Heights – Haiku 2025; ThursdayDoors

Posted bySuzette BenjaminPosted inPoetryTags:, , , , , ,
View of the Nativity Facade, Sagrada Familia, Barcelona Spain. Licensed image credit: © Mapics | Dreamstime.

seeking heaven’s face

climbing impossible heights

faith, gives life to stone

*

On October 31, 2025, it became the tallest church in the world when the penultimate portion of its central tower (The Christ Steeple) was installed.

Its height, now at 162.91 m (534 feet), will increase once more in a year’s time when the final component is installed, taking the church to a staggering 172 m (564 feet). *The featured door is the “small” right-side door of the Nativity Portal or, The Portico of Charity, Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain.

Trivia #1:

The small right door of the Sagrada Familia’s Portico of Charity, like the large central doors of the portico to its left, is replete with copious scenes from the Bible that herald/describe the birth of Jesus all the way up to his life as a youth.

The door is bronze with sculptured and painted leaves. There are several beetles tucked into the leaves and one turtle. The door’s images are below.

Bronze door. Portico of Charity, Sagrada Familia, Barcelona Spain. Side entrance: Image credit: Norman Cooke | flickr CC2.0
Closeup – bronze door, Portico of Charity, side entrance, Sagrada Familia, Barcelona. Image credit: Norman Cooke | Flickr CC2.0
Sculptures above the door, side entrance Portico of Charity, Sagrada Familia, Barcelona Spain. Licensed image credit: © Wirestock | Dreamstime

The architectural design and vision for Sagrada Familia is the work of Antoni Gaudí. The featured doors were designed using computer-aided technology and created in bronze molds. The doors were designed by Japanese sculptor Etsuro Sotoo, a follower of Antoni Gaudí’s work. Sotoo is one of three Master Sculptors working on all the facade sculptures.

Trivia #2:

The entire impression of the Nativity Portal, The Portico of Charity was intentionally designed to create the image of the church building as a living and breathing organism.

The nativity facade faces east, towards the rising sun while Sagrada Familia’s two other facades face west and south respectively.

Additional Information:

Barcelona’s AVE high-speed train runs underground near Sagrada Familia.

High-tech elastic-like foundations and dampeners were installed under the rails and in the tunnel’s design to absorb the energy surge/outflow of the traveling high-speed trains to mitigate any present or long-term damage to the foundations and structure of Sagrada Familia.

Though originally sourced from Montserrat, Catalonia, Spain, the stone now used to complete Sagrada Familia’s construction is being imported entirely from Withnell Quarry, Brinscall, near Chorley, England.

Nativity facade, Portico of Charity, Sagrada Familia, Barcelona Spain. Licensed image credit: © Pavel Parmenov | Dreamstime

And for more Thursday Door visit Dan Antion at No Facilities.

Ritva Photography

Published by Suzette Benjamin

Positive thinker, inspirational, writer, faith

79 thoughts on “Heights – Haiku 2025; ThursdayDoors”

  2. For millennia, they have been building places of worship with the intention of drawing our gaze up to Heaven. This continues that tradition in a very impressive way. I’m glad to see modern technology being used, but not dictating the design. Artisans and contractors are, like the people who went before them, using the best tools and material at their disposal. This is a magnificent example of the modern world answering an age old calling. I love you haiku, Suzette, and the trivia you chose to add to the post (particularly the part about the trains).

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. I am glad you found the share of interest, Dan. Well said about the design impetus not being dictated to by technology and the wisdom of using present day tools —as they did back in the earlier wave of church building— to the skilled tradespersons’ advantage, and not as a hinderance to creative freedom.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  5. Dear Suzette
    We find this church quite ugly. We visited it several times but it still looks ugly to us. It’s a ‘just too much’ of everything, an aesthetic disaster.
    The Fab Four of Cley
    🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      1. A truly saintly response, my dear! I generally find that it is precisely those blind to ethereal beauty who are loudest and proudest about admitting it ~ hell, afflicting others with it. Um ~ 😅 f they find it ugly why do they keep visiting? Just so they can leave bummer remarks on other people”s beautiful blogs?…

        Liked by 1 person

  6. The Nativity Façade of the Sagrada Familia is a hymn carved in stone — a celebration of wonder, tenderness, and divine mystery. Antoni Gaudí envisioned this façade as a living gospel, where every figure, creature, and fold of drapery echoes the joy of Christ’s birth. You can feel the awe and reverence embedded in its very design: the way the arches rise like branches of a flourishing tree, the way the stone seems almost to breathe with the story of life made flesh. It is not merely a depiction of the holy family; it is a world in which creation rejoices.

