This vibrant stained-glass window is a lasting tribute to Saint Titus Brandsma – Carmelite, professor, rector, resistance fighter, and martyr – and gives visible expression to his ideals and way of life at the heart of the university. The window was designed by the artist Eric Sloot from ’s-Hertogenbosch and was realised on the initiative of student chaplain Jos Geelen, with support from the Radboud (Student) Fund and many private donors. Students were actively involved in the design process and, over the past months, engaged deeply with the writings of Titus.
Titus Window Unveiled in the Student Church: A Tribute to Courage and Spirituality
As part of Titus Day (15 May), a remarkable artwork was unveiled on Wednesday 14 May in the Student Church on Radboud University’s campus. Chair of the Executive Board, Alexandra van Huffelen, had the honour of unveiling the stained-glass piece: the Titus Window.
The window incorporates various symbols reflecting the life of Titus: his resistance to Nazism, his commitment to truth and press freedom, his Carmelite spirituality, and his academic work. Above all, however, the window is intended as an invitation – to pause, reflect, and engage in conversation about what truly matters in life.
Masterclass and Poetry
Prior to the unveiling, Professor Inigo Bocken, researcher at the Titus Brandsma Institute, gave an inspiring masterclass on Titus' view of art and beauty.
Titus Brandsma regarded beauty as a path to the divine. Beauty, he argued, evokes something of the good and the true – especially in dark times. Inigo Bocken demonstrated how this aesthetic spirituality was not only integral to Brandsma’s scholarly work, but also to his political and social engagement. “Titus believed that art should not stand apart from life,” Bocken said, “but rather give voice to what moves us most deeply.”
Campus poet Jarmo van Dam (pictured) concluded the gathering with a specially written poem dedicated to Titus. In it, he reflected on the power of light, the pursuit of truth, and the vulnerability of courage. Spoken with the window in view, his poetic words gave a contemporary voice to the legacy of Titus Brandsma.
Following the unveiling, there was time for conversation over drinks and snacks. The event drew a wide audience of students, staff, alumni, and others connected to the university – all coming together to honour and celebrate Titus.
The Titus Window is now on display in the Student Church in Nijmegen. Everyone is warmly welcome to visit.
Photo credit for the image of Jarmo van Dam: Radboud University and Janneke Juriens.
Contact information
- Organizational unit
- Titus Brandsma Institute
- Theme
- Philosophy, History, Religion