Simply put, yesterday, we were in the most beautiful and awe-inspiring sacred spaces I have ever entered into. La Sagrada Familia is simply stunning and no photograph or video can do justice to the experience of being in that still-unfinished space.
The thoughtfulness and faith that went into the construction of this space is a witness to those of us in the church today. All of the figures that tell the story of Christ’s life (in three parts on different sides of the building) are on the OUTSIDE of the cathedral. One entrance is dedicated to the birth narrative, the opposite is dedicated to the passion narrative and the yet unfinished narrative is dedicated to Christs reign in glory. The carvings and figures are incredible- the nativity in traditional style but the passion in blocky angular modernist figures to convey the pain and horror of those events.
Inside the cathedral the panels of stained glass mirror the sides of the story withe the nativity in cool greens and blues and purples. The passion side is orange and red and gold. The pillars holding up the roof are stylized trees made of differing stone for structural support and to mimic the variety in a forest. The feeling inside the building is open and light and airy. There are few images inside and the color invites imagination and wonder without supplying proscribed images. The one image the cathedral evoked in me was the image of the new Jerusalem from Revelation with trees planted on either side of a river and the water flowing from the temple - God living with the people wiping every tear from their eyes. May it be so!
The thoughtfulness and faith that went into the construction of this space is a witness to those of us in the church today. All of the figures that tell the story of Christ’s life (in three parts on different sides of the building) are on the OUTSIDE of the cathedral. One entrance is dedicated to the birth narrative, the opposite is dedicated to the passion narrative and the yet unfinished narrative is dedicated to Christs reign in glory. The carvings and figures are incredible- the nativity in traditional style but the passion in blocky angular modernist figures to convey the pain and horror of those events.
Inside the cathedral the panels of stained glass mirror the sides of the story withe the nativity in cool greens and blues and purples. The passion side is orange and red and gold. The pillars holding up the roof are stylized trees made of differing stone for structural support and to mimic the variety in a forest. The feeling inside the building is open and light and airy. There are few images inside and the color invites imagination and wonder without supplying proscribed images. The one image the cathedral evoked in me was the image of the new Jerusalem from Revelation with trees planted on either side of a river and the water flowing from the temple - God living with the people wiping every tear from their eyes. May it be so!
Thank you for giving the detail to all of it! You’re the best!!! I was too tired last night to write all of that. Thank you!
I imagine you are familiar with this piece. Your lovely post immediately brought it to mind!
https://youtu.be/vA_dBIc33JE?si=ayycjHiaauWX7-_N
I was not but the piece is indeed beautiful. Thank you!!!
Your book and reflections on the Psalms are balm for the spirit during this particularly harsh Lenten season. Thank you.
Thank you
Oh, my goodness. That's like being in a giant box of crayons! Exhilaratingly beautiful!
So beautiful, almost dizzying to see the photos. Thank you.
Isn't it beautiful? What a blessing!
These photos are breathtaking. I can feel the stillness of that place. Thank you for sharing ALL of them.
Even Bono and the guys....