10 keys into understanding the Sacred Family in Barcelona
To understand the basilica of the Sacred Family in Barcelona you must keep in mind that all the work of Antoni Gaudí has such an allegorical sense and a wealth of symbolism that a guide or companion is needed. The architect while living gave himself to show it many times to people from around the world. We offer ten keys for its reading:1 .- The Sacred Family is a mountain from the outside. In fact, its stone towers somehow evoke the rocks of Montserrat. This effect will be even more visible when the temple is completed and passes from the 8 towers built at this time, to the 18 it should have in the future: the 12 Apostles, 4 Evangelists, the Virgin Mary and the Savior. Gaudí preferred to finish off the towers of the walls before the roof, to prevent the temple being covered but unfinished.2.-Us Christians, when thinking of the Sacred Family we spontaneously imagine the home in Nazareth, Jesus, Mary and Joseph. But Gaudi's genius went further on and devised a tribute to the new Christian family, Jesus, his mother and his disciples. It is also the heavenly Jerusalem.3.-Gaudí also foresaw a time when practicing Catholics would decline and moved the altarpiece to the street, that is to say he putted a large number of pictures outside the temple to be seen by all. The sculptures on the Nativity facade are life-size, the Passion´s more than life-size and those of the Glory will be even grander.4.-The Nativity facade is like a monumental nativity scene. It's nice and poetic. Its central part seem made of clay that melts with the birth of Baby Jesus. It has been related to Mosen Cinto Verdaguer poems, the great poet and friend of the architect. Concretely with Jesus Infant and Canigó. Japanese sculptor Etsuro Sotoo is completing it trying to "look where Gaudí looked."5.-The Passion façade on the other hand, is stiff and stark. It was conceived in times of illness of the architect. Literally he wanted it to "give fear." It would be the translation of the Spiritual Canticle of St. John of the Cross. The sculptor Subirachs has been able to capture this tragic sense.6.-In the towers of the facade there is the inscription Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus and on the toppings, Hosanna In Excelsis Deo. The ingenious Gaudi anticipated that even an agnostic or indifferent had to look up into the sky trying to read the inscriptions, and mutter a prayer.7.-Gaudí was aware that wherever he putted a stone no grass would grow and animals could not live. So in the apse he honored the flora and fauna that were on the site of the temple.8.-In the auction of the nave he putted the fruits of the Holy Spirit, represented by large fruit baskets made with brittle. This is what is known as Whit. On the east side the spring and summer fruits. On the west side, the autumn and winter ones. Below them saints that founded congregations based in Catalonia.9.-La Sacred Family, interiorly is a forest. Whoever enters feels overpowered by the grandeur of the 52 columns representing gigantic palm trees. The filtered light enters through the white and colorful windows and also from the vault. But already from the main entrance you can see the shrine where the god dwells. Only from the inside (within the Faith of the Church) one can comprehend the stained glass of the Resurrection.10 .- Gaudí knew the liturgy well because he participated in the First Liturgical Congress of Montserrat (1915) and enjoyed the friendship of Bishop Campins who commissioned the restoration of the Cathedral of Mallorca. Thanks to all this he thought of a location of the altar, in the center of the crossing, to facilitate the celebration (at the architect´s time this was not used). He also seeked to enhance the choruses because music was of great importance for him in the celebrations.In short, the Sacred Family temple, in addition to architecture, it is all poetry and symbol.Jaume Aymar i Ragolta
To understand the basilica of the Sacred Family in Barcelona you must keep in mind that all the work of Antoni Gaudí has such an allegorical sense and a wealth of symbolism that a guide or companion is needed. The architect while living gave himself to show it many times to people from around the world. We offer ten keys for its reading:1 .- The Sacred Family is a mountain from the outside. In fact, its stone towers somehow evoke the rocks of Montserrat. This effect will be even more visible when the temple is completed and passes from the 8 towers built at this time, to the 18 it should have in the future: the 12 Apostles, 4 Evangelists, the Virgin Mary and the Savior. Gaudí preferred to finish off the towers of the walls before the roof, to prevent the temple being covered but unfinished.2.-Us Christians, when thinking of the Sacred Family we spontaneously imagine the home in Nazareth, Jesus, Mary and Joseph. But Gaudi's genius went further on and devised a tribute to the new Christian family, Jesus, his mother and his disciples. It is also the heavenly Jerusalem.3.-Gaudí also foresaw a time when practicing Catholics would decline and moved the altarpiece to the street, that is to say he putted a large number of pictures outside the temple to be seen by all. The sculptures on the Nativity facade are life-size, the Passion´s more than life-size and those of the Glory will be even grander.4.-The Nativity facade is like a monumental nativity scene. It's nice and poetic. Its central part seem made of clay that melts with the birth of Baby Jesus. It has been related to Mosen Cinto Verdaguer poems, the great poet and friend of the architect. Concretely with Jesus Infant and Canigó. Japanese sculptor Etsuro Sotoo is completing it trying to "look where Gaudí looked."5.-The Passion façade on the other hand, is stiff and stark. It was conceived in times of illness of the architect. Literally he wanted it to "give fear." It would be the translation of the Spiritual Canticle of St. John of the Cross. The sculptor Subirachs has been able to capture this tragic sense.6.-In the towers of the facade there is the inscription Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus and on the toppings, Hosanna In Excelsis Deo. The ingenious Gaudi anticipated that even an agnostic or indifferent had to look up into the sky trying to read the inscriptions, and mutter a prayer.7.-Gaudí was aware that wherever he putted a stone no grass would grow and animals could not live. So in the apse he honored the flora and fauna that were on the site of the temple.8.-In the auction of the nave he putted the fruits of the Holy Spirit, represented by large fruit baskets made with brittle. This is what is known as Whit. On the east side the spring and summer fruits. On the west side, the autumn and winter ones. Below them saints that founded congregations based in Catalonia.9.-La Sacred Family, interiorly is a forest. Whoever enters feels overpowered by the grandeur of the 52 columns representing gigantic palm trees. The filtered light enters through the white and colorful windows and also from the vault. But already from the main entrance you can see the shrine where the god dwells. Only from the inside (within the Faith of the Church) one can comprehend the stained glass of the Resurrection.10 .- Gaudí knew the liturgy well because he participated in the First Liturgical Congress of Montserrat (1915) and enjoyed the friendship of Bishop Campins who commissioned the restoration of the Cathedral of Mallorca. Thanks to all this he thought of a location of the altar, in the center of the crossing, to facilitate the celebration (at the architect´s time this was not used). He also seeked to enhance the choruses because music was of great importance for him in the celebrations.In short, the Sacred Family temple, in addition to architecture, it is all poetry and symbol.Jaume Aymar i Ragolta
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