Antoni Gaudí, the renowned Catalan architect, saw himself as a mere “collaborator of the Creator,” like a child led by the Father’s hand, as explained by Chiara Curti, a professor at the Antoni Gaudí Faculty in Barcelona and an architect working on the masterpiece of the Sagrada Familia.
On the fateful day of June 7, 1926, at 5:30 p.m., Gaudí, dressed in worn clothes, was on his way to the church of San Filippo Neri for his daily prayer. Suddenly, while crossing the street, he was struck by a tram. His rescuers did not recognize him, so he was taken to the Hospital de la Santa Creu, designated for the poor of Barcelona, where he passed away in three days. Nearly a hundred years later, on April 14, 2025, Antoni Gaudí, already renowned worldwide for his works, was declared “venerable” by Pope Francis.
In a recent article in the Osservatore Romano, you mentioned the closing words of Gaudí’s first biography from 1929: “Seen from outside the faith, it will always remain incomprehensible.” Why is that?
This virtue also animated him in the simplest gestures of his life. Since everyone’s work is in a way their self-portrait, removing this aspect completely loses the meaning of what he achieved.
However, this was not always the case; in fact, his spiritual journey was a process of growth.
Antoni Gaudí’s journey through various spiritual influences is a testament to his deep-rooted faith and commitment to his art. His legacy lives on in the Sagrada Familia, a masterpiece that continues to inspire awe and wonder in all who visit.
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