Brendan O’ReganIn our search for meaning in life, we sometimes reach for the sky.
In a very significant and metaphorical way, that seems to be the drive behind ‘God’s architect’ Antoni Gaudí’s massive basilica, the Sagrada Familia, in Barcelona. Last week Pope Leo XIV inaugurated a new tower in this building – the Tower of Jesus Christ. Some might criticise the flamboyant excess, some see it as a beautiful work of art, some see it as the painful yearning for meaning. What would Jesus say?
Sagrada Familia: The Masterpiece Uniting Heaven and Earth (EWTN), presented by Paula Arriaze Flynn, captured the essence of the place in a short documentary. The drone footage captured the majesty of it so well, but, on the ground, we saw people gazing upward in wonder. Apparently the 300 skylights were designed to encourage that, “a sense of elevation towards God”. I didn’t realise that he was not the initial architect for the project but took over after some dispute. I also didn’t realise that moves were afoot to have Gaudí canonised.
The basilica project had a deep effect on him and his faith – in a sense the basilica was building him while he was building it. Some called him ‘a genius saint’, marked by ‘dazzling creativity’. When the Pope visited the basilica to bless the new tower and cross, he described as “a catechesis made of stone, colour, and light”. Given the setting, the Mass was visually beautiful but also deeply moving and respectful. All of this resonated with Pope Leo’s call at the end of his Spanish visit – “Lift up your gaze!”
Meanwhile in ‘world-gone-mad’ news, there was an item about anti-natalism on Times Radio Breakfast (Saturday). Prompted by an article in The Times, presenter Guto Hari interviewed Rachel Tosin, who believed it would be immoral to have children. This was because of the state of the world children would be born into, and she’d feel guilty if she added to that – bringing into life someone who would suffer.
Hari didn’t seem enamoured with the idea and pushed back gently with some pertinent questions. He could understand a decision not to have children in a war zone, but not in a relatively well-off country. He wondered if her attitude, if taken to its logical conclusion, would lead the human race into extinction. She didn’t seem that phased by the prospect. She felt that not being born and avoiding the consequent suffering would outweigh the benefits of existence!
This was followed by a discussion with the writer of the article, Sophie Peachey. While Rachel Tosin’s views were a “fringe philosophical belief”, she was finding more and more people having less children or delaying them, which had the danger of demographic decline. A texter said the view that one who was alive could decide not to give that to others was the “ultimate privileged position”. It was suggested that some anti-natalists were concerned that children hadn’t given ‘consent’ to be born! In a time when RTÉ is browbeating us with ads about consent, this took the proverbial biscuit. Ms Peachey referenced, by contrast, the natalist movement and gave as examples many US Republicans and Elon Musk – who has fathered 14 children (not in any conventional family setting).
Similar concerns featured on Today With David McCullagh (RTÉ Radio 1) last Monday morning. Mary McCarthy of the Irish Independent wanted the State, by public policy measures, including fertility education and financial incentives, to encourage more people to have children.
McCarthy said she had had a child before having a house – and thought when you have the first child you think ‘this is amazing’. Dr Joan Cronin of UCC spoke of the support, in the past, of grandparents and ‘the village’ in raising children, but strayed, I thought, when she described our Constitution as being “written by men, essentially to control women”, misquoting Article 41.2.2, saying it stated that women were “obliged not to work outside the home”. David McCullagh corrected her.
Finally, to return to Elon Musk – he was in the news last week, quoted as saying he wanted to “make humanity multi-planetary” … this in the context of the stock market launch of his SpaceX venture, which technically made him the world’s first trillionaire … but is he happy?
As for getting people to Mars … is it a waste of money or just another variation on seeking meaning by reaching for the sky?
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PICK OF THE WEEK
Forgotten Heritage
EWTN, Saturday (night), June 20 and Friday, June 26, 5pm
St Thomas More: Conscience and Faith: St Thomas More defended the role of conscience and how the state should not violate it. Frs Hogan and Gorman discuss.
Nationwide
RTÉ One, Sunday, June 21, 8.05am
Reporter Colm Flynn brings viewers on a tour of the places associated with the Irish who spent part of their lives working in and around Vatican City in Rome.
Songs of Praise
BBC One, Sunday, June 21, 12.15pm
Fathers’ Day: Sean Fletcher explores how faith has shaped the stories of inspiring father figures, past and present, and celebrates the image of God as a loving father through favourite hymns.