“Quand l'âme chrétienne ne trouve plus de mots nouveaux dans la détresse pour implorer la miséricorde de Dieu, elle répète sans cesse la même invocation avec une foi véhémente. La raison humaine atteint sa limite. Seule la foi poursuit son ascension.”

“When the Christian soul in distress can no longer find new words to beg for God's mercy, it continually repeats the same invocation with passionate faith. Human reason has reached its limit. Only faith continues its ascent.”

Jehan Alain

Litanies by Jehan Alain is undeniably one of the most celebrated works in the organ repertoire. It is characterised by its vivacity and contrasts, reminiscent of a dance, while also drawing on Gregorian chant. The story behind the Litanies is that of bereavement – similar to the story behind the Tudeley windows. Jehan Alain composed this piece after the accidental death of his sister Marie-Odile. He placed the above words as a prelude to the written score. 

The fifth window is the last of the “reflective” windows on the left-hand aisle. It contrasts with the preceding four, being in tones of purple, gold and green. It is a flurry of fauna and flora in radiant flames of colours, most probably a direct evocation of God’s creation as related in Psalm 8. The fish at the top symbolizes Christ – thus bringing together both the Old and New Testaments.