Every decorative element inside a church is never an end in itself but has the specific purpose of bringing man closer to God: the selection of subjects or episodes illustrated in the paintings, the statues on the altars, the decorations on the floor, the decorative façade elements – everything has the precise purpose of helping those who enter to pray and encounter God.
Even light is exploited for this important purpose. Symbolically, light represents the presence of God. Indeed Jesus said: “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (Jh 8, 12) Who lives in this light, which is God, becomes in turn a light for everyone else or, in other words, because of the example set, that person becomes the means through which God reveals Himself. In fact Jesus said "Ye are the light of the world", "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven”. (Mt 5, 13-16)
That is why the windows help to create an environment conducive to meditation, silence and prayer.
By filtering and manipulating light, they produce incessant plays of coloured light beams, which change according to the position of the sun and time of day. Try and visit the same church in the morning, at sunset and at night, and you will realize how the diverse lighting can deeply change the building’s interior, making it different from hour to hour.
The way light enters the church is studied in every detail: in the morning it enters with vigour, as a reminder to praise God for the beginning of a new day; at dusk the light becomes softer, to complement a moment of reflection on time gone by. Some attention is required to make out the subjects that appear on a window because all the elements are composed of small pieces of coloured glass mounted on wood or lead frames, hence they are not easy to decipher.
Inside this building, the windows mainly represent the Saints and the Blessed, that is to say those who through their lives and their behaviour may be of guidance to the faithful in prayer.
In addition, there are also some important events from the life of Saint Francis of Assisi and of some Franciscan Saints: specifically, the beautiful four-light window represents the episode in which Saint Francis receives the approval of the Rule in the basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome by Pope Honorius III in 1223. The two essential elements of Saint Francis’ charisma are both represented: the Church, in other words the People of God, led by the Pope, the Vicar of Christ on Earth, who can pursue a righteous way of life only if it is established on the Word found in the Bible, here supported by a bishop. There is no salvation outside the Church and without the Word of God.