On Sunday, September 7, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI, Joseph Ratzinger, officiated at a Mass dedicated under the baldachin of the Holy Family in which he designated the temple designed by Gaudí as a minor basilica. After entering through the door of the Our Father, the Pope stopped the procession in its tracks as he was totally amazed by the size, the harmony and the play of light inside the church.
And it was after this that the whole parade of deacons, acolytes, priests, bishops and cardinals proceeded, until he stood in utter amazement beside the high altar under the baldachin, where hangs a crucified Jesus, work of the sculptor Francesc Fajula.
The Baldachin of the Sagrada Familia
More than once Gaudí was heard to say: “How beautiful it is that the altar is under a vine”. The word “baldachin” refers to the city of Baldac, present-day Baghdad, where traditionally, a canopy was placed over the throne of the kings made of rich silk fabrics. And this tradition was revived by the Christian church for honor and exalt the altar of its most important churches.
The baldachin of the Holy Family is located above the main altar. and it is a heptagon made of golden metal with a diameter of 5 m. From it hang bunches of grapes made of glass, grape leaves made of copper and spikes made of white wood, varnished with nails and copper. Its sides are lined with parchment and covered with tapestry, with an overall covering of 22-karat gold leaf. Above it hangs one of the four sculptures that can be found inside the temple: El Cristo del Baldaquino (Christ of the Baldachin).
Its perimeter is made through a metallic structure that provides the necessary thickness to contain a lighting system, where several inscriptions can be read, thanks to the fact that it is lined by a translucent parchment.
Above, some ears of wheat stand out symbolizing the bread of the Eucharist and below, we will find bunches of grapes and grapevine leaves interspersed. The clusters are made of immolated glass in three different colors: black, white and gold, representing the wine of the Eucharist.
If you are reading this while contemplating the baldachin of the Sagrada Familia. If you go through the ambulatory of the apse, you will be able to read the entire prayer of glory. It is written in illuminated red letters and its calligraphy was typical of Gaudí, a tribute made by the architect Jordi Bonet, director of the works, to his master.
The entire baldachin is supported by the columns made of basalt that are aligned with the main altar.. These are dedicated to the apostles St. Peter and St. Paul, as can be seen in the rings located at their base.
The baldachin of the Sagrada Familia was not the first one designed by Gaudí. He was inspired by the design made for the cathedral of Palma de Mallorca, a work that he had to abandon, like others, to devote himself entirely to the Sagrada Familia.
The baldachin and the Holy Spirit
If we look closely, the baldachin is located between a crucified Christ and a vault where the eternal Father is represented. With this, Gaudi wanted to reflect the baldachin in the Holy Spirit thus completing the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
And this is the reason for the heptagonal design of the element. In it, the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit can be observed The following are some of the most important elements: intelligence, wisdom, fortitude, counsel, piety, fear of God, and knowledge. The center of the polygon is slightly elevated with respect to the perimeter sides and points towards the center of the transept. In that central vertex you can read the inscription “INRI”, as it was reflected in the cross where Jesus Christ was crucified.
Another of Gaudí’s winks with respect to the baldachin and the baldachin and the Holy Spirit The light fixtures that hang from it. Hanging on each side are seven lamps, which if added to the central one, make a total of 50, which are the days that Easter lasts. Pentecost has the literal translation of “50 days” and implies the coming of the Holy Spirit, a tradition that comes from the time of Moses when he received the Tablets of the Law on Mount Sinai.
The baldachin in the Sagrada Familia and its high altar are located presiding over the whole perspective that is obtained entering through the main door of the basilica: The Door of Glory. At the same time and from the same point of entry to the basilica, you can also see the sculptures of the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph. In this way, everyone who enters the temple can enjoy the Sagrada Familia at a glance. With the baldachin presiding over the main altar, Gaudí made very clear the place of honor of the Holy Spirit inside the church.
