09/03/2026
One of the new features parishioners will notice when St. Agnes reopens is our new eagle lectern, purchased as part of the church renovation.
The eagle has a long history as a Christian symbol connected with the proclamation of the Gospel. Most particularly, it is the traditional symbol of St. John the Evangelist, whose Gospel begins by soaring, as it were, into the heights of heaven: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Because the eagle was believed to fly higher than other birds and to gaze toward the sun, Christians came to see it as a fitting image of the Gospel, which raises our minds from earthly things to the mysteries of God.
For this reason, eagle-shaped lecterns began appearing in medieval churches and became especially popular in the later Middle Ages. Many beautiful examples survive from the 14th and 15th centuries, particularly in the churches of England and northern Europe. The Scriptures were placed upon the eagle’s outstretched wings so that, quite literally, the Word of God was proclaimed from the eagle.
Although an eagle lectern will be something new for many at St. Agnes, the tradition itself is centuries old—and some may recognize it from our neighboring parish in Ste. Genevieve.
We hope that this new addition will not only add to the beauty of our renovated church, but will also remind us each time the Scriptures are proclaimed that the Word of God calls us to lift our minds and hearts toward heaven. 🦅📖
We look forward to everyone seeing it—and the rest of the renovated church—very soon!
