Montserrat & Manresa

“Not all those who wander are lost.”
~ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

Our morning correspondent is Julia Klein:

After an early 6:40 am alarm this morning, a couple of us set off for a quick run with Mr. Bizga to watch the city come to life. The ancient part of the gothic quarter looked even more spectacular bathed in the morning light. As we jogged we were greeted by the opening bakeries and cafes, smelling the first of many batches of freshly baked bread and brewed coffee. We eventually made our way to the boardwalk. Running along the palm tree-lined sea, we were bordered by the azure Mediterranean to our left and the busy city to our right;  not a bad way to wake up. After the jog, the group met around 8:00 am for a breakfast selection of cereal, croissants, cold cuts, tortilla, assorted cheeses, and coffee.  At 9:00 am we headed to the bus to make our way to Montserrat.   Montserrat was a key place in the spiritual journey of Ignatius of Loyola.  It was here that he knelt all night in vigil and laid down his sword at the shrine of the Black Madonna.  He shortly after that exchanged his fashionable clothes for the clothes of a beggar.

After a scenic ride up a very windy road through the immense mountain range, we met our tour guide, who proceeded to show us around the welcome center and museum. She described the history of Montserrat and its triple identity as shrine, natural wonder, and monastery.  We learned how the Benedictine monks came there to build a Monastery during the early Medieval period.  Legend has it, during the building process, they decided to move the statue of the Black Madonna and they were physically unable to move her; this is incredible because she is a fairly small statue.  When that did not work, they resolved to build the basilica around her. Since that time countless pilgrims, including me, have journeyed to this awesome site.  St. Ignatius visited the shrine in 1522, and it was a major turning point in his conversion experience. It was here that his process of discernment led him to a definitive decision point, and he finally consecrated his life to God through the strength of Mary.  This decision eventually led him to found the Jesuit order and ultimately led us here today.

 

After the museum, our tour guide took us to explore the art gallery on the mountain, which featured Picaso, Dali, Monet, and many other well-known artists from a variety of eras. We then journeyed to the basilica, and the whole mood changed as we stepped in the door - we ceased being tourists and became pilgrims.  The atmosphere was peaceful and reflective, and the intricacy of the architecture was memorizing. It had the elegance and sheer beauty of a place like Versailles, and the detail and sanctity of the Sistine Chapel. Together, we sat and prayed in the exact place Ignatius did, appreciating that if it wasn’t for his experience there, we would not be the unified, spiritual community that we felt in that moment. We were then surprised by the performance a German boy's choir.  Their sound was incredible, filling the entire church.  The beauty of their voices gave me chills. Simply being in the basilica was inspiring; but these angelic voices made one feel as if they were experiencing heaven on earth.  I felt God’s presence unlike I ever have before; it was almost tangible.

After the visit to the basilica, we bought lunch from a tiny café atop a hill. We stopped into a little supermarket to buy candies and chocolate bars, which many of us claimed to be the “best we’ve ever had.” A small group of us then decided to take the cable car up to the top of the mountain for sight seeing and interviews. The ride up was very crammed and sweaty, but we knew it was worth it the moment we stepped off the lift. The view was surreal and I immediately understood why someone would want to spend time in prayer and contemplation here. Together, we walked up the path to a higher point, laughing and singing and admiring. We stopped to do a few brief interviews, which included walking up the path and describing the unbelievable experience we just had. In the moment, we were having a blast, but we also took the time to realize and appreciate how special and memorable this moment was. It was the first time on this journey that I felt like a pilgrim, and a part of a larger community of people united in spirituality and in friendship. 

Centuries of people, including St. Ignatius, have made the arduous journey to this place.   In reflecting on our experience atop the mountain, Mrs. Marquard made a really good connection. She described how the Jesuits are very active and vocal about their faith, never holding back from expressing their immense  love for God, and encouraging everyone around them to know, love, and serve Christ and be challenged to follow Ignatius' example of discipleship.  I hope my time here will help me to live life fully as God intends. In ordinary life, we become distracted and detached from our spirituality, and our actions fall short of who we were created to be. 

Today, we put our faith into action, and my time at Montserrat was a taste of heaven on Earth.

Our afternoon correspondent is Kendall Packo:

Today after visiting Montserrat we all got back on the bus and traveled about half an hour back  to Manresa. Manresa was the place  where Ignatius planned to stay 3 days before traveling to the Holy Land, Jerusalem, but ended up staying about 10 months. At Manresa, Ignatius found a cave to reside in for his entire stat. Today we were all able to visit the cave and experience where he lived. It was here that Ignatius began to develop the Spiritual Exercises, while he did not finish them here, this is where the process started.  Today there is a church built around the cave that is used to celebrate mass. The entrance of the cave was dark with a narrow door way. Stepping into the naturally narrow cave, pilgrims were immediately engulfed by God's presence. There were four chairs on each side for people to sit and reflect or pray. It was very dimly lit, the only light came from the tiny altar in the front. Behind the altar was a beautiful sculpted picture, a sort of focal point within. The  cave were decorated with tile patterns on the sides as well as the ground in colors of taupe, teal, and dark maroon. Just outside the cave is the River Cardoner. This river is where Ignatius had said to have had a religious epiphany that changed his life.

 

 

 

 

After visiting both sites, the group stayed and gathered around the river and talked about our personal experiences for the day. Each of us went around and said something we enjoyed about the day, as well as sharing a word that described the experience in both places. We reflected by focusing on Ignatius and his own personal experiences in these spots and were all grateful to be where he sat. This day was truly about stepping into Ignatius's shoes and focusing on his mission and what it means to be part of a Jesuit community. As a Jesuit student this experience was important because all of us have been learning about Ignatius since freshman year and to see with our own eyes everything we learned from books and theology teachers was a very special moment. Being able to sit where he sat and prayed was a unique experience that had a  certain significance because we all have come from the broader Ignatian family that spans the globe and centuries.

 

 After a full day of Montserrat and Manresa, everyone got back on the bus to return to Barcelona where would spend the remainder of the night. Once we returned to the hotel there was about an hour to roam before dinner to find souvenirs for our families and friends back home. Finally after a long day, we arrived at restaurant Divinas.  The inside was decorated in a sleek modern fashion, with whites, blacks, and beiges. We sat down at a long table and began a three course meal with added appetizers to share. the meal started with a colorful salad, and groups of four shared fried fish rolled into balls and a mushroom risotto. The main course consisted of pork and potatoes, and as one of the few vegetarians in the group, we got a pesto pasta. For desert, everyone was thrilled to have the somewhat dark, chocolate gelato. This seemed to be everyone's favorite dinner in Barcelona, and a great start to the night.

 

After we all finished eating, the students were taken to the metro for a surprise. We ended up at a sound and light show displayed through a fountain built for the 1929 World Fair in front of an art museum. The energy of the area was incredible; so many people dancing and just having a good time.  The fact that a sea of people gathered for something so simple, yet magical, was cool.  There were hundreds of people seated on the steps of the museum and more standing on the grassy landscape. Some of our group even took a dip into the fountain at the end.

 

After the light show ended, we all met back up to visit another site. We ended up at an old bull arena turned mall to look over the city at night.  The views were absolutely breathtaking from the top of the building.  Because it was circular we were able to walk around and see the city from any angle. It was truly a prefect way to end our time in Barcelona.