The
ORB
part of the monastery
contains the public chapel and our monastery
choir,
symbolizing the world-wide dimensions
of our enclosed life of prayer.
Churches located in
our Belleville Diocese
THE ORB AND THE CROSS:
This ancient Christian symbol
represents in simple, compact form the central mystery of our faith -
the triumph of Christ's Cross over the powers of
this world.
It is the sign which declares:
Stat Crux dum volvitur orbis.
(The Cross stands firm while
the world turns.)
THE ORB AND THE CROSS
Held in the hand of our Lord in sacred art,
it symbolizes His dominion and sovereignty over
all creation.
Details from icons, paintings,
and drawings of our Lord
THE ORB AND THE CROSS
Used as the crowing symbol
atop the great dome of St. Peter's,
it also adorns the steeples of countless Catholic Churches
throughout the world.
BUT...
could this traditional Christian symbol be used as a design
for a monastery of contemplative nuns observing
papal enclosure?
An early architectural rendering of our monastery
The answer is "YES" thanks to the Holy Spirit,
who not only gave the inspiration but also sent dedicated architects who were able to bring it to completion.
The Poor Clare
Monastery of Our Lady of Mercy
Belleville, Illinois, U.S.A.,
gives a unique material witness to the
centrality of the Cross
in the Christian life and in the
contemplative life.
At the very center is the tabernacle, proclaiming
that
Jesus in the Eucharist is both the center of the
world and the center of our Poor Clare life.
The beautiful "grape-vine" grille
which separates the chapel from the choir
is a physical reminder of our joyful "going
apart" with the Lord,
so as to offer our prayer and penance in union
with Him for the salvation of the world.
The
CROSS
part of the building holds our monastic living quarters.
The simplicity of line and space well serves our
cloistered lifestyle
and bears eloquent witness to our Mother St.
Clare's understanding
of the place of the Cross in the life of her
Order.
In following this great daughter of the Church,
we seek to proclaim by our hidden life
that the Cross of the Lord has been revealed as the Tree of Life,
the source of
grace and salvation for
the entire human family.
