News This Week: ‘God’s architect’ may become a saint ( 4-16-25)
The Vatican has placed Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, who designed Barcelona’s Sagrada Família, on the path to sainthood. Pope Francis recognized Gaudí’s “heroic virtues” this week and now the search begins to find two miracles to attribute to him.
Becoming a saint is a complex process that can take hundreds of years, however, since a candidate normally needs two miracles to be attributed to their intercession. Finding those miracles will be the next step if Gaudí is to beatified and then canonized. Commissions of doctors and theologians then examine the miracles before the pope makes the ultimate decision to canonize someone. Gaudí is a rare case. Few artists become saints and no architect, in the modern understanding of the profession, has ever been canonized.
Antoni Gaudi was a Catalan architect who created a unique architectural style inspired by nature and the Catalan modernist movement. Born on June 25, 1852, in Riudoms, he studied architecture in Barcelona, the city that would become the main scene of his work. Gaudi designed 17 remarkable buildings in Barcelona, the most famous of which is the Sagrada Familia church, which is still under construction after more than a century.
As a child, Antoni suffered from acute rheumatism. Because of this, he could not keep up with the other children, and often took long walks in nature, admiring the beauty of God's creations.
He also spent a lot of time with his father, who had a workshop where he made copper objects, which he helped him. The future architect would later say that he discovered the meaning of space right in his father's workshop, through the corrugated pipes that he handled.
Antoni Gaudi, a special style
In 1870, after the death of his mother and brothers, Gaudi moved to Barcelona, where he studied architecture. At the same time, he held various jobs that allowed him to pay for his studies, which he completed in 1878.
Once he obtained his architect's diploma, Antoni Gaudi settled alone in an office on Carrer del Call, in Barcelona. From there, with great dedication, he began his architectural work, a large part of which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In mid-1878, the providential meeting took place between Gaudí and Eusebi Güell, a wealthy businessman and promoter of national industry with a marked taste for the arts. Wanting to get to know him, Güell invited the architect to his home for a discussion. This meeting led to the consolidation of one of the most fruitful friendships and patronage relationships in history.
The relationship that began from that moment was not only that between client and architect, but also resulted in a bond of mutual admiration and shared passions. A friendship was thus forged that gave the architect Gaudí the opportunity to begin a full professional career, in which he had the opportunity to develop all his artistic qualities, with the financial support of Güell.
Apart from his relationship with Güell, Antoni Gaudí received a large number of commissions and proposed countless projects, many of which he completed.
Among the architectural masterpieces created by Gaudí, which followed one another over time, are the Torre Bellesguard, Park Güell, the restoration of the Cathedral of Mallorca, the Colonia Güell church, Casa Batlló, La Pedrera and, finally, the famous Sagrada Familia (Holy Family).
The Tragic Death of Antoni Gaudi
The last and most important project in Antoni Gaudi's life was the Sagrada Familia, the famous cathedral in Barcelona. The architect worked on this project for 44 years, but the last 11 years of his life he dedicated exclusively to the construction of the cathedral. During all this time, he deepened his Roman Catholic faith, gradually withdrawing from society. He gave up everything, focusing his attention only on faith and the construction of the cathedral.
Furthermore, the architect moved into the crypt of the cathedral, which was far from being completed. He began to dress carelessly, ignoring the elementary rules of hygiene, having torn clothes and the appearance of a homeless person. This was precisely what would bring about his end.
On June 7, 1926, Antoni Gaudi was heading from the church of Sant Felipe Neri, where he had been for prayer and confession, to the Sagrada Familia. While crossing a busy street, the architect was inadvertently hit by a tram. Due to his poor appearance and lack of identity documents, no one recognized the famous Gaudí. Passersby did not bother to help him, thinking he was a beggar, and so he was not given emergency medical care.
It was only the next day that the chaplain at the Sagrada Familia identified Gaudí and alerted his friends and collaborators. However, it was too late to save his life. Antoni Gaudí died three days later, on June 10, 1926. He was 73 years old.
The architect was buried two days later in the crypt of the Sagrada Familia cathedral, to which he had dedicated his last years. The funeral ceremony was attended by a large crowd of people, friends and people who did not know him, all mourning his death.
Today, almost a century after his death, Gaudi's legacy still lives on in Barcelona. The architect left behind a series of extraordinary buildings that transformed Barcelona into a unique and original city. Gaudi is considered a genius of modernism and called "God's architect", and his work is admired and studied by architects and art lovers around the world.
Meanwhile, Wishing You ALL A Blessed Good Friday
A site of deep devotion, Nuestra Señora Patrocinio de Maria Santisima in Boljoon, Cebu is one of the oldest churches in the province, dating back to 1599. Recognized as a National Cultural Treasure, it is known for its well-preserved baroque architecture and the miraculous image of the Virgin Mary, believed to have protected the town from invaders and disasters.
As we reflect on Christ’s Passion, may we find strength in His sacrifice and prepare our hearts for the promise of resurrection.
Lastly, my video of the Day- Luscious Guavas of the Philippines
