Why do you think the architect of the Basilica wanted the dove to shine light over the
Chair of St. Peter?
@deaconrajan I think he wanted it to shine on the chair because St Peter was the first pope of the Catholic Church and the Holy Spirit is helping the pope to be holy and also helping him to lead all the Catholics.
@catholicwoman Exactly Jane. Catholic Church is guided by the Holy Spirit. Left to us humans (including popes and bishops and priests and religious and deacons) we would have run the Church to the ground long back.
The dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit. The light from the Holy Spirit animates the Catholic Church. The Holy Spirit guides the Catholic Church.
I agree with the sentiments shared above. When I consider it I think of the light of it. In much of the tradition of Italian Christian iconographic art light is purposefully placed and directed in order to signify truth and revelation against its counter, darkness. The 16th century artist Caravaggio comes to mind in particular in which a number of his paintings designed to be in particular churches, in particular locations are painted with light purposely coming from a specific direction to hit the subject in a purposeful way to convey a message, tell a story, or history. In this I think of a few things. I think first of Acts 2 when the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles as tongues of fire; the chief apostle being St. Peter. Jesus singled out Peter in Mt.16, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah; because flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father" showing the "light of revelation" given to Peter in particular. The very first words God says in Genesis are, "Let there be light", coming immediately after the action of the Holy Spirit "moving over the waters". The word "light" that is used here has a meaning in Hebrew of order and truth; during the day we see more clearly. Jesus said to his Apostles right before his Passion, in John, 14 that he would send the Advocate who would guide them to all truth. I think this message is implied here too in that the Advocate shines the "light of truth" on to his chosen Apostle in a special way.
The window here, with its light shining forth the way it does it conveys all of this, but also its direction tells a story also in how it shines forth "from heaven" onto the chief Apostle; the vicar of Christ on earth, whom we read of in John 1, "In him was life, and the light was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (Jn. 1:4-5), and from the one who has received "the keys to the kingdom of heaven" (Mt. 16:18), the light of truth radiates outward to the people, vanquishing the darkness which lies out on the perimeter, never to overcome the light of Christ given to his bride, the Church.
I forgot to mention the symbolism that the light shows in connection with the Great Commission. The light that illuminates the Church through the Chair of Peter is “sent forth” to the people to “make disciples of all nations” (Mt. 28:19) calling us to be baptized, where we receive first the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
secondly, a point of clarification on the first post by me. The citing of the passage in John 1 is not meant by me to reference the vicar of Christ, but of Christ himself whom the vicar, Peter, stands chiefly “in persona” of.
