The article discusses the potential beatification of Antoni Gaudí, known as 'God's architect'. It is an audio recording of news from The Pillar, available for paid subscribers. The article was written by Fionn Shiner and published on April 11, 2025. Listeners can access the full episode by subscribing to The Pillar.
20 days ago
This article discusses the possibility of Antoni Gaudí, known as "God's architect," being beatified by the Catholic Church 1.
The article references a piece written by Fionn Shiner and published on April 11, 2025, which delves into the details surrounding Gaudí's potential beatification 1. Readers are directed to the original article for more in-depth information.
The Pillar offers audio recordings of its news content, including the discussion on Gaudí, for on-the-go listening 1. Links to related articles and podcasts are also provided for further exploration of the topic.
The Catholic Church recognizes beauty as a profound and effective means of drawing people closer to God . Beauty serves as "a key to the mystery and a call to transcendence," inviting individuals to savor life and dream of the future . This inherent longing stirred by beauty can lead to a "hidden nostalgia for God," as experienced by Saint Augustine .
Beauty, contemplated with a pure soul, speaks directly to the heart, transforming astonishment into marvel, admiration into gratitude, and happiness into contemplation . This transformative experience creates fertile ground for listening and dialogue, engaging the whole person – spirit, heart, intelligence, reason, creative capacity, and imagination . The Church understands that the "way of beauty replies to the intimate desire for happiness that resides in the heart of every person," opening horizons to the Transcendent and Mystery, ultimately leading to God, the source of all created beauty .
The Church identifies three key areas where the "via pulchritudinis" (way of beauty) enables dialogue with contemporary cultures: the beauty of creation, the beauty of the arts, and the beauty of Christ . The beauty of God, revealed through His Son, is the origin and end of all creation . Christian art, in particular, plays a crucial role in communicating the Gospel message . Pope John Paul II emphasized the Church's need for art to convey Christ's message and invited artists to rediscover inspiration in religious experience and Christian revelation .
The beauty of Christ is also reflected in the holiness of a life transformed by grace . Even in the "deformity of the suffering servant," Christians recognize the manifestation of God's infinite love, a beauty fulfilled in pain and sorrow through self-sacrifice . This unique beauty of Christ attracts individuals and opens their reason to the Mystery, revealing God's merciful love and the beauty of the human being created in His image .
The Church values beauty as a powerful means of evangelization and spiritual growth. It recognizes that beauty, in its various forms, can awaken a sense of wonder, stir a longing for the divine, and ultimately lead individuals to a deeper relationship with God .