The Architecture of Antoni Gaudí: A Bridge of Faith, Hope, and Charity that Evangelizes

“Gaudí’s architecture possesses a divine breath that led him to demonstrate the existence of God.”

José Manuel Almuzara, expert and promoter of Gaudí’s cause for beatification, reveals how the Catalan genius used his profession to translate Christian theology into stone. We analyze the profound symbolism of the Nativity Façade of the Sagrada Familia and the transformative power of his art.

The program centered on the idea that evangelization must be carried out through personal gifts and talents, not only through monetary alms, but through one’s profession and ability. Architect José Manuel Almuzara, in his role as president of the civil association for the beatification of Antoni Gaudí since 1992, is a living example of this mission. Almuzara has dedicated his life to building bridges between Gaudí’s work and people around the world, even serving as an ambassador for his project in Rancagua, Chile. His knowledge allows him to unveil the profound spiritual meaning that the architect imprinted on each of his creations.

Gaudí conceived architecture as a catechism in stone, embodying the theological virtues on the Nativity Façade of the Sagrada Familia. The architect designed three inverted parabolic arches representing Faith, Hope, and Charity, the latter being the central and largest one. Almuzara explains that Charity is the principal virtue because it is the only eternal one, while Faith moves mountains and Hope sustains us on our journey. This structure is not static; rather, it proposes a path of contemplation and reflection for those who approach the Basilica.

“Missions and evangelization: no one is so poor that they cannot give something.”

The Portal of Hope, located on the left of the façade, offers a message of consolation in the face of suffering and death, themes that Gaudí addresses with great sensitivity. The expert details the iconography, which includes the Flight into Egypt and the homage to Saint Joachim and Saint Anne, grandparents of Jesus, as key figures in familial hope. At the apex of the façade, Gaudí placed the Holy Family and a boat, a key symbol of the Church governed by Saint Joseph, patron of the association promoting the Sagrada Familia. Saint Joseph at the stern of the boat guarantees that faith and hope guide us despite the storms.

The marine symbolism of the boat extends with the lighthouse, which represents Faith as an illuminating light, and the anchor, which symbolizes Hope fixed in heaven, according to the teaching of Saint Paul. Almuzara shared the moving story of Etsuro Sotoo, the Japanese sculptor who converted to Christianity after two years of catechesis. Sotoo, who had restored pieces like the pelican in the Sagrada Familia, found faith upon observing the love of an unknown mother in an airport, understanding that if human love was so great, Divine Love must be infinitely greater.

“Charity [is the most important] because it is the only eternal one; Faith and Hope serve and help us on our journey.”

Gaudí’s art demonstrates a unique capacity to evangelize, profoundly impacting thousands of people who visit his works, even those who declare themselves atheists. As Almuzara recalled, Benedict XVI affirmed in 2010 that Gaudí preaches through his architecture, endowing it with a divine breath. This transformative power and the architect’s unwavering faith reinforce the cause for his sanctity, inviting the world to look where Gaudí looked: to God.