Editing Rose window (section)

== Symbolism ==
[[File:Gothic-Rayonnant Rose-6.jpg|thumb|Symbolism:  the north rose of Notre Dame, Paris, has at its centre the Blessed Virgin Mary and Christ Child in Majesty, surrounded by prophets and saints.]]
[[File:St Denis North a.jpg|thumb|Symbolism: the north rose of the Abbey of St Denis, Paris, showing God the Creator, surrounded by the Days of [[Genesis creation myth|Creation]], the Order of the Heavens represented by the [[Zodiac]] and the Order of Earth as represented by the [[Labours of the Months]]. In the corners are the [[Adam and Eve|Fall of Mankind]].]] 
In Gothic cathedrals and churches, where a rose is often found above the West Door, the most common subject of the stained glass that it contains is the [[Last Judgement]], which by a long tradition is depicted either in mural or glass on the western wall of the building.<ref>The early 13th-century stained glass in the western rose of Chartres Cathedral is an outstanding extant example</ref> In such windows [[Christ]] is shown seated in the centre "light" and within the lights around him are the symbols of the four [[Gospels|Gospel writers]], [[Apostles in the New Testament|Apostles]], [[Prophet]]s, [[Saints]] and [[Angels]]. Some windows show God's dominion over Heaven and Earth by including [[Zodiac]]al signs and [[Labours of the Months]].<ref>An example is at the Abbey of St Denis</ref>

When rose windows are used in the transept ends, then one of those windows is frequently dedicated to Mary as the [[Mary, Mother of God|Mother of Jesus]]. In modern [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] thought, the rose window is often associated with the [[Virgin Mary]] because one of her titles, referred to by [[Bernard of Clairvaux|St Bernard of Clairvaux]], is the "[[Our Lady of the Rosary|Mystical Rose]]". However, the specific association of Mary with the rose window is unlikely during the Medieval period, because the term "rose window" was not coined until the 17th century, a time when few such windows were being constructed.  However, with the revival of the [[Gothic Revival|Gothic style]] in the 19th and 20th centuries, much stained glass that was installed in rose windows, both in new churches and as restoration in old churches, was dedicated to the [[Virgin Mary]].<ref>A fine example of a 19th-century Marian rose window exists at St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney.</ref>