Temple of the Sagrada Familia: The Nativity Facade--page 4 (of four pages)

The Faith Portico
		A side portico, to the right This portico is dedicated to Faith, one of the theological virtues, and to Mary, as maximum exponent of that virtue.
The heart of Jesus, above the entrance door, with thorns and mystic bees; Saint John, Jesus, and Zachariah, the father of the Baptist, prophetically writing the name of John
	The presentation in the Temple with Jesus in the arms of Simon (sculptor: Llorenc Matamala i Pinol) Following Jewish Law, Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the temple the fortieth day from his birth. According to the Biblical account, the priest Simeon had been visited by the Holy Spirit and told that he would not die until he had seen the Lord's Christ. On taking Jesus into his arms he uttered a prayer and blessed the baby Jesus. The offering of Mary and Joseph, the pair of doves or two young pigeons, is represented below the figures.
The Visitation (sculptor: Llorenc Matamala i Pinol) Mary has come to tell Elizabeth of her pregnancy while Elizabeth, despite being old, is also pregnant and will bear John the Baptist.
Joseph and Mary on the left, looking with adoration and amazement toward their twelve year old son, (seated above the entrance door) who is speaking wisely with the priests of the Temple; Jesus working in the carpenter's shop

Go to Views of Apse of Views of the Interior
Return to introduction and index for Sagrada Familia.


Work cited: Josep Maria Carandell. El Temple de la Sagrada Familia. Sant LLuís: Triangle Postals S. L., 1997.
Anonymous. The Expiatory Temple of Sagrada Familia. Dos de Arte Ediciones. Guias Visuales. n.d.

Go to Gaudí Index.

Click here to return to index of art historical sites.

Click here to return to index of artists and architects.

Click here to return to chronological index.

Click here to see the home page of Bluffton College.