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Art and faith
Dear visitor, welcome to Bilbao and the church of Saint Joseph of the Mountain. It is a centenary temple of the Augustinian Order and built thanks to the deep faith of the people of the town. Since its foundation, the church has been visited by its parishioners, travellers, merchants and today, tourists, to seek moments of reflection, prayer and the spiritual advice of the Augustinian fathers.
Before delving into this place full of art and spirituality, we will explain you a little history. The presence of the Order of Saint Augustine in Bilbao dates back to 1515, when a convent was built on the site where the current Bilbao town hall stands. The stay of the Augustinians in Bilbao lasted more than four centuries. In 1836, due to the outbreak of the First Carlist War, the Augustinian community had to abandon the town. The strategic location of the convent building made it the nerve centre for the defence of Bilbao. It ended in ruins and caused the departure of the Augustinians.
But it did not take many years for his return. In January 1900, the Bishop granted permission for the Augustinian Fathers to return to Bilbao and first they occupied an apartment with a semi-public chapel. In a short time the community was growing and becoming involved in the social and spiritual life of the town’s inhabitants. For this reason, it was planned to build a temple and residence. In 1905 the land was acquired for its construction thanks to donations from numerous members of Bilbao society. The project for the new church was commissioned in 1906 by Jose Maria Basterra according to the neo-medieval style, very popular at the time. Due to various circumstances, construction did not begin until 1909 and it was inaugurated on April 17, 1918, the feast of the Patronage of Saint Joseph.
The prestigious Basque architect took full advantage of the unique location to create a splendid temple with strong vertical tension, according to the neo-medieval proposal. The tower, built between 1930 and 1932, in the foreground as a figurehead of the temple that unfolds towards the background made up of three stepped elements. The apse is higher and supported with flying buttresses. The layout of the transverse volume transept counteracts the upward force of the aforementioned tower. This favours compositional balance.
“We are, in effect, all at once and each one in particular, his temples, since he deigns to dwell in the harmony of all and in each one in particular”
Saint Augustine. "The City of God 10, 3, 2"
“No one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit”
Saint John 3, 5
Let’s cross the threshold that gives access to the sacred enclosure. We are in the lower choir. Let’s begin our visit with the Epistle nave located to the right of the main entrance. Here is the baptismal font and a delicate painting of the “Baptism of Jesus Christ in the waters of the Jordan River”. The figure of Jesus, aligned with the dove that represents the Holy Spirit, occupies the centre and constitutes the axis of the composition. Meanwhile, on the sides, Saint John the Baptist and four apostles complete the scene. Baptism is the foundation of all Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit and the gateway to the rest of the sacraments. Through the Baptism received here, we are freed from sin, to be members of Christ and incorporated into his Church.
Next is the altarpiece of Saint Joseph. The figure of him with the Child Jesus occupies the central niche. Two reliefs with scenes from his life flank it; “The death of Saint Joseph, accompanied with Jesus” and “The betrothal of the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph”.
Next, we discover the effigy of Saint Nicholas of Tolentino comforting the souls in purgatory. He is his patron and intercessor and at the same time, he is the first saint of the Augustinian Order.
Of larger dimensions, the adjacent chapel is that of Saint Rita of Cascia. This Augustinian saint is one of the most popular figures of the Catholic Church. She is known as the Saint of the Impossible and lawyer of lost causes.
As you may have noticed, on the FRONT walls of the temple are the reliefs of the fourteen stations of the VIA CRUCIS. Many times it seems that the accompaniment of Jesus in his Passion and Death ends in the tomb, and it is forgotten that the Cross is not a defeat, but rather the prelude to the definitive triumph over death that will come with his Resurrection. VIA LUCIS
“Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary to be your wife. For it is by the Holy Spirit that she has conceived. She will have a son, and you will name him Jesus—because he will save his people from their sins.”
Saint Matthew 1, 20
We arrived at the head of the temple. Here is the main altarpiece and on its sides, two similar altarpieces. The altarpiece at the head of the right nave is that of Saint Augustine. Augustine was born in Tagaste – now Algeria – in the year 354 and died in Hippo on August 28, 430. After an eventful life, his conversion came thanks to the pleas of his mother Saint Monica. He was a distinguished theologian, philosopher and bishop, and is considered one of the most important Fathers of the Church. The reliefs of two famous Augustinian saints, Saint John of Sahagún and Saint Thomas of Villanova, accompany the carving of “The Doctor of Grace”.
