Gaudí - Inspired Architect for God - Pope Benedict XVl Published by CTS

I was wrong-footed by the title of this booklet: I had thought it was going to be about Gaudí.  In fact, it is a collection of the Holy Father's addresses on his visit to Spain.  He visited Compostela, and Barcelona, to consecrate Gaudí's Cathedral (Sagrada Familia).

So half of the book is about the pilgrimage to Saint James, and half about Barcelona.  Naturally in the parts about Barcelona, Gaudí's faith and works are mentioned, but nonetheless, I feel the title of the booklet to be misleading.

Having said all of which, it is still worth reading - as is everything written by the current Holy Father which I have read so far.

The opening sermons and speeches focus on the theme of pilgrimage and witness, and the need for the re-conversion of Europe; major themes of his pontificate so far.  'Europe must open itself to God, must come to meet him without fear, and work with grace for that human dignity which was discerned by her best traditions: not only the biblical, at the basis of that order, but also the classical, the medieval, and the modern, the matrix from which the great philosophical, literary, cultural and social masterpieces of Europe were born.'


The second half consists of the sermons and addresses at Barcelona.  Here we do hear a little about Gaudí and his work, and in particular his inspiration: the book of nature the book of sacred Scripture and the book of the liturgy... he made stones, trees and human life part of the church so that all creation might come together in praise of God.'


Pope Benedict relates Gaudí's great creative achievement (or sub-creative, as Tolkien would remind us) directly to its source: the secret of authentic originality consists, as he himself said, in returning to one's origin which is God.'


We also learn of Gaudí that he 'financed from his own savings the creation of a school for the children of the workers and of the poorest families in the neighbourhood.'  But that is about all.

So if you are looking for a book about Gaudí, this will disappoint: you learn a little, but only enough to make you want to learn a lot more.

But if you are looking for a book that proclaims aspects of the Gospel in the context of the Holy Father's visit to Spain, with reference to St James of Compostela and Antoni Gaudí, this is a rich booklet.