Walking through St. Francis de Sales Oratory: Altars & Saints

Continuing our tour through St. Francis de Sales Oratory, this time looking at the various altars and saint images. Click on the photos for higher resolutions.

The sanctuary and the main high altar.

The Mary altar, to the left of the sanctuary.

Another view of the Mary altar, with a view of the apparently random heraldic symbols.

The St. Joseph altar stands to the right of the sanctuary.

Wide view of the Joseph altar.

To the far left of the sanctuary stands the Infant of Prague, topped by an image of the Annunciation. During the Christmas season this area is turned into a crèche.

To the far right is the Mother of Perpetual Help, topped by an image of the Fall of Man.

Another view of the Perpetual Help transept, flanked by the Immaculate Heart statue and the Mother of Sorrows window. I don't know whose idea it was to insert so many disparate Marian devotions into one area—and all with unique styles.

The Holy Family gets its own space, a little past the Infant of Prague. At the bottom is the Death of Joseph.

Various saints are scattered around the oratory. There are far more stained glass windows than are pictured here, as most of them were too high or otherwise difficult to photograph.

The patron himself, positioned neatly next to a few appliances. That fan is the oratory's air conditioning in the summer months.

He looks very episcopal.

John Nepomuk shushing troublesome children.

Six of the Twelve Apostles. Note that James the Greater is standing on higher ground than James the Lesser.

Martin de Porres.

Rita of Cascia and Theodore flanking the Holy Cross.

John the Baptist and the Virgin Mary, very properly grouped together.

(to be continued)