“Such is the grace that is freely given, not because of the merits of the one who works, but because of the mercy of the one who grants it”
Saint Augustine. Letter 140, 19, 48
We arrive at the foot of the altar. In the apse is the main altarpiece. In its central niche we can contemplate a delicate carving of the Crucified Christ flanked by the beautiful images of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The complex is crowned by the effigy of Saint Joseph of the Mountain, to whose dedication the temple is consecrated. This saint lovingly holds the Child Jesus in his arms and carries a flowered staff.
At the head of the Gospel nave, to the left of the main altarpiece, we can see an altarpiece with a marked Augustinian accent. It is the altarpiece of Our Lady of Consolation, a Marian dedication and patron saint of the Order of Saint Augustine, whose festival is celebrated on September 4. The Virgin Mary is represented as the Queen of Heaven. Standing on clouds and surrounded by angels, she is a throne for her Son. On both sides, we notice the reliefs of Saint Augustine and his mother Saint Monica kneeling in an attitude of prayer before the Mother of God. At the bottom of the complex, the greatest treasure that we can find in this temple seems to go unnoticed, the Eucharistic Presence of the Lord in the Tabernacle. The Living Christ has saved and redeemed us with his blood, freely giving us eternal life.
We continue our visit heading towards the back of the temple along the Gospel nave. In it, there is the chapel of the Virgin of the Pillar, patron saint of Zaragoza.
Next, we discover the simple carving of the Holy Christ that enjoys great popular devotion. Veneration of the Crucified is common throughout the Catholic world. The people know that his Faith is anchored in a cross and that on it Jesus freed us from sin and death by giving his life for us.
The effigies of the adjacent chapels and property of the Penitential Brotherhood of the Apostle Saint James have the same devotion. They are the carvings of the Virgin of Hope and Our Father Jesus of Love, a Risen Christ who shows us his saving wounds. Both images are processed on Holy Saturday during Holy Week in Bilbao.
In the last corner is the image of Saint Anthony of Padua, one of the few saints who is represented with the Child Jesus in his arms.
We hope your visit has been pleasant. Before leaving the temple, we invite you to have a few moments of recollection and prayer, to accompany and adore the Lord in his Eucharistic presence in the Tabernacle. You can also sit in silence before the welcoming presence of Saint Joseph meditating on his life of dedication, humility and simplicity. We put at your disposal some prayers that will help you at this time. Likewise, thanks to the various links in the text, you can learn about the lives of the Saints in the temple altarpieces.
Prayer to Saint Augustine
Late have I loved you, Beauty so ancient and so new, late have I loved you! Lo, you were within, but I outside, seeking there for you, and upon the shapely things you have made I rushed headlong – I, misshapen. You were with me, but I was not with you. They held me back far from you, those things which would have no being, were they not in you.
You called, shouted, broke through my deafness; you flared, blazed, banished my blindness; you lavished your fragrance, I gasped; and now I pant for you; I tasted you, and now I hunger and thirst; you touched me, and I burned for your peace.
Prayer to Saint Rita
Under the weight of pain, to you, dear Saint Rita, I am confident that I will be heard. Please free my poor heart from the anguish that oppress it and restore calm to my spirit, full of troubles. You who were chosen by God as advocate of the most desperate cases, ask me for the grace that I ardently ask of you [ask for the grace you want].
If my sins are an obstacle to the fulfillment of my desires, obtain for me the grace of repentance and forgiveness from God through a sincere confession. Do not allow me to shed tears of bitterness any longer.
O saint of the thorn and of the rose, reward my great hope in you, and everywhere I will make known your great mercies towards afflicted souls. O Spouse of Jesus Crucified, help me to live well and die well. Amen.
Prayer to Saint Nicholas of Tolentino
O Lord, God of holiness and light, you do not allow any shadow of darkness or evil in your sight and so in your mercy you grant to those who have left this world burdened with sin, time of purification, applying to them the spiritual treasures fo your Holy Church.
Hear my prayer and through the merits of Christ, the Blessed Virgin, the Saints and all your faithful people bring to an end this time of waiting for our beloved dead, especially for N.
In your providence you have chosen Saint Nicholas of Tolentine as a special intercessor on behalf of the departed; hear also his fervent pray for those whom I recommend to you through his intercession. Amen.
Prayer to Saint Joseph
Oh, St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so prompt, so strong, before the throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires. Oh, St. Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession, and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. So that, having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of fathers.
Oh, St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while he reposes near your heart. Press him in my name and kiss his fine head for me and ask him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, patron of departing souls – pray for me. Amen.
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The temple is God’s house and ours. Let’s collaborate to keep it worthy. If you wish to collaborate with the activities, pastoral care and conservation of the parish of Saint Joseph of the Mountain (Augustinians), make a donation.