Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Expiatory Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor Basilica Templo Expiatorio del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús
Entrance of the basilica
Religion
Affiliation	Roman Catholic
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	parish church, minor basilica
Year consecrated	1952
Location
Location	Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Architecture
Architect(s)	Enric Sagnier
Architectural type	Church
Architectural style	Neo Gothic
Groundbreaking	1902
Completed	1961
Specifications
Direction of façade	S
Length	60 metres (200 ft)
Width	70 metres (230 ft)
Spire(s)	5

The Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor (which means "Expiatory Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus" in English) is a beautiful Roman Catholic church. It is also a minor basilica, which is a special title given by the Pope. You can find it on top of Mount Tibidabo in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.

The church was designed by a Catalan architect named Enric Sagnier. His son, Josep Maria Sagnier i Vidal, finished the building. The construction of this church, which is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, took a long time. It started in 1902 and was finally completed in 1961.

History of the Sacred Heart Church
Outside the Church
Inside the Church
Statue of Jesus
The Crypt Below
Gallery
See also

History of the Sacred Heart Church

A model of the church

The idea for building a Catholic church on Tibidabo mountain came up in the late 1800s. People heard rumors that a Protestant church and a hotel-casino might be built there. Because of this, a group called the "Board of Catholic Knights" bought the land.

In 1886, they gave the land to Saint John Bosco. He was visiting Barcelona at the time, invited by Dorotea de Chopitea. She was a big supporter of the project. This is how the idea of a church dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus began. This dedication was very popular back then, encouraged by Pope Leo XIII. It was also inspired by similar churches in Rome and Paris.

In 1886, a small neo-Gothic hermitage (a small chapel) was built. Two years later, for the Universal Exposition, the road to Vallvidrera was improved. A special viewing pavilion, inspired by Mudejar style, was built next to the hermitage.

However, the main church project was delayed. This was mainly because of plans to build an astronomical observatory on Tibidabo. The observatory was eventually built on a nearby hill. Finally, on December 28, 1902, the first stone of the church was laid. The Bishop of Barcelona, Salvador Casañas i Pagès, led the ceremony.

The lower part of the church, called the crypt, was built between 1903 and 1911. The main church above it was built from 1915 to 1951. Bishop Gregorio Modrego Casaus officially dedicated the church in 1952. This happened during a big event called the 35th Eucharistic Congress in Barcelona. The church's towers were finished after that, with all work ending in 1961. On October 29, 1961, Pope John XXIII gave the church the special title of minor basilica.

Outside the Church

Facade of the crypt

The outside of the church looks like a strong Romanesque fortress at the bottom. This part, the crypt, is made of stone from Montjuïc mountain. On top of this fortress is a huge neo-Gothic church. You can reach the upper church by climbing two grand outdoor stairways.

The upper church has a central area with an eight-sided dome supported by eight columns. On top of the dome is a statue of the Sacred Heart. The first statue was made by Frederic Marès but was destroyed in 1936. A new one by Josep Miret replaced it in 1950.

The upper church is square-shaped with three rounded ends called apses. It has one large central tower and four smaller towers at each corner. These towers have statues of the Twelve Apostles, also sculpted by Josep Miret. The main front of the church has three parts. The middle part is wider and features a statue of the Archangel Michael above the main entrance. Above that, in the pediment, is a statue of John Bosco. Over the left door is a statue of Teresa of Ávila, and over the right, Marguerite Marie Alacoque. Above the doors, there is an open gallery with decorative arches.

The front of the crypt has a beautifully decorated tympanum (a carved space above a doorway). It has sculptures by Alfons Juyol i Bach, designed by Eusebi Arnau. These sculptures show the Virgin of Mercy, Saint George, and Saint James. These are the patron saints of Barcelona, Catalonia, and Spain. The crypt's front has three semicircular arches supported by columns. These are set under a larger semicircular arch. This arch was once decorated with a mosaic of the Holy Trinity by Daniel Zuloaga, but it was destroyed in 1936. In 1955, it was redecorated with a new mosaic showing Spain's devotion, represented by its patron saints.

Inside the Church

Inside the temple

The inside of the church has a main nave and two side aisles, all with rounded apses. It features many beautiful stained glass windows and four large rose windows on the walls. At the main altar, there is a large crucifix made by Joan Puigdollers. The windows in the presbytery (the area around the altar) show images of Pius X, John the Evangelist, Marguerite Marie Alacoque, Paul the Apostle, and John Bosco.

The left altar has five stained glass windows dedicated to different ways people honor Mary. These include the Virgin of Antipolo (from the Philippines), Our Lady of Luján (from Argentina), the Assumption of Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe (from Mexico), and Our Lady of Charity (from Cuba). The right altar has a statue of the Risen Jesus by Joan Puigdollers. Its stained glass windows are dedicated to Spanish ways of honoring Mary. These include the Virgin of Almudena (from Madrid), the Virgin of Núria (from Catalonia), Our Lady of Hope, Our Lady of the Forsaken (from Valencia), and Our Lady of Begoña (from the Basque Country).

The windows in the four towers have the Latin phrase tibi dabo, which means "I'll give you." This is where the mountain's name, Tibidabo, comes from. Near the choir area, there are windows showing founding saints. These include Marcellin Champagnat and Jean-Baptiste de La Salle near the presbytery. Also, Anthony Mary Claret, Joseph Calasanctius, John Bosco, and Maria Domenica Mazzarello are near the main front. The windows on the four main walls are dedicated to Francis de Sales, Pius XI, Ignatius of Loyola, Francisco Javier, Pius IX, Rose of Lima, Leo XIII, and Pius XII. The eight stained glass windows in the dome show scenes from the life of Jesus.

Statue of Jesus

Statue of Jesus on the top of Sagrat Cor.

The very top of the church is crowned by a huge bronze statue of the Sacred Heart. This statue was made by Josep Miret in 1950. It replaced the first statue by Frederic Marès, which was made in 1935 but destroyed the next year when the Spanish Civil War began. Going up from the crypt, through the church, and finally reaching the sculpture, shows a journey. It represents how people can improve themselves through sacrifice and making up for their mistakes.

The Crypt Below

Inside the crypt

The crypt, the lower part of the church, was designed in a neo-Byzantine style. This style mixes elements from Gothic and classical art. Its decorations are similar to the Modernisme art movement. The crypt has five naves (main sections) separated by columns. The central nave is wider, and all of them have semicircular apses.

The walls and vaults (arched ceilings) are covered with alabaster or decorated with mosaics. These mosaics show scenes related to the altars' dedications. These include Mary Help of Christians, Saint Anthony of Padua, the Blessed Sacrament, Saint Joseph, and the Virgin of Montserrat.

Colorful alabaster is also used for the Via Crucis (which means "Way of the Cross" or Stations of the Cross). These are sculptures made by Josep Miret. Natural light comes into the crypt through windows. These windows also have stained glass with different themes. The largest window in the arch shows the appearance of the Our Lady of the Pillar and King Reccared I becoming Catholic. Saint Ferdinand and Saint Hermenegild are in the two large vertical windows. Smaller windows above the door are dedicated to Joachim, Isidore the Farmer, Saint Anthony, and Saint Elizabeth of Portugal.

From the crypt, you can enter a special chapel dedicated to Perpetual Adoration. This chapel was dug into the mountain in the late 1940s. It has three naves divided by columns. The inside is decorated with marble, mosaics on the floor, and paintings by Miquel Farré i Albagés on the ceilings. These paintings were made between 1947 and 1949.

Outside the crypt, on both sides of the main door, there are two staircases. These lead up to the level of the main church.