Gaudí, the Architect of God: The Cause for Beatification Advances

“The Sagrada Familia is Gaudí’s spiritual testament, a catechesis in stone that reveals a man of profound faith and vocation to holiness.”

José Manuel Almuzara offered an illuminating lecture on the life and work of the Servant of God Antoni Gaudí. The expert detailed the keys to his spirituality, demonstrating how his architecture is inseparable from his profound Catholic devotion and his path toward the altars.
The talk served to update the status of the cause for beatification and encourage popular devotion.

The renowned expert on the figure of Antoni Gaudí, José Manuel Almuzara, recently delivered a prominent lecture titled ‘Gaudí: Architecture and Holiness.’ The event, which gathered many interested in the cause for beatification, focused on the lesser-known dimension of the architect: his interior life and his piety. Almuzara emphasized the importance of understanding Gaudí’s work, especially the Sagrada Familia, as a continuous act of faith and an offering to God. He stressed that Catalan Modernist architecture reached its peak not only due to technique but also because of the author’s profound theological inspiration.

The central idea of the presentation revolved around the thesis that Gaudí’s artistic genius is inseparable from his deep personal piety. Almuzara insisted that the architect did not merely design buildings; he constructed temples that reflected the glory of God through the imitation of nature. His organic designs, full of light and symbolism, are a direct manifestation of his life of prayer and his adherence to evangelical principles. The speaker refuted the purely secular view of his art, reminding us that every column and every stained-glass window of the Sagrada Familia has a defined catechetical purpose.

“Gaudí understood that true architecture is that which imitates God, the Great Architect, through nature.”

One of the most relevant points of the conference was the update on the status of Gaudí’s cause for beatification, who currently holds the title of Servant of God. Almuzara explained the crucial steps taken in the diocesan phase and the work of the Postulation in Rome to document his heroic sanctity. He clarified that the goal is not only to recognize the architectural genius but the person who lived the Christian virtues to a heroic degree. Furthermore, he encouraged those present to continue promoting private devotion and to pray intensely for the necessary miracle that would allow his elevation to the altars.

The expert dedicated a special segment to analyzing Gaudí’s relationship with his principal patron, Eusebi Güell, and how this collaboration was fundamental for developing his artistic vision without economic restrictions. Works such as Park Güell or Palau Güell are examples of this creative freedom, although the Sagrada Familia remains the epicenter of his spiritual and professional legacy. Almuzara detailed how Gaudí, in his final years, lived practically as an anchorite within the temple, prioritizing the Work of God over any personal comfort. This testimony of detachment and service is key to understanding the depth of his holiness.

“The Sagrada Familia is not a mere construction; it is the last great cathedral of Christendom, a visual catechism for the entire world.”

In conclusion, Almuzara reaffirmed that the figure of Antoni Gaudí transcends architecture to become a model of Christian life for modern society. His legacy resides not only in the buildings listed as World Heritage Sites but in the example of how a professional can sanctify their work and their genius. The conference served to consolidate the image of an artist deeply rooted in his faith, who deserves to be elevated to the category of saint by the Church. The final call was to study his life with eyes of faith and to await the day of his beatification with hope.