Coordinates: 41°35′35.54″N 1°50′13.70″E / 41.5932056°N 1.8371389°E / 41.5932056; 1.8371389

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Just above the main altar is located the room of the Virgin that is accessed after crossing a portal of [[alabaster]] (Porta Angèlica) in which are represented various biblical scenes, work of [[Enric Monjo]] (in 1954)<ref name="official guide"/>. The [[mosaic]]s on the walls represent the ''Saints Mothers'' (left) and the ''Saints Víirgins'' (right), the work of the friar Benet Martínez. Next comes the Throne Room (built between 1944-1954)<ref name="official guide"/>, the work of Francesc Folguera, decorated with paintings by [[Josep Obiols]] (''Judit who cuts off Holofernes's head'', ''Esther's wedding with the Persian king Asuero'') and [[Carlo Maratta]] (''Birth of Jesus''); the Fountain of the Virgin is also found here, with reliefs of Charles Collet representing miracles of [[Jesus]]. The Throne of the Virgin is embossed silver, work of the goldsmith Ramon Sunyer (1889-1963), with two reliefs made by Alfons Serrahima (1906-1988) and designed by [[Joaquim Ros i Bofarull]] that represent the ''Nativity'' and the ''Visitation'', and an image of ''St. Michael'' by [[Josep Granyer]] (1899-1983); here the stuate of the Virgin is exhibited, of the 12th century, on which are placed some angels that hold the crown, the scepter and the lily of the Virgin, work of [[Martí Llauradó i Mariscot|Martí Llauradó]] (1903-1957),<ref name="official guide"/> covered by a [[baldachin]]. The Sala del Cambril is a circular chapel with three [[apse]]s, built between 1876 and 1884 by Villar i Carmona -with the collaboration of his assistant, the young man [[Antoni Gaudí]]-; the [[vault]] is decorated by [[Joan Llimona]] (''The Virgin welcomes the Romeros''), and the figures of angels and the sculpture of [[Saint George|St. George]] are of Agapit Vallmitjana, while the windows are of [[Antoni Rigalt i Blanch]] (1861-1914).<ref>{{Harvsp|Molas i Rifà|1998|pp = 34-39.}}</ref> The exit of the room is carried out by the Camí de l'Ave Maria, where it is customary to make offerings in the form of candles; here stands out a statue of the ''Angel of the Annunciation'' by [[Apel·les Fenosa]] (1899-1988), as well as a [[maiolica]] ceramic depicting the Virgin, the work of [[Joan Guivernau]] (1908-2001).<ref>{{Harvsp|Molas i Rifà|1998|pp = 40-41.}}</ref>
Just above the main altar is located the room of the Virgin that is accessed after crossing a portal of [[alabaster]] (Porta Angèlica) in which are represented various biblical scenes, work of [[Enric Monjo]] (in 1954)<ref name="official guide"/>. The [[mosaic]]s on the walls represent the ''Saints Mothers'' (left) and the ''Saints Víirgins'' (right), the work of the friar Benet Martínez. Next comes the Throne Room (built between 1944-1954)<ref name="official guide"/>, the work of Francesc Folguera, decorated with paintings by [[Josep Obiols]] (''Judit who cuts off Holofernes's head'', ''Esther's wedding with the Persian king Asuero'') and [[Carlo Maratta]] (''Birth of Jesus''); the Fountain of the Virgin is also found here, with reliefs of Charles Collet representing miracles of [[Jesus]]. The Throne of the Virgin is embossed silver, work of the goldsmith Ramon Sunyer (1889-1963), with two reliefs made by Alfons Serrahima (1906-1988) and designed by [[Joaquim Ros i Bofarull]] that represent the ''Nativity'' and the ''Visitation'', and an image of ''St. Michael'' by [[Josep Granyer]] (1899-1983); here the stuate of the Virgin is exhibited, of the 12th century, on which are placed some angels that hold the crown, the scepter and the lily of the Virgin, work of [[Martí Llauradó i Mariscot|Martí Llauradó]] (1903-1957),<ref name="official guide"/> covered by a [[baldachin]]. The Sala del Cambril is a circular chapel with three [[apse]]s, built between 1876 and 1884 by Villar i Carmona -with the collaboration of his assistant, the young man [[Antoni Gaudí]]-; the [[vault]] is decorated by [[Joan Llimona]] (''The Virgin welcomes the Romeros''), and the figures of angels and the sculpture of [[Saint George|St. George]] are of Agapit Vallmitjana, while the windows are of [[Antoni Rigalt i Blanch]] (1861-1914).<ref>{{Harvsp|Molas i Rifà|1998|pp = 34-39.}}</ref> The exit of the room is carried out by the Camí de l'Ave Maria, where it is customary to make offerings in the form of candles; here stands out a statue of the ''Angel of the Annunciation'' by [[Apel·les Fenosa]] (1899-1988), as well as a [[maiolica]] ceramic depicting the Virgin, the work of [[Joan Guivernau]] (1908-2001).<ref>{{Harvsp|Molas i Rifà|1998|pp = 40-41.}}</ref>

