An eccentric monk’s singular scrap cathedral

> The Messengers also announced they wanted it to be an open religious space where Muslims, Jews, Protestants, Orthodox, and Catholics could congregate and discuss religion. I knew Justo. I knew how antiquated and conservative he could be. I knew that he had fought for many years for his cathedral to be consecrated as a Catholic place of worship.

This is sad, and it's discussed in the article the difficulties in getting it sanctified as an actual Cathedral, but you don't have to be 'antiquated and conservative' to want the Cathedral you spent the best part of your life making to be a place of worship for your own religion.

What an incredibly moving piece. I have absolutely nothing with religion but I recognize the dedication and the relentless pursuit of a lifelong goal as something that is the kind of energy that moves the world. It takes a lot of genius and a little bit of madness to be able to envision something like this and then to pursue it.

I've seen a few structures like this one up close and they never cease to impress.

For instance:

https://www.pewinieuws.nl/nieuws-categorie/even/6157-kunsttu...

and

https://dailynewshungary.com/explore-the-hungarian-taj-mahal...

A singular man, who had something to show at the end of his life

My favourite among eccentric builders is Edward James: https://www.archdaily.com/790389/inside-las-pozas-edward-jam...

Of all the virtues and vices we humans possess, the stubborn pursuit of a singular, outlandish idea may just be my favorite.

What a fantastically written article. Justo ultimately passing away without completing the cathedral is tragic to me, but I have to say that it is fitting with his beliefs. I wonder what he would have done had he managed to finish it, or if he ever had any intention of declaring it as finished at all.

Somewhat reminiscent of the Watts Towers or the Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations' Millennium General Assembly.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watts_Towers?wprov=sfla1

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Hampton_%28artist%29?wpr...

Pretty incredible the size of it and how much he built. Not what I would have chosen to dedicate my life to but he lived his whole life working towards a goal without distractions. Seems like just as good a life as could be hoped for, hope that he died satisfied, all anyone can really ask from life.

Seems he passed just recently: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justo_Gallego_Mart%C3%ADnez

Reminds me of TempleOS.

Deo Gratias