Iconic Monstrance

- 24-7 Adoration

Our Lady of the Sign
Ark of Mercy
In 2007, Cardinal Francis George designated St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish as The Sanctuary of The Divine Mercy in Chicago. Artist Stefan Niedorezo, in consultation with Fr. Anthony, began work on a design for a large monstrance. Work was completed in May 2008, with the unveiling of the monstrance on May 31, 2008.

The iconic monstrance, "Our Lady of the Sign - Ark of Mercy", blessed by Cardinal George in 2008, draws people from Chicago and beyond for 24-hour Eucharistic Adoration in this historic church. Moreover, except for a brief period during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, our doors have remained open day and night for individual prayer and Adoration since 2008. An article on the inspiration and creation of the monstrance can be found here.

The iconic monstrance depicts the woman of Isaiah 7:14, "The Lord himself will give you a Sign - the Virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel, " and the woman of Revelation 11:19 - 12:1-2, "Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the Ark of His Covenant was seen within His Sanctuary... And a great Sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth."

Mary is the Sign of God's promise of mercy fulfilled - past, present, and to be in the New Jerusalem. Her appearance clothed with the heavenly bodies depicts the Fourth Marian dogma of Mary's Assumption into heaven. "Mary having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory," Pope Pius XII.

"Our Lady of the Sign - Ark of Mercy" is an iconic monstrance. That is, an icon receptacle in which the most Holy Eucharist is held for adoration. The white round large host at the center of the monstrance is Jesus Christ incarnated in the Blessed Sacrament: "I am the bread of life...he who eats this bread will live forever." (John 6:48, 58)

Placing yourself before the Blessed Sacrament in adoration and praying from your heart, "Jesus, I Trust in You," will change your life, bring healing, and gentle transformation.

St. Faustina, the Apostle of Divine Mercy, wrote, "I saw the same rays (Divine Mercy) issuing from the monstrance and spreading throughout the church. Beneath these rays a heart will grow warm even if it were like a block of ice." (Diary 370) Jesus told St. Faustina, “Let the rays of grace enter your soul; they bring with them light, warmth, and life." (Diary 1486)

Mary is the Mother of Trust.
Ask her to pray for you and deeply say, "Jesus I Trust in You!"

Open your heart and let the rays of Mercy flow upon you.