Religion is where you find it, truly it can be felt around the world in any nation! Spain captured my heart and senses with a certain Catholic conviction, from Guadí's 'Sagrada Familia' to Andalusia's church on the borderline with a little gem near Benidorm! Like a prayer, Spain's everlasting beauty transcended through to the three following houses of god! ¡Madre gloriosa, E!
The unfinished 'Basilica of the Holy Family' came into my life during my first independent trip to Spain. During those Barcelona days I ventured over to the Sagrada Familia twice, the first day was to purely get my bearings because that Catalan city had me taking extra care of directions. The staggering detail of 'Gaudí's' own masterpiece had me staring open-mouthed, still being constructed 140 after ground had been broken, I had no words! Like a prayer, Barcelona had took me right to its showcase basilica to delve behind those exterior walls the following day. Making tracks the following morning from 'La Rambla' to Barcelona's own 'Eixample District', I paid my entrance fee to see inside the Sagrada Familia. I was not ready for what I was about to see with my own eyes inside Barcelona's Sagrada Familia! Stay with me, I need to gather my thoughts because it was back in July 2013 when I made that Barça visit! ¡Cielo, ayúdame! Help!
Stepping inside the darkened interior of the grand Sagrada gave me all of the feels, the ceilings literally looked as if they could touch the sky! The attention to detail was unlike anything I had seen before that moment, I was truly dumbfounded by the immense feel that house of love gave me! Peering down through a piece of glass allowed me to see a rose coloured glow, a smaller more intimate seating arrangement had been made away from the tourists. Not religious, Barcelona's formidable design had me wondering why after 140 years, why were they still constructing it? Projected to be completed until 2026, nothing that magnificent can be rushed, clearly Gaudí trusted his plan and those after him have respected the master! Choosing to visit Barcelona's showcase basilica was a no-brainer, sure Gaudí would show me much more in his city of wonder! No prayers needed, my visit to Barcelona was blessed with Sagrada's presence!
Catching that Monarch Airlines plane down to Britain's Gibraltar saw me staying in the Spanish border town of 'La Línea de la Concepción' during January 2015. The town on 'the line' showed me buckets full of Realness, after watching some documentaries unlocked a shady truth about 'La Línea'. With those new found details about that Andalusian town, the presence and protection bestowed by the 'Iglesia de la Inmaculada Concepción' sounds like it is very much needed! During that 2015 visit my interaction with that church wasn't much to write home about, I ventured inside on the final day before I flew back to the UK from Gibraltar. Before that trip I had visited a few cathedrals in the UK but most of them had been Church of England, meaning no Madonna had been present with her baby Jesus! Now, that matriarchal presence was greatly appreciated by Mr. J. Christ gets enough exposure, Mary bore the child after all! Ay!
Set in the 'Plaza de la Iglesia', that public square had constant protection from that 'Immaculate' place of worship. I sat with a coffee after checking out of my hostal, that trip along the borderline had been eventful. Being during the weekend after New Year's, Spain had just celebrated the feast of the 'Three Kings' also known as 'Fiesta de los Reyes' so a holiday feeling was in the air as I watched La Línea closely that morning. My visit to that Andalusian church had impressed me much, adorned with flowers and fruit that Spanish church served much opulence indeed! The decadent statues shone in the light with their golden glow, maybe Maria herself had sent some 'divine' signs within regards to those decorations plans? Yes! After spending a small time in the church, it had cleansed me of my hangover, those Spanish pints of local lager had left me feeling worse for wear! Maybe it was a hand on my shoulder from above? ¿Un milagro, no? I think so!
During my January 2022 visit to Spain's Costa Blanca I was able to spend an afternoon in Altea, absolutely it was all about the towns 'Parroquia de Nuestra Señora del Consuelo'. Featured in the cult British TV show 'Benidorm', that Altea house of worship looked mighty fine! Using my Apple Maps to reach that aqua blue tilled domed church, the climb up the many steep cobbled paths made it all worth it when I caught a glimpse of the church in-question. Stepping inside, the high ceilings of that Altea church had me once again lost for words, the attention to detail didn't disappoint me. The marble pillar at the altar shone with a glistening maroon tone, adorned with golden and white gray features set the style perfectly. Walking around the edge of the pews, the different stations of the cross told me a certain story. Alongside those stations I was able to marvel at the many figures of the Madonna and her baby. No, Jesus Christ had his style on lock!
Oh, I am just getting started! His holiness was serving a lot, his robes had been painted in a way he looked on-point! His hair had been fashioned with rich brown tones with a flow like no other! Of course, Mary served her heavenly looking flowing garments because she's what? She's the Mother! Visiting Altea's showpiece place of worship restored a sense of calm, it was amazing to be only twenty minutes away from the hustle and bustle of Benidorm considering that calm felt inside that Altea church! Sitting outside one of the cafes outside in the square had to be done, it would be only right to enjoy a glass of wine with the church in close view. It doesn't have to all be about sermons and the alleged 'word of the lord' because I love visiting places of worship even though I don't believe in a god. Spain has served up quite a lot, from Barcelona to La Línea with Altea in tow, those three religious spaces embraced me without judgment. ¡Agradeciéndote, ES!
Oraciones Otorgadas!
Joseph Harrison