Around the central nave there are several [[chapel]]s: on the right, that of [[Saint Peter]], with the image of the saint (made in 1945) of [[Josep Viladomat]]; the one of St. [[Ignatius of Loiola]], of Venanci Vallmitjana, with a painting of the saint (1893) of [[Ramir Lorenzale]]; that of [[Martin of Tours|St. Martin]], work of Josep Llimona, with the images of the saint of Tours, [[Placidus (martyr)|St. Placidus]] and [[Saint Maurus|St. Maurus]] (1898 ); the one of San [[José de Calasanz]], with a [[altarpiece]] of [[Francesc Berenguer]] (1891); and that of [[Benito de Nursia | San Benito]], with a painting of the founding saint of the Benedictine Order (1980) of [[Montserrat Gudiol]]. On the left are the chapel of [[Scholastica|Santa Escolàstica]], with sculptures (1886) by [[Enric Clarasó]] and Agapito Vallmitjana; the one of del Santíssim (1977), work of [[Josep Maria Subirachs]], with a singular image of Christ realized in negative, where only the face, the hands and the feet are seen, with a light that illuminates the face to him; that of the Holy Family, where the painting '' The flight to Egypt '', by [[Josep Cusachs]] (1904); that of Santo Cristo, with an image of Josep Llimona (1896); and that of the [[Immaculate Conception|Immaculada Concepció]] (1910), [[Modernisme|Modernisme]] work by [[Josep Maria Pericas]], with a stained glass window by [[Darius Vilàs]].<ref>{{Harvsp|Molas i Rifà|1998|pp = 30-31.}}</ref>

The basilica was restored between 1991 and 1995 by [[Arcadi Pla i Masmiquel]].


==== Pipe organ ====
==== Pipe organ ====

Revision as of 14:22, 27 March 2018

Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey
Monestir de Montserrat
Abbey of Montserrat

Santa Maria de Montserrat (Catalan pronunciation: [ˈsantə məˈɾi.ə ðə munsəˈrat]) is a Benedictine abbey located on the mountain of Montserrat, in Monistrol de Montserrat, in Catalonia, Spain. It is notable for enshrining the image of the Virgin of Montserrat. The monastery was founded in the 10th century and still functions to this day, with over 70 monks.[1] The monastery has its historical origins in the hermitage of Santa Maria, which Count Guifré el Pelós gave to the Monastery of Ripoll in the year 888. There have always been roughly 80 monks in residence.

Location

Monestir de Montserrat and Roca de St. Jaume

The monastery is 48 kilometres (30 mi) west of Barcelona, and can be reached by road, train or cable car. The abbey's train station, operated by FGC, is the terminus of a rack railway connecting with Monistrol, and two funicular railways, one connecting with Santa Cova (a shrine and chapel lower down the mountain) and the other connecting with the upper slopes of the mountain. At 1,236 metres (4,055 ft) above the valley floor, Montserrat is the highest point of the Catalan lowlands, and stands central to the most populated part of Catalonia. Montserrat's highest point, Sant Jeroni, can be reached by a footpath from the top station of the Funicular de Sant Joan. From Sant Jeroni, almost all of Catalonia can be seen, and on a clear day the island of Mallorca is visible.

