St. Paul

St. Paul is portrayed here on the road to Damascus where he had his conversion experience. His sword is behind him now and he holds a book and writing pen for he teaches us through his letters and epistles. The palm branch below is a symbol of his martyrdom. I never found an example of St. Paul in Spanish Colonial art and am curious why. His garments here were referenced from Spanish Illuminated Manuscripts. His presence in the shrine recognizes the Paulists.

St. Joseph

St. Joseph, the patron of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Wichita and of Concordia, is the center panel. He is the most illuminated and looks directly at us for he holds the living Christ. Baby Jesus instructs and blesses with one hand and in the other holds the world. St. Joseph is usually portrayed holding a flowering staff, often lilies, perhaps also a symbol of the living Christ and His resurrection. The carpentry tools in St. Joseph’s other hand remind us of the humble daily work required to attend to our Lord. The Holy Family’s donkey and the “living well” are in the background. A sagebrush in the foreground, shared with St. Teresa, suggests kinship with Kansas and also to the desert where Christ went to pray.