    The bronze doors of the Nativity entrance, designed with the aid of computer technology, created by the Japanese sculptor Etsuro Sotoo, – one of the three Master Sculptors – entrusted with bringing the façade’s sculptures to life, not by copying Gaudí, but by entering the spirit of his work, allowing his own reverence to guide the chisel, is breathtaking.

    Your haiku stands in quiet conversation with this façade — capturing the simplicity within the grandeur, the stillness within the multitude. The façade may be crowded with figures and scenes, yet your haiku allows the reader to look closely, to listen, to feel the warmth and humanity that Gaudí carved so lovingly — almost as though his hands were guided by prayer.

    Stunning Thursday Cathedral Door Offering.
    Wishing you a wonderful Thursday.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. …it is a world in which creation rejoices.” Brilliant insight.

      I love your entire perspective and reflections on how Antoni Gaudí showed evidence that he expressing more than art in a building; he was attempting, perhaps to grasp and present a love for the divine centered in a place/house of prayer.

      I love your comment “as if his hands were guided by prayer.” What an image of the act of creating a work of art as supplication in prayer!!
      Amazing insight as always. It is an honor to read your reflections. May your day be full of the joys of your heart.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Such a beautiful exchange to share and explore.
        I’m so glad you indulged me, and that my perspective resonated with you. It means alot to me.

        There is such joy in studying the history behind these magnificent cathedrals, especially the narratives embedded in their doors. Each sculptor brought their own divinely inspired vision of the Holy Family. I cannot see it as anything other than work guided by prayer—hands moved by devotion.

        Thank you again, dear Poet.
        Wishing you a day filled with joy and light.

        Liked by 1 person

  8. Now this church is over the top in so many ways! Wow! Those spires to begin with- and the intricacies in the stone and copper works. The architects and craftsmen certainly achieved their goal of creating a structure that lives and breaths!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Well said, Violet. I personally believe the architects were going for “over the top” and succeeded handsomely! Some super talented craftspeople worked for many years on this structure.
      Thanks, Violet. Have a wonderful day.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  10. This church is not only the tallest one, but also seems to be the most beautiful one,; especially its sculptured door. Your beautiful haiku captures all features in just a few words. Well done, Suzette!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. From the photos, it is such an amazing and carefully sculpted place. Nothing was left undone; not the smallest bit of upper-level visible space has been left unadorned. Outstanding. I am glad you enjoyed the share, Kaushal. Thank you.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  11. I did not realize the construction was complete on the 31st. Sagrada is a huge, beautiful, ornate cathedral I’d love to explore once more. We only saw parts due to timing and of course the continued building happening when we visited her quite some time ago. Thank you for sharing the trivia, Suzette!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Oh, you are right. There is a year or so of construction left, some say. The Oct 31 date was only meant to refer to the installation of the second-to-last piece of the central steeple. You are most welcome! Have a blessed day.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  23. Amazing, Suzette ❤ … You have taken me through so many out-of-this-world doorways, I cannot thank you enough !!! Your poetry acts like a key and you our gracious tour guide ~ May love light your pathways and your genius brighten any darkness for your talents are gifts I have treasured !!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  27. “Faith, gives life to stone.” I like how this is appropriate in more ways than one… in addition to a religious message, it elegantly captures the organic nature of the design of the cathedral. I was fortunate to visit Sagrada Familia a few years ago and was struck by all of the organic influences in the architecture… animals, bugs, fruits, bones, etc. Truly a one of a kind place… it felt alive.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Hi, Carolyn, I am glad the share rought to mind your wonderful experience at Sagrada Familia in person. You are blessed indeed. I would love to visit one day.

      I like that you mention the organic influences in the church. It is a beautiful rendition of nature’s impact in daily life.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

Leave a comment