José Manuel Almuzara: Gaudí’s Mystical Dimension and the Urgency of His Beatification

“Gaudí was not only a brilliant architect, but a mystic who elevated faith to the category of sublime art, making his work a perpetual prayer.”

The expert and promoter of the beatification cause, José Manuel Almuzara, offered a profound reflection on the life and work of Antoni Gaudí. The conference focused on how the Catalan architect’s faith permeates every stone of his creations, demonstrating his exemplary holiness. Almuzara insisted that the official recognition of his sanctity is imminent.

The renowned expert and promoter of Antoni Gaudí’s beatification cause, José Manuel Almuzara, delivered an illuminating lecture titled “Gaudí: Architect of God.” The event gathered academics, the faithful, and admirers of the Servant of God’s work, all eager to delve into his spiritual legacy. Almuzara highlighted the necessity of understanding Gaudí not merely as a visionary artist, but as a model of Christian life radically devoted to his vocation. He emphasized that his masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia, is a catechism in stone intended for the evangelization of future generations.

The central idea of the presentation revolved around Gaudí’s profound piety and his path toward personal holiness. Almuzara argued that the architect’s austere life and absolute dedication to his artistic vocation are irrefutable proofs of heroic virtues. He explained that the beatification cause continues to advance, driven by growing popular devotion and the rigorous study of his spiritual biography. The speaker emphasized that the Sagrada Familia stands as the definitive testament to his unwavering faith and his obedience to divine designs.

“The Sagrada Familia is the only theology textbook that, upon contemplation, is instinctively read on one’s knees.”

During the talk, the complex theological symbolisms present in the Sagrada Familia were analyzed, from the portals dedicated to the Nativity, the Passion, and the Glory. Almuzara detailed how Gaudí masterfully utilized light, form, and geometry to narrate the history of salvation. He asserted that this total integration between art and faith is what distinguishes Gaudí from other geniuses of his era. Architecture, in his hands, becomes a powerful liturgical tool that invites contemplation and conversion.

Beyond his magnum opus, Almuzara recalled the humility and charity that characterized Gaudí’s daily life, especially in his final years. His collaboration with Eusebi Guell, for instance, was an exercise in Christian patronage that allowed for the development of innovative projects. The architect lived with extreme simplicity, always prioritizing funds for the basilica’s construction over his own comforts. His testimony of voluntary poverty and his profound life of prayer are fundamental pillars for his canonization process before the Holy See.

“Gaudí’s beatification will honor all those who understand that art, when true and pure, can only lead the human soul toward God.”

Finally, José Manuel Almuzara called upon the Catholic community to intensify prayers for the prompt beatification of Antoni Gaudí. He concluded that officially recognizing his holiness is an act of historical justice for the universal Church and an inspiration for artists and the faithful today. Gaudí’s work will endure for centuries, but his example of life, demonstrating that genius and faith can go hand in hand, is the most valuable legacy he has left us. The beatification of this Servant of God is an urgent pastoral necessity.