THE PARISH OF OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL
In 1887, the parish of Our Lady of Good Counsel was organized by the Reverend J. F. Lambert. In 1894, the current edifice was dedicated by the Most Reverend Francis Janssens, in the presence of a great multitude. Built at the corner of Louisiana and Chestnut Streets, the Gothic-style brick building is arguably the most precious jewel in the crown known as the Garden District. It is acclaimed for the beauty of its high altar, the magnificence of the stained glass so redolent of Roman Catholic symbolism, the striking statuary of beloved saints, pipe organ and the wonderfully-intact sanctuary.
OUR STAINED-GLASS WINDOWS
Here is a brief description of the iconography of our principle stained-glass windows, many of which concern the Mysteries of the Holy Rosary:
The slim window on your left as you enter the nave is of the Scourging at the Pillar.
The Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Christ was attended by the Angel of the Agony. We also see the Apostles, including St Peter with the sword he would employ later that night.
The Finding of Our Lord in the Temple. It is noted that this window was donated by “Our Lady of Good Counsel School Children, 1928.”
The Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple. Witnessing the event are St Joseph, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Prophetess Anna and Holy Simeon.
The Nativity of Our Lord.
The Visitation of Our Lady, with SS Elizabeth, Zachary and Joseph.
The Annunciation, when the Archangel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would be the Mother of God.
The Immaculate Conception, where we see Our Lady crushing the head of the serpent.
The Good Shepherd, words used by Christ to describe Himself.
The Sacred Heart of Jesus appearing to St Marguerite-Marie Alacoque, a Visitation nun, in the seventeenth century.
The Apparition of Our Lady of Lourdes to St Bernadette Soubirous, in 1858.
Our Lady of Good Counsel as Shepherdess.
The Death of St Joseph, Patron of a Happy Death, supported by the Blessed Mother and Christ.
The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven.
The Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven.
The Advent of the Holy Ghost, Pentecost. This window was donated by “the Members of the St Vincent de Paul Society, 1929.”
The Ascension of Our Lord into Heaven.
The Resurrection of Our Lord from the dead. (One can see the three crosses of Calvary in the background.)
The Crucifixion, in the presence of the Sorrowful Mother and St John.
Our Lord Carries His Cross.
The Crowning with Thorns.
Finally, above the Choir Loft we see Our Lady of Good Counsel surrounded by choirs of Angels, including the Archangel Michael. The beautiful blue of this window reminds one of the famous blue-windows in the mediæval cathedral at Chartres.
Also in the Choir Loft, but rather difficult to see, is an exquisite window featuring St Cecilia, Patroness of Music, accompanying herself on a small pipe-organ.
In 1887, the parish of Our Lady of Good Counsel was organized by the Reverend J. F. Lambert. In 1894, the current edifice was dedicated by the Most Reverend Francis Janssens, in the presence of a great multitude. Built at the corner of Louisiana and Chestnut Streets, the Gothic-style brick building is arguably the most precious jewel in the crown known as the Garden District. It is acclaimed for the beauty of its high altar, the magnificence of the stained glass so redolent of Roman Catholic symbolism, the striking statuary of beloved saints, pipe organ and the wonderfully-intact sanctuary.
OUR STAINED-GLASS WINDOWS
Here is a brief description of the iconography of our principle stained-glass windows, many of which concern the Mysteries of the Holy Rosary:
The slim window on your left as you enter the nave is of the Scourging at the Pillar.
The Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Christ was attended by the Angel of the Agony. We also see the Apostles, including St Peter with the sword he would employ later that night.
The Finding of Our Lord in the Temple. It is noted that this window was donated by “Our Lady of Good Counsel School Children, 1928.”
The Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple. Witnessing the event are St Joseph, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Prophetess Anna and Holy Simeon.
The Nativity of Our Lord.
The Visitation of Our Lady, with SS Elizabeth, Zachary and Joseph.
The Annunciation, when the Archangel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would be the Mother of God.
The Immaculate Conception, where we see Our Lady crushing the head of the serpent.
The Good Shepherd, words used by Christ to describe Himself.
The Sacred Heart of Jesus appearing to St Marguerite-Marie Alacoque, a Visitation nun, in the seventeenth century.
The Apparition of Our Lady of Lourdes to St Bernadette Soubirous, in 1858.
Our Lady of Good Counsel as Shepherdess.
The Death of St Joseph, Patron of a Happy Death, supported by the Blessed Mother and Christ.
The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven.
The Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven.
The Advent of the Holy Ghost, Pentecost. This window was donated by “the Members of the St Vincent de Paul Society, 1929.”
The Ascension of Our Lord into Heaven.
The Resurrection of Our Lord from the dead. (One can see the three crosses of Calvary in the background.)
The Crucifixion, in the presence of the Sorrowful Mother and St John.
Our Lord Carries His Cross.
The Crowning with Thorns.
Finally, above the Choir Loft we see Our Lady of Good Counsel surrounded by choirs of Angels, including the Archangel Michael. The beautiful blue of this window reminds one of the famous blue-windows in the mediæval cathedral at Chartres.
Also in the Choir Loft, but rather difficult to see, is an exquisite window featuring St Cecilia, Patroness of Music, accompanying herself on a small pipe-organ.
A HISTORY OF THE ORGANS AT THE CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL
by Brian Morgan
If an organ was installed in the Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel (named for the miraculous painting now found in Italy) when it was built, in 1894, no records of it are extant. In 1921, an instrument from the Tellers-Kent Organ Company (of Erie, Pennsylvania), Opus 216, was installed. Remnants of this large instrument can still be found in the choir-loft, appropriately near the stained-glass window of St Cecilia, Patroness of Musicians. The current instrument was built for the Church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (originally named after St Boniface), on St Bernard Avenue, in 1947. It was made by the Wicks Organ Company (of Highland, Illinois), Opus 2804, and has three unified ranks of pipes (diapason, flute, and string). That parish was suppressed in the nineteen-fifties and, in 1984-85, the pipe organ was transferred to the Garden District’s Our Lady of Good Counsel, where it is heard to this day.
by Brian Morgan
If an organ was installed in the Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel (named for the miraculous painting now found in Italy) when it was built, in 1894, no records of it are extant. In 1921, an instrument from the Tellers-Kent Organ Company (of Erie, Pennsylvania), Opus 216, was installed. Remnants of this large instrument can still be found in the choir-loft, appropriately near the stained-glass window of St Cecilia, Patroness of Musicians. The current instrument was built for the Church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (originally named after St Boniface), on St Bernard Avenue, in 1947. It was made by the Wicks Organ Company (of Highland, Illinois), Opus 2804, and has three unified ranks of pipes (diapason, flute, and string). That parish was suppressed in the nineteen-fifties and, in 1984-85, the pipe organ was transferred to the Garden District’s Our Lady of Good Counsel, where it is heard to this day.