Architect Antoni Gaudí is Placed on The Path to Sainthood
- Editor OGN Daily
- 39 minutes ago
- 2 min read
The Sagrada Familia in Barcelona is Gaudi's most famous masterpiece. Initial construction began on the church in 1882, and after 143 years of work, is almost complete.
Now, almost 100 years after his death and before the church is completed, the Vatican has placed Gaudí on a path that could end in sainthood. Shortly before Easter, Pope Francis, recognized “the heroic virtues of the servant of God” Antoni Gaudí i Cornet.
For his work on the church and his devout Catholic faith, Gaudí is nicknamed “God’s architect.” Italian historian Giovanni Maria Vian describes the Sagrada Familia as “the last great church” in Europe. He tells the New York Times that Gaudí was “a Christian visionary, so the cause for beatification,” one of the steps toward sainthood, “is more than merited.”
In 2010, Pope Benedict XVI consecrated the basilica, declaring it sacred before an audience of more than 6,500. In his dedication, Benedict quoted Gaudí as saying that a church is “the only thing worthy of representing the soul of a people, for religion is the most elevated reality in man.”
The sainthood process is called canonization. To begin the process, someone formally requests consideration of the deceased for sainthood, at least five years after their death. A bishop and eventually the Vatican evaluate whether there is enough evidence for consideration. If there is, the deceased is named a “servant of God.”
Then a bishop sends a formal report to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, where the deceased person’s life is examined to ensure alignment with the Catholic Church’s teachings. If the deceased passes this step, they are declared “venerable.”
The formal cause for Gaudí’s sainthood was submitted to the Vatican in 2023, according to the New York Times. He was officially declared “venerable” last week.
Next is beatification, or to be declared “blessed.” The deceased has to have been a martyr or brought about a verified miracle. Beatification opens the door for official canonization, which requires proof of a second miracle. The pope ultimately decides whether to canonize someone. If he does, a special Mass is held in the new saint’s honour.
So, with the sad demise of Pope Francis this week, there will no doubt be a delay in proceedings and, of course, there is still the matter of Gaudi being recognised as being a martyr or to have brought about a verified miracle.
Art historian Lourdes Cirlot told the BBC that “it is hard to say that a building can be miraculous. But if someone goes into the Sagrada Familia, and really believes that they'll be cured, it will probably happen.”