Our Lady of Montserrat

Seat of Wisdom, pray for us.

"La Morenata"

The statue of Our Lady of Montserrat is crafted according to the traditional iconography of Our Lady under the scripture-based title of Seat of Wisdom.  The sacred image is one of several famous images of the Madonna which became the focus of shrines, pilgrimages and miracles throughout Mediterranean Europe, which had to be hidden away to save it from desecration by Islamic invaders.  The rediscovery of the images were oftentimes marked by supernatural prodigies such as visions, and mysterious lights.

Legend relates that the figure of Our Lady came from Jerusalem to Barcelona, and was brought into the mountains to save it from the Saracens. It is true that the Montserrat statue has oriental features, but this could well be traced to the Byzantine sculptors who were constantly employed in the West. The legend goes on to say that in the eighth century shepherds one night saw strange lights on the mountain and heard Seraphic music.

Guided by the shepherds, the Bishop of Manresa found, in a cavern, a wooden figure of Our Lady and the Holy Child. He ordered that the statue be carried into the cathedral immediately. However, the procession with the statue never reached the cathedral because, after much marching, the small wooden figure became too heavy so that the Bishop decided to accept it as a sign and left it in a chapel of a nearby hermitage. The statue remained there until a church was built on the site of the present abbey on the top of the rocks near where the statue was discovered. - Source

O Blessed Virgin Mary, our Lady of Montserrat, protect your children so fiercely threatened by Islamic extremists and terrorists, deliver those enslaved by Islamic invaders, rescue those lost at sea, give safe refuge those fleeing their homeland, console the afflicted, give hope to the oppressed.  Pray for us who have recourse to you.  Queen of martyrs, help us who have no one but you, we place our lives in your hands. Show yourself our Mother.  Amen.