100th fountain in Vatican Gardens dedicated to Saint Joseph
A fascinating unicum
On Monday, 5 July 2010, during his address for the inauguration of the new fountain in the Vatican Gardens dedicated to Saint Joseph, Benedict XVI said, “It is a work that increases the artistic patrimony of this enchanting green space in Vatican City, full of historical and artistic testimonies of various epochs. Indeed, not only the lawns, the flowers, plants and trees, but also the towers, pavilions, small temples, fountains, statues and other buildings make this garden into a fascinating unicum”.
It is the last fountain in terms of time of construction, but not in terms of beauty. Located near the Palace of the Governorate, the fountain dedicated to Saint Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church, is the 100th fountain in the Vatican Gardens. It is set into a hill across the square. Let us begin our adventure, discovering the fountains of Vatican Gardens, with this one.
Designed by the architect, Giuseppe Facchini, in cooperation with the architect, Barbara Bellano, it is like an open book, and is composed of six sails with bronze panels designed by Franco Murer, depicting scenes from the life of Saint Joseph narrated in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke: the wedding of Mary and Joseph, Joseph’s dream, the birth of Jesus, the flight to Egypt, the finding of Jesus among the Doctors in the Temple, and lastly, the work of Joseph of Nazareth and Jesus.
The first panel, depicting the wedding of Joseph and Mary, underscores that the putative father belonged to the royal line of David. With his marriage to Mary, he conferred to his Son, the legal name, “Son of David”, thus fulfilling the prophecy.
The second panel depicts Joseph’s first dream. When he had learned that Mary was pregnant, he decided not to shun her, but to divorce her quietly, as recounted in the Gospel according to Matthew (1:19). However, an angel appeared to him in a dream and explained that what was happening to his wife was the work of the Holy Spirit. Trusting God, he thus, welcomed the heavenly messenger’s words and became involved in the plan of salvation.
The third panel tells of the mystery of Christmas. On the night his Son was born, Joseph is beside the Baby and Mary and looks after them, as the Father had asked. It was carried out in hiddenness and in silence.
The fourth panel recounts a dramatic time experienced by the Holy Family: the flight into Egypt to escape Herod’s persecution. Because Herod wanted to kill the baby, Joseph is forced to leave his land and take refuge in Egypt. In this case too, an angel visits Joseph in a dream and tells him to take the child away to safety.
The fifth panel depicts Jesus being found in the temple, as narrated in the Gospel according to Luke. Joseph was worried about the disappearance of Jesus, so when he finds hm he is overjoyed, but Jesus teaches him a lesson on the primacy of God’s will, which is greater than any other will.
Lastly, the sixth panel depicts Joseph and Jesus at work in the workshop in Nazareth. It is the mystery of the hiddenness of the Son of God, which only Mary and Joseph knew about and which they safeguarded every day.
In his Apostolic Letter, Padris Corde, dated 8 December 2020, for the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church, Pope Francis wrote, “We know that Joseph was a lowly carpenter (cf. Mt 13:55), betrothed to Mary (cf. Mt 1:18; Lk 1:27). He was a “just man” (Mt 1:19), ever ready to carry out God’s will as revealed to him in the Law (cf. Lk 2:22.27.39) and through four dreams (cf. Mt 1:20; 2:13.19.22). After a long and tiring journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, he beheld the birth of the Messiah in a stable, since “there was no place for them” elsewhere (cf. Lk 2:7). He witnessed the adoration of the shepherds (cf. Lk 2:8-20) and the Magi (cf. Mt 2:1-12), who represented respectively the people of Israel and the pagan peoples”.
There are two basins below the panels: one measures six metres and the other eight meters. The fountain is made of granite and porphyry from the val di Genova and Val di Cembra. It is connected to the water system that supplies the fountains in Saint Peter’s Square.
Water flows from the rock located in the centre of the fountain into elliptical basins. The smaller basin is located above the larger one. When water from the smaller basin flows into the larger one, it creates a small waterfall. The flowing water represents the living water that Christ brings and that wells up to eternal life (Jn 4:14).
A large image of the coat of arms of Benedict XVI was placed at the foot of the fountain and is visible from Saint Peter’s cupola.
Produced by employees of the Offices of Technical Services of the Governorate, now known the Directorate for Infrastructure and Services, it was donated to the Pope by the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums, by Hintze and Bob Castrigniano from London, some municipalities and business from the province of Trento, and the nuns of the Monastery of Saint Joseph in Kyoto.
