Montserrat

Montserrat is a mountain, a sanctuary and a monastery. A community of spiritism.

Montserrat is a mountain at about 50 km (30 miles) NW of Barcelona, in Catalonia, Spain and is a very powerful symbol for the Catalan people . The mountain of Montserrat, which means "sawed mountain", rises abruptly from the plain till 1.236 meters above sea-level, and is a unique geological formation of such unique beauty, that tourists from all over the world are seduced by the magic of the mountain. Montserrat is not only the perfect place to learn a lot about the history of Catalonia, but also a great place for climbers and hikers. If you are a hiking enthusiast, you have many possibilities here. Climbing is another sport that can be practiced in Montserrat.

The community today is made up of some 80 monks. As at all Benedictine monasteries, the monks of Montserrat follow the Rule of Saint Benedict, devoting their lives to prayer, welcoming pilgrims and visitors, and work.

Prayer sets the rhythm for the monastery day. The day begins and ends in prayer. Every day, apart from celebrating the Eucharist, the monks meet five times to pray (the liturgy of the hours). They also have time for private prayer and for reading the Bible and other spiritual works. All this helps to create an atmosphere of prayer throughout the day.

The reception of guests. One of the duties of monks following the Rule of Saint Benedict is to receive pilgrims coming to the monastery. A pilgrim is any person who knocks on the door in a spirit of internal quest. Guests receive special treatment at the monastery, and may share prayers and meals with the monks.

The monks’ work is difficult to define generically, due to the diversity of tasks they perform. Some study theology, history or philosophy; others contribute to different publications, give classes at the university, devote their time to research, or help run the Escolania (Boys’ Choir), the library, the archives...

The image of Our Lady of Montserrat, popularly known as La Moreneta (the Dark One), due to the dark colour of Her skin, is a truly beautiful 12th-century Romanesque polychrome carving. Pope Leo XIII proclaimed Our Lady of Montserrat Patron Saint of Catalonia in 1881.

Artistically, the image imitates a popular model, that of Our Lady in Majesty, with a wholly frontal attitude and Baby Jesus on Her lap in the centre. Both Mother and Child are wearing crowns..

The figure of Our Lady stretches out her right hand, which holds the globe, symbolising the cosmos. Our Lady nearly rests Her left hand on the Child’s shoulder, indicating that this omnipotent king is Her Son. With His right hand, the Child gives a blessing, whilst His left hand holds a pinecone, symbol of fertility and everlasting life.

Montserrat is home to one of the oldest boys’ choirs in Europe. Documents testify to the existence of a religious and music school in Montserrat as far back as the 14th century.

The Escolania now accompanies religious ceremonies and communal prayers in the basilica. All the choir members receive a high standard of musical training, along with human and intellectual education. The choir enjoys international fame and prestige, giving concert performances all over the world, as well as building up a large catalogue of recordings.

Over the course of its history, the school has produced a good number of choirmasters and musicians, as well as well-known composers and teachers. The Escolania also enables some of the monks at Montserrat to work in the field of composing, producing and teaching music.