About Our Lady Montserrat
According to pious tradition, the miraculous statue of Our Lady holding the Infant Jesus was carved by the hand of St. Luke the Evangelist and brought to Spain in the early centuries of the Church. When the Saracen invasions threatened the faith in the 8th century, devout Christians hid the sacred image in a cave on the mountain to protect it from desecration. There it remained for nearly two centuries, until around the year 880–890, when shepherds beheld a mysterious light and heard heavenly music emanating from the cave. Upon investigation, they discovered the statue, and word quickly spread. Attempts to move it to other locations failed miraculously — the image became so heavy that it could not be lifted beyond the spot Our Lady herself had chosen. Thus, a small chapel was built, which in time grew into the great Benedictine monastery and basilica of Santa Maria de Montserrat, where she is venerated to this day.
Patroness of Catalonia and Mother of PilgrimsIn 1881, Pope Leo XIII solemnly crowned the image and declared Our Lady of Montserrat the Patroness of Catalonia. Her feast is joyfully kept on April 27, when the beautiful boys’ choir of Montserrat (the Escolania) sings the beloved hymn Virolai:
“Rosa d’abril, Morena de la serra,
de Montserrat estel…
(Rose of April, dark lady of the mountain,
star of Montserrat…)”
Saints have knelt before her: St. Ignatius of Loyola made pilgrimage here before founding the Jesuits; St. Peter Nolasco; and in more recent times, St. Josemaría Escrivá drew strength and guidance from her maternal gaze. Even Christopher Columbus’s companion, the hermit Bernat Boïl from Montserrat, carried devotion to La Moreneta to the New World, where the first Holy Mass on American soil was offered under her patronage.Countless miracles of healing, conversion, reconciliation, and protection have been attributed to her intercession. Pilgrims still climb the mountain (or take the funicular and train) to kiss her hand — the only part of the statue not protected by glass — and to entrust their burdens to the Queen of the Holy Mountain.
| Novena Begins: | April 18 |
| Feast Day: | April 27 |
Patron Saint of Catalonia
Day 1 – Our Lady of Montserrat Novena
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O God, Giver of all good things, who didst choose Montserrat as a glorious Shrine for the Mother of thy only begotten Son, and through her intercession there hast granted favors without number to those who sought them there: bow down thine ears now to our petitions as we kneel and pray before Her image. Thou Who livest and reignest forever and ever.
Amen
Our Lady of Montserrat, Pray for us.
(Mention your request here…)
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
Day 2 – Our Lady of Montserrat Novena
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O God, Giver of all good things, who didst choose Montserrat as a glorious Shrine for the Mother of thy only begotten Son, and through her intercession there hast granted favors without number to those who sought them there: bow down thine ears now to our petitions as we kneel and pray before Her image. Thou Who livest and reignest forever and ever.
Amen
Our Lady of Montserrat, Pray for us.
(Mention your request here…)
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
Day 3 – Our Lady of Montserrat Novena
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O God, Giver of all good things, who didst choose Montserrat as a glorious Shrine for the Mother of thy only begotten Son, and through her intercession there hast granted favors without number to those who sought them there: bow down thine ears now to our petitions as we kneel and pray before Her image. Thou Who livest and reignest forever and ever.
Amen
Our Lady of Montserrat, Pray for us.
(Mention your request here…)
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
Day 4 – Our Lady of Montserrat Novena
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O God, Giver of all good things, who didst choose Montserrat as a glorious Shrine for the Mother of thy only begotten Son, and through her intercession there hast granted favors without number to those who sought them there: bow down thine ears now to our petitions as we kneel and pray before Her image. Thou Who livest and reignest forever and ever.
Amen
Our Lady of Montserrat, Pray for us.
(Mention your request here…)
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
Day 5 – Our Lady of Montserrat Novena
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O God, Giver of all good things, who didst choose Montserrat as a glorious Shrine for the Mother of thy only begotten Son, and through her intercession there hast granted favors without number to those who sought them there: bow down thine ears now to our petitions as we kneel and pray before Her image. Thou Who livest and reignest forever and ever.
Amen
Our Lady of Montserrat, Pray for us.
(Mention your request here…)
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
Day 6 – Our Lady of Montserrat Novena
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O God, Giver of all good things, who didst choose Montserrat as a glorious Shrine for the Mother of thy only begotten Son, and through her intercession there hast granted favors without number to those who sought them there: bow down thine ears now to our petitions as we kneel and pray before Her image. Thou Who livest and reignest forever and ever.
Amen
Our Lady of Montserrat, Pray for us.
(Mention your request here…)
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
Day 7 – Our Lady of Montserrat Novena
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O God, Giver of all good things, who didst choose Montserrat as a glorious Shrine for the Mother of thy only begotten Son, and through her intercession there hast granted favors without number to those who sought them there: bow down thine ears now to our petitions as we kneel and pray before Her image. Thou Who livest and reignest forever and ever.
Amen
Our Lady of Montserrat, Pray for us.
(Mention your request here…)
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
Day 8 – Our Lady of Montserrat Novena
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O God, Giver of all good things, who didst choose Montserrat as a glorious Shrine for the Mother of thy only begotten Son, and through her intercession there hast granted favors without number to those who sought them there: bow down thine ears now to our petitions as we kneel and pray before Her image. Thou Who livest and reignest forever and ever.
Amen
Our Lady of Montserrat, Pray for us.
(Mention your request here…)
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
Day 9 – Our Lady of Montserrat Novena
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O God, Giver of all good things, who didst choose Montserrat as a glorious Shrine for the Mother of thy only begotten Son, and through her intercession there hast granted favors without number to those who sought them there: bow down thine ears now to our petitions as we kneel and pray before Her image. Thou Who livest and reignest forever and ever.
Amen
Our Lady of Montserrat, Pray for us.
(Mention your request here…)
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
Leave us your prayers…