May 3 St. Ignatius Cave and Montserrat

Entrance to St. Ignatius Cave.

Today began our last full day on this pilgrimage. What a wonderful day it was! After disembarking the ship in Barcelona, we headed straight to Manresa (site of St. Ignatius Cave and Church) and nearby Montserrat Shrine, about an hour's drive. 

St. Ignatius Cave

St. Ignatius, borne around the year 1491, was originally a soldier, but was seriously injured in a battle in 1521. During his recuperation, he began to read books about the life of Christ and the lives of the saints. He eventually decided to change the path of his life and devote his life to Christ, and to imitate the lives of the saints. 

Beautiful Alabaster Altarpiece Depicting St. Ignatius as a
Penitent Looking Up Towards Montserrat.
  

After his recuperation, he made a pilgrimage to Montserrat. but soon went to nearby Manresa and spent almost an entire year in a cave to pray and do penance. He went through a spiritual transformation there and wrote his famous Spiritual Exercises. Later on, in the year 1540, Pope Paul III approved the new religious order established by St. Ignatius, called the "Company of Jesus" (now known as the Jesuits).  






The large hall leading to the cave is lavishly decorated with wonderful mosaics.

Church of St. Ignatius

We all admired the beautiful baroque Church of St. Ignatius built just next to the cave. 

Detail of St. Ignatius

Altar of St. Ignatius Church

After seeing this church, even though our schedule called for us to celebrate Mass in Montserrat, Bill Christman and several others wondered if we instead could celebrate Mass here (especially since we had been delayed due to the bus issues). So Bill, working with our tour guide, was able to make this happen. What a perfect location and church to celebrate the last Mass of our pilgrimage.

Mary Kellerhals Doing the Reading

After Mass, we took a few minutes to admire the wonderful views of the mountains and the impressive 14th century Romanesque/Gothic Collegiate Basilica of Santa Maria on a nearby hill. We also took the opportunity to have a group shot of all 45 of us pilgrims in this wonderful setting. 

All 45 of us Outside the St. Ignatius Sanctuary.

Montserrat Shrine.

Black Madonna of
Montserrat. 

After leaving Monresa, we then headed directly to Montserrat Shrine, located in a beautiful spot on a 4000 foot high mountain, a short drive away. 

Basilica at Montserrat

The Monastery at Montserrat is still active and not open to the public. The Basilica next to the Monastery houses the Black Madonna, one of the most revered and celebrated images in Spain. Tradition tells us that it was carved by St. Luke around 50 AD but was hidden in a cave in the year 718 to hide it from the advancing Moors. It was then rediscovered by some shepherd boys in the cave (Santa Cove, or Holy Grotto) in the year 890. 

Santa Cova (Holy Grotto) where the Black Madonna
was found in 890 a.d.

Montserrat Shrine Nestled in the Mountains

Main Altar of the Basilica. 

The Madonna is now housed in an alcove behind the main altar of the Basilica.

Pilgrims Are Able to Approach and
Touch the Black Madonna

Close-Up of Black Madonna. 

After Mass it was time to leave Montserrat, but we still enjoyed the views of the dramatic and rough mountains on our way back to Barcelona for our last overnight of the pilgrimage.