Dr. Ralf Fröhlich, 2024: Subirachs' magic square of 33.

   Normally, a magic square means correlating whole numbers into the grid: for a 4×4 grid, the numbers are from 1 to 16. Their sum is 136. The magic sum cannot freely be chosen and depends on the sum of the numbers used. Those, the magic sum is 136/4 = 34.

   However, the Sagrada Família magic square doesn't meet a sum of 34. On the one hand, it doesn't have all the numbers from 1 to 16 (it is missing the 12 and 16), and some numbers (14 and 10) are repeated.

   If you add up the numbers, whether vertically, horizontally, or diagonally, they always add up to 33, intended to remind us of the age of Jesus Christ at his crucifixion.

Solka's Diptych Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Inspired by the famous Sagrada Família magic square, German engineer Dr. Hans-Christian Solka created his diptych, The Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, in 2017.

  The diptych consists of the magic squares The Passion and Death of Jesus Christ and The Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

   By combining Christian symbolism and mathematics, Solka created them with the symbolic sum of 33 without using duplicate numbers. That seemed impossible before.

   Not only do the sums of each row, column, and diagonal add up to 33, the sacred number 33, the age of Jesus Christ at the crucifixion, but also the sum of the numbers of the cross. In the center of the cross is the number 9, commemorating the hour of Jesus Christ's death.

   The Greek word for fish (Ichthys) is an acronym for the short confession of faith: ΙΗΣΟΥΣ - "Jesus;" ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ - "the anointed one;" ΘΕΟΥ - "God's;" ΥΙΟΣ - "Son;" ΣΩΤΗΡ - "Saviour/Redeemer."

   The missing number four points to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, in which the earthly life of Jesus culminates in his death and resurrection.

I - The Passion and Death of Jesus Christ

Mark 15,34; And at the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

II - The Resurrection of Jesus Christ

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the central mystery of the Christian faith. God raised Jesus from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion, starting – or restoring – his exalted life as Christ and Lord. This is what the 3 as the base of the crucifix indicates.

   According to the New Testament writing, Jesus was firstborn from the dead, ushering in the Kingdom of God. He appeared to his disciples, calling the apostles to the Great Commission of forgiving sin and baptizing repenters, and ascended to Heaven.