On our fourth day of the cruise, after stopping in
Sicily and Malta and a day at sea, we docked in Barcelona.
We were excited to spend this day in Spain on an excursion to Montserrat because we had previously been to Barcelona.
Montserrat is a famous mountain, sanctuary, monastery, ad spiritual community located about one hour from Barcelona. Since the 12th century thousands of pilgrims have journeyed here. Today, nearly a million pilgrims travel to Montserrat each year.
In the 11th century the abbot-bishop Oliba founded a little monastery at the bottom of the mountain. (Principally made of limestone, Montserrat is shaped unlike any other mountain). Because of the many miracles that occurred through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a statue of the Madonna and Christ Child was made. Venerated through the ages, the little 12th-century "Black Madonna' statues earned fame as numerous miracles were attributed to Our Lady of Montserrat's intercession.
We were able to hear one of the oldest and most renowned boys' choirs in Europe, Escolania, sing
Salve Regina and
Virolai (hymn of Montserrat) in the basilica during their daily performance at 1pm.
And we were able to pray before the Black Madonna.
Numerous saints and popes have visited the sanctuary over the years, including St. Ignatius.
St. Ignatius went through a huge conversion at Montserrat. It is said, he went from "external things" to "internal things" here - and that he wanted to express his desire for conversion in a very concrete way. He visited Montserrat after a stint as soldier and it was here that he left his sword and dagger in the church at the altar of Our Lady, as an ex-votos of his old life. His new weapons would be prayer, the sacraments, meditation, good works, seeking God's will, and the absolute abandonment in the hands of the Father in Heaven.
After several hours on the mountaintop we returned to Barcelona by bus.
Then we were off to
France.
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