Description

L'Escolania inside the basilica

Montserrat, whose name means 'serrated mountain', is ideally located to play an important role in the cultural and spiritual life of Catalonia. It is Catalonia's most important religious retreat and groups of young people from Barcelona and all over Catalonia make overnight hikes at least once in their lives to watch the sunrise from the heights of Montserrat. Virgin of Montserrat (the black virgin), is Catalonia's favourite saint, and is located in the sanctuary of the Mare de Déu de Montserrat, next to the Benedictine monastery nestling in the towers and crags of the mountain. The Escolania, Montserrat’s Boys’ Choir, is one of the oldest in Europe, and performs during religious ceremonies and communal prayers in the basilica.

The basilica houses a museum with works of art by many prominent painters and sculptors including works by El Greco, Dalí, Picasso and more. The Publicacions de l'Abadia de Montserrat, a publishing house, one of the oldest presses in the world still running,[2][3] with its first book published in 1499.

Basilica of Montserrat

New facade, work of Francesc Folguera
The Plateresque Revival facade of the church built by Francisco de Paula del Villar y Carmona

The basilica of Montserrat began to be built in the 16th century and began to be completely rebuilt in the 19th century (year 1811) after the destruction in the War of Spanish Independence.

In 1881 the Pope Leo XIII granted it the status of minor basilica. The facade was realized in 1901, work of Francisco de Paula del Villar y Carmona in Plateresque Revival style, with sculptural reliefs of Venanci and Agapit Vallmitjana.

After the Spanish Civil War a new façade of the church was built (between 1942 and 1968),[4] the work of Francesc Folguera and decorated with sculptural reliefs of Joan Rebull (St. Benedict, Proclamation of the dogma of the Assumption of Mary by Pius XII and St. George, with a representation of the monks who died during the Spanish Civil War), as well as the inscription Urbs Jerusalem Blessed Dicta Pacis Visio («Happy city of Jerusalem, called the vision of peace»). At the foot of the frieze with the relief of St. George is sculpted the phrase "Catalonia will be Christian or it will not be", attributed to the bishop Josep Torras i Bages, which has been assumed as a political motto of Catholic root.

This facade precedes the church proper, which is accessed through an atrium; Here are the sepulchres (16th century)[4] of Juan, 2nd count of Ribagorza and Bernat II of Vilamarí, as well as several sculptures: St. John the Baptist and St. Joseph (made in 1952),[4] of Josep Clarà, and St. Benedict (made in 1962),[4] by Domènec Fita i Molat; and paintings: Visit of the Catholic Monarchs to Montserrat and Visit of Don John of Austria to Montserrat (made in 1921),[4] by Francesc Fornells-Pla. The square that precedes the church (called del Abat Argeric) (built in 18th century)[4] is decorated with sgraffitos (made in 1956)[4] of Josep Obiols i Palau and the friar Benet Martínez, which represent the history of Montserrat and the main basilicas of the world, as well as various sculptures: St. Anthony Mary Claret (made in 1954),[4] by Rafael Solanic; John I of Aragon (made in 1956)[4] and St. Gregory the Great (made in 1957),[4] by Frederic Marès; and St. Pius X, by F. Bassas. On one side is the baptistery (made in 1958),[4] with a portal sculpted by Charles Collet (1902-1983),[4] and inside a mosaic made by Santiago Padrós (1918-1971)[4] and a drawing of the Baptism of Jesus by Josep Vila-Arrufat. Next to the baptistery there is a sculpture of St. Ignatius of Loiola, a work by Rafael Solanic (1895-1990).[5]

The church is of a single nave, 68.32 meters long and 21.50 wide, with a height of 33.33 meters. It is supported by central columns, carved in wood by Josep Llimona (1863-1934), representing the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel. At the head is the main altar, decorated with [[enamel]s (made in 1928) of Montserrat Mainar, depicting various biblical scenes, such as The Last Supper, The Weddings of Cana and The multiplication of loaves and fishes. The cross on the altar (made in 15th century) is the work of Lorenzo Ghiberti. On the altar there is a shrine of octagonal form. In the chancel there are various paintings by Alexandre de Riquer, Joan Llimona, Joaquim Vancells (1866-1942),[4] Dionís Baixeras and Lluís Graner.[6]

