Spanish Architect Gaudi on Fasttrack to Beatification.
Austen Ivereigh's article Architect Gaudi, the Blessed on Godspy tells how Gaudi is fasttracked to become the first professional artist to be declared a saint.
The architect had achieved high fame and wealth by his youth, but when he was struck by a tram in 1926 he was mistaken for a beggar and taken to Barcelona's pauper's hospital. His friends tried to take him elsewhere but he refused, insisting upon dying in poverty.
When he took over the plans for what would become his masterpiece, the as yet uncompleted basilica Sagrada Familia (Holy Family, see also here) he began a daily habit of Mass, Bible reading, Rosary and confession. From then on he lived the life of an impoverished mystic who melded his faith and his work.
(An interesting contrast to the Sagrada Familia is the recently completed monolithic, angular, and somewhat California mission inspired Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles by fellow Spaniard and contemporary architect, Rafael Moneo).
The architect had achieved high fame and wealth by his youth, but when he was struck by a tram in 1926 he was mistaken for a beggar and taken to Barcelona's pauper's hospital. His friends tried to take him elsewhere but he refused, insisting upon dying in poverty.
When he took over the plans for what would become his masterpiece, the as yet uncompleted basilica Sagrada Familia (Holy Family, see also here) he began a daily habit of Mass, Bible reading, Rosary and confession. From then on he lived the life of an impoverished mystic who melded his faith and his work.
(An interesting contrast to the Sagrada Familia is the recently completed monolithic, angular, and somewhat California mission inspired Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles by fellow Spaniard and contemporary architect, Rafael Moneo).
posted by BarbariansAtBay at
12:48 PM
