Montserrat is a serrated mountain with undulating hillsides. This place is famous for the Benedictine monastery, Santa Maria de Montserrat and the statue of Montserrat (Virgin Mary and Jesus) associated with many mysterious stories.
Montserrat is a rugged mountainous area, the Latin word Montserrat means 'serrated mountain range', 4000 feet (1200 m) high, 20 miles (32km) from Barcelona.Located at a height of 1,236 meters on the highest mountain range in Catalonia, many people have not even clearly seen this monastery complex in the middle of the mountains. The project includes the main chapel, many small monasteries and museums with brown and gray tones, almost blending into one with the surrounding mountain landscape.
Legend has it that when they built the monastery, the Benedictine monks were unable to remove the statue to make room for a monastery, but instead were forced to build a monastery around the statue.
The statue is solemnly placed in the backyard of the main chapel. They also placed a pure gold altar around the statue.
Legend has it that the statue of the Virgin Mary was carved in Jerusalem during the Early Church period and brought here by Saint Etereo, bishop of Barcelona. The statue of Mary at that time was called Our Lady of Jerosolimitana (Our Lady of Jerusalem) and performed many miracles.
But in 718, the Saracens (Muslims) invaded, so to preserve the statue, people hid it in a small cave in the Montserrat mountains.
Recently, an ancient Barcelona archive was discovered, dated April 22, 718, recording the moving and burial of the statue.
But at that time people forgot, it wasn't until 170 years later, in the year 888, that many shepherds of the village of Monistrol alerted that they had heard singing and seen a halo of light coming from the mountain. go out.
The Village Priest and then the Bishop also came to investigate and also witnessed such strange events. Then the statue was found again. The Bishop at that time wanted to take the statue back to Barcelona immediately, but the more he walked, the heavier the statue became. Finally, he had to order a temple to be built right in the mountain to venerate it. The Count of Barcelona donated the land in 888, and a monastery was founded there.
Montserrat quickly became a famous place of pilgrimage. Venerable candles lit day and night over many centuries caused the wood of the statue to gradually turn gray and therefore people also called the statue by a new name, La Morenata (The Little Black Virgin). The statue was only tall. has 38 inches (96cm.)
During his lifetime, Saint Ignatius Loyola often made pilgrimages here. Today, every year, over 1 million people still come to visit Mother.
During his lifetime, Saint Ignatius Loyola often made pilgrimages here. Today, every year, over 1 million people still come to visit Mother.
The Virgin of Montserrat was appointed patroness of Catalonia by Pope Leo XIII. On this occasion, a historian wrote: Through all ages, sinners, sufferers, and sorrowful people have laid their woes at the feet of Our Lady of Montserrat, and never before have we seen anyone have to leave. barehanded.
