The construction of symbolic-religious memory and Lasallian from the stained glass windows of the St. Joseph Chapel, in Canoas/RS

Abstract

This paper presents and discusses some results of a survey analyzing the iconographic and iconological contents of thirty-three stained glass windows of St. Joseph Chapel in Canoas/RS, Brazil. It shows the intimate relationship between symbolism and Lasallian memory from theoretical considerations about symbolism and social memory. The research method is qualitative, gathering primary and secondary research sources such as manuscripts, photographs, iconography, bulletins, newsletters, interviews and memos. The interpretation of the symbolic meanings of the stained glass was performed according to the three levels of iconological and iconographic analysis proposed by Erwin Panofsky. The six stained glass windows described in this paper represent the realization of collective and spiritual memories of the Lasallian tradition. In this sense, to rebuild the symbolic significance of the stained glass windows of the St. Joseph Chapel is to confirm it as a symbolic-religious memory space and of Lasallian identity.