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Montserrat can be a mountain range in northern Spain, during Catalonia, near Barcelona. The mountains are incredibly beautiful, whimsical stone shapes occasionally resembling castles created from wet sand or huge statues that inspire both of you with fascination and horror. A Benedictine monastery can be found in high altitude, which may be accessed by foot through the valley from the Llobregat river via a mountain trail. This place has been attracting pilgrims and tourists since long ago, along with 1892 a rope way was built in the town Monistrol de Montserrat for the Monastery. It was later replaced by a cable car, but the old funicular still carries travelers from the monastery to the top of the Santa Magdalena Mount, where a trail leads you on the hermitage of St. Jeroni.
The Monastery of Montserrat was founded in 1025 by abbot Oliba of Ripoll and Cuxa. The first small Catholic churches and chapels appeared here even earlier, inside the 9th century. Then the land was conquered by Muslim Saracens as they were called. Abbot Oliba apparently led the construction of the monastery, he would be a famous architect and had a great relation to the creation of Catalan architecture, introducing elements of the Lombard style. In particular, under his leadership the monastery of St. Michelle de Cuxa was expanded and rebuilt. The Montserrat has seen many renovations, it once was destroyed by the Napoleon's army and then re-built again. The last renovation dates to early last century. Currently the convent accommodates about 100 Benedictine monks. There is also a hotel for pilgrims.
The monastery houses a statue of Black Madonna the sacred object of pilgrimage. According to legend, the statue was carved by St. Luke after which transferred to Spain by St. Peter. In 718, the statue was hidden out in the wild of Montserrat from your infidels, Saracens, then was lost. In 890 La Moreneta was miraculously discovered by shepherds inside a cave where they saw mysterious glow and heard angelic singing. At this place a chapel was built as well as the cave was named Santa Cova.
The statue, currently housed in a very monastery dates from the 12th century. There are various theories explaining the strange dark colored in the Madonna along with the child, but none of these is sufficiently substantiated. It is likely that the statue was darkened through the soot from numerous candles that had been lit around it for several days and nights over centuries.
Black Madonna was the pilgrimage destination for a lot of historical personalities, including St. Ignatius Loyola, who hung weapons at her altar and embarked on the path of religious asceticism. In 1881 the statue was canonized by Pope Leo 13th and declared because the patron saint of Catalonia. It is believed how the Black Madonna may help women obtain the happiness of motherhood, that's the reason there are so many ladies and young families visiting this monastery.
The gallery of the monastery posesses a small yet rich collection ofand modern (Degas, Picasso, Dali) paintings.
The extensive library from the monastery was almost completely destroyed in the Napoleonic wars. Currently, the library contains over 400 original manuscripts, including Egyptian papyri, rare medieval manuscripts, as well since the famous number of hymns Libre Vermille (Red Book), published by monks with the monastery inside the 14th century being sung by pilgrimage throughout the night vigils.
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