The conception of building an expiatory temple in honor of the Holy Family came from the mind of the bookseller Josep Maria Bocabella. This inspiration was sparked by the priest Josep Manyanet, who was later canonized in 2004. Manyanet was the founder of the religious congregations known as the Congregation of Sons of the Holy Family and the Congregation of Missionary Daughters of the Holy Family of Nazareth. These congregations were responsible for fostering the cult of the Holy Family and promoting Christian education among children and young people. In 1869, Manyanet published "The Spirit of the Holy Family", in which he launched the idea of building a temple in Barcelona dedicated to honoring her. To realize this vision, Bocabella established in 1866 the Spiritual Association of Devotees of St. Joseph, with the purpose of raising funds for the project. In 1871, Bocabella traveled to Rome and met with Pope Pius IX. During this trip, he also visited the shrine of Loreto in Ancona, which is believed to have housed the home of Joseph and Mary in Nazareth. This shrine became the source of inspiration for the design of the future church in Barcelona.