A Saint? Builder Of One-Man-Cathedral Died
Justo Gallego Martinez, 96, the creator of Nuestra Señora del Pilar Cathedral ("Cathedral from scrap"), in Mejorada del Campo, Spain, died on Sunday in his home-town. He started the construction in …More
Justo Gallego Martinez, 96, the creator of Nuestra Señora del Pilar Cathedral ("Cathedral from scrap"), in Mejorada del Campo, Spain, died on Sunday in his home-town.
He started the construction in 1961 without plans and without a crane, was working alone, used only junk material from the nearby industrial polygon starting his workday at 6am, except Sunday.
At the age of ten, during the Spanish Civil War, he witnessed how communists fighting General Franco, shot priests and ransacked the church in Mejorada. This left him with little respect for the town's socialist administration.
Justo became a Trappist, contracted tuberculosis, was unable to pursue the ascetic Trappist life, and left shortly before making final vows. He promised to Our Lady of the Pillar that he would build a shrine if he recovered his health. When this happened, he started building on a plot of land inherited from his parents.
The imposing construction (55mx25m, 35m high) boasts a series of half-finished towers while …More
He started the construction in 1961 without plans and without a crane, was working alone, used only junk material from the nearby industrial polygon starting his workday at 6am, except Sunday.
At the age of ten, during the Spanish Civil War, he witnessed how communists fighting General Franco, shot priests and ransacked the church in Mejorada. This left him with little respect for the town's socialist administration.
Justo became a Trappist, contracted tuberculosis, was unable to pursue the ascetic Trappist life, and left shortly before making final vows. He promised to Our Lady of the Pillar that he would build a shrine if he recovered his health. When this happened, he started building on a plot of land inherited from his parents.
The imposing construction (55mx25m, 35m high) boasts a series of half-finished towers while …More
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He was busy. He clearly left a better legacy than The Blessed Carlos Pokemon -soon to be "Patron Saint Of The Internet." :P
Read the news about him long time ago...
May this good and faithful servant of God rest in peace.
And; may God welcome him into His Heavenly Abode!
Amen.More
Read the news about him long time ago...
May this good and faithful servant of God rest in peace.
And; may God welcome him into His Heavenly Abode!
Amen.
May this good and faithful servant of God rest in peace.
And; may God welcome him into His Heavenly Abode!
Amen.