As one enters the University
Chapel in Doyle Hall, one encounters an overwhelming amount of visual
stimulation. This is usually expected in a Roman Catholic Church; the
stained glass windows, the statues, and the serenity are but some of the
features that help to add a heavenly presence within the room. But what do
they all mean? Faculty, students and the community have been using the Chapel for over forty years, yet many do not truly understand the
significance of all that is present. The Chapel's symbolism may now be accessible
to all that desire it.
Numbers were always a fascination to
Bonaventure. He loved the number three because of its particular link to
the Holy Trinity, but he also loved the multiples of three, in
particular nine. It is only fitting that the Chapel's tower has three
large bells, as well as, three large stained-glass windows on each side,
but there is much more... Each of the three windows is marked on the
side by large columns, and the wall beneath the windows is subdivided by
two smaller columns. Consequently, nine small bays were thus created on
each side of the chapel: three large bays, but nine smaller ones with an
altar in each.