Just above the main altar is located the room of the Virgin that is accessed after crossing a portal of alabaster (Porta Angèlica) in which are represented various biblical scenes, work of Enric Monjo (in 1954)[4]. The mosaics on the walls represent the Saints Mothers (left) and the Saints Víirgins (right), the work of the friar Benet Martínez. Next comes the Throne Room (built between 1944-1954)[4], the work of Francesc Folguera, decorated with paintings by Josep Obiols (Judit who cuts off Holofernes's head, Esther's wedding with the Persian king Asuero) and Carlo Maratta (Birth of Jesus); the Fountain of the Virgin is also found here, with reliefs of Charles Collet representing miracles of Jesus. The Throne of the Virgin is embossed silver, work of the goldsmith Ramon Sunyer (1889-1963), with two reliefs made by Alfons Serrahima (1906-1988) and designed by Joaquim Ros i Bofarull that represent the Nativity and the Visitation, and an image of St. Michael by Josep Granyer (1899-1983); here the stuate of the Virgin is exhibited, of the 12th century, on which are placed some angels that hold the crown, the scepter and the lily of the Virgin, work of Martí Llauradó (1903-1957),[4] covered by a baldachin. The Sala del Cambril is a circular chapel with three apses, built between 1876 and 1884 by Villar i Carmona -with the collaboration of his assistant, the young man Antoni Gaudí-; the vault is decorated by Joan Llimona (The Virgin welcomes the Romeros), and the figures of angels and the sculpture of St. George are of Agapit Vallmitjana, while the windows are of Antoni Rigalt i Blanch (1861-1914).[7] The exit of the room is carried out by the Camí de l'Ave Maria, where it is customary to make offerings in the form of candles; here stands out a statue of the Angel of the Annunciation by Apel·les Fenosa (1899-1988), as well as a maiolica ceramic depicting the Virgin, the work of Joan Guivernau (1908-2001).[8]

Around the central nave there are several chapels: on the right, that of Saint Peter, with the image of the saint (made in 1945) of Josep Viladomat; the one of St. Ignatius of Loiola, of Venanci Vallmitjana, with a painting of the saint (1893) of Ramir Lorenzale; that of St. Martin, work of Josep Llimona, with the images of the saint of Tours, St. Placidus and St. Maurus (1898 ); the one of San José de Calasanz, with a altarpiece of Francesc Berenguer (1891); and that of San Benito, with a painting of the founding saint of the Benedictine Order (1980) of Montserrat Gudiol. On the left are the chapel of Santa Escolàstica, with sculptures (1886) by Enric Clarasó and Agapito Vallmitjana; the one of del Santíssim (1977), work of Josep Maria Subirachs, with a singular image of Christ realized in negative, where only the face, the hands and the feet are seen, with a light that illuminates the face to him; that of the Holy Family, where the painting The flight to Egypt , by Josep Cusachs (1904); that of Santo Cristo, with an image of Josep Llimona (1896); and that of the Immaculada Concepció (1910), Modernisme work by Josep Maria Pericas, with a stained glass window by Darius Vilàs.[9]

The basilica was restored between 1991 and 1995 by Arcadi Pla i Masmiquel.

Pipe organ

The pipe organ of the church of Montserrat dates from 1896 and in 1957 it was moved to the presbytery. This pipe organ is very deteriorated. The new pipe organ was inaugurated in 2010 and follows the design of the Catalan pipe organs that are located next to the Church. It is an important work of Catalan musical craftsmanship that places Montserrat at an international musical level.

This pipe organ is designed by Albert Blancafort, built by Blancafort, orgueners de Montserrat and financed by popular subscription and the social work of the Caixa de Penedes.

The pipe organ is located on the side of the nave, as is traditional in Catalonia, offering a very good sound throughout the temple.

History

At the beginning of the 19th century the abbey was twice burned down and sacked by Napoleon's troops, in 1811 and in 1812, and many of its treasures were lost. In 1835, the abbey was closed until restoration in 1844.

