to the beauty that follows brokenness.
Image: Commission Gothic - Panel #1354
The Story in Every Shard
The art of stained glass is itself a symbol of the Lenten story. Broken pieces, united by lead and fire, becoming something beautiful. Light pouring through wounds. Wholeness rising from shattered fragments. Each panel tells the story not just of Christ, but of us. Our own sorrows. Our own need for grace. Our longing for resurrection.
As you reflect on the sacred days of Lent, may these images stir something deeper in your heart. May they draw you into the mystery. And may they remind you that even through the darkest days, light is always waiting to break through.
Let this Lent be more than a season—let it be a sacred encounter. A journey in color and in spirit, from ash to glory, from grief to resurrection.