In 1880 Montserrat celebrated 1000 years of existence and on 11 September 1881, to coincide with the Catalan national day Pope Leo XIII proclaimed the Virgin of Montserrat patron of Catalonia.

Spanish Civil War
The abbey as seen from the Funicular de Sant Joan

During the Spanish Civil War the monastery was again closed and taken over by the Generalitat. The Spanish Civil War saw the violent suppression of the Abbey of Montserrat. Of the 278 priests and 583 religious men and women killed in Catalonia by Republican forces,[10] 22 were monks of the Abbey of Montserrat.[11] The Republican authorities, and particularly the authorities of the Generalitat de Catalunya, such as Lluís Companys, Ventura Gassol and Joan Casanovas tried to stop anticlerical violence and helped many priests and religious people to hide and leave the country.[12]

Franco era

During the rule of Francisco Franco, Santa Maria de Montserrat was seen as a sanctuary for scholars, artists, politicians and students; Franco's men were often waiting for wanted people a few miles down the road.[13]

From the 1940s onward, Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey was often seen as a symbol of Catalan nationalism.[14] On 27 April 1947, a Mass was held to celebrate the Enthronement of the Virgin of Montserrat, and attended by over 100,000 people.[14] At the Mass, prayers were publicly said in the Catalan language, defying the government's language policies.[14]

In 1958 the main altar of the Basilica was consecrated and in 1968 the monastery's new facade was completed.

In December 1970, 300 Spanish artists and academics held a sit-in at the Abbey to protest against the death sentences meted out to 16 Basque ETA activists in Burgos; in response, the police sealed off the monastery.[15][16] The protesters were eventually removed from the monastery grounds, but their actions helped convince the Francoist government to commute the death sentences.[17]

In 2015 Sean Scully restyled Santa Cecilia Chapel which is next to the abbey.[18]

Notable abbots

See also

References

  1. ^ Official Web site
  2. ^ La impremta a Montserrat. Manuel Llanas. Universitat de Vic, 2002.
  3. ^ Cinc-cents anys de Publicacions de l'Abadia de Montserrat. Faulí, Josep, Francesc Xavier Altés i Aguiló & Josep Massot i Muntaner. Publicacions de l'Abadia de Montserrat, 2005.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Jordi Molas i Rifà (1998), Guía oficial de Montserrat (Official guide of Montserrat), Barcelona{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  5. ^ Molas i Rifà 1998, pp. 25-27.
  6. ^ Molas i Rifà 1998, p. 32.
  7. ^ Molas i Rifà 1998, pp. 34-39.
  8. ^ Molas i Rifà 1998, pp. 40-41.
  9. ^ Molas i Rifà 1998, pp. 30-31.
  10. ^ Archdiocese of Barcelona website
  11. ^ "Don Quixote website, the Monastery of Montserrat". donQuijote.
  12. ^ Preston, Paul. The Spanish Holocaust, London, Harper Press, 2012.
  13. ^ MacNeil, Karen. The Wine Bible, p. 466.
  14. ^ a b c Conversi, Daniele. The Basques, the Catalans, and Spain: Alternative Routes to Nationalist Mobilisation University of Nevada Press, 2000 ISBN 0874173620, (p 126-127).
  15. ^ "Basque Trial Protesters Sealed Off", Associated Press, in Press-Courier, Dec 14, 1970, (pg. 9).
  16. ^ Mcneill, Donald, Urban change and the European left: tales from the new Barcelona Routledge, 1999. ISBN 0415170621, (p. 142).
  17. ^ "After the Burgos Trials", Juan Marchial, Boston Globe, December 30, 1970 (p.8).
  18. ^ Sharp, Rob (June 30, 2015). "Sean Scully Fills a Spanish Monastery With Bursts of Color". The New York Times. The New York Times. Retrieved 22 July 2015.

Media related to Santa Maria de Montserrat at Wikimedia Commons

41°35′35.54″N 1°50′13.70″E / 41.5932056°N 1.8371389°E / 41.5932056; 1.8371389

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