Feast of the Madonna di Monserrato

Madonna di Monserrato, ora pro nobis

April 27th is the Feast of the Madonna di Monserrato, Patroness of Catalonia, Spain and Vallelonga in Provincia di Vibo Valentia in Calabria. According to tradition, the miraculous wooden statue of Our Lady was carved in the 1st century by St. Luke and brought to Catalonia from Jerusalem by St. Etereo, disciple of St. James and first Bishop of Barcelona.

In the 8th century, the statue was hidden in a grotto atop Mount Montserrat in order to protect it from being desecrated by the invading Umayyad infidels who were laying waste to the Visigoth Kingdom of Hispania. 

Lost over time, the secret location was eventually discovered in 880 AD by shepherd boys tending their flock. Reporting strange lights and Seraphic music emanating from the mountain to the Bishop of nearby Manresa, they uncovered the small statue in a cave. Unable to remove it from Montserrat, a Benedictine sanctuary was built on the mountain to enshrine the statue in accordance to Our Lady's wishes.

Devastated during the Napoleonic Peninsular War (1807-1814), restoration of the monastery began in 1844. Damaged again during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), many of the monks were executed by the Republicans. Anticipating these savage attacks, the sacred image was hidden before the murderous swine could destroy it. Returned to the chapel, the Basilica was restored and monastic life returned, keeping the holy mountain a major destination for pilgrims today. 

A prayer card with a photograph
of the Madonna dl Monserrato
statue in Craco Vecchio

Naturally, the devotion to La Moreneta, the Dark Little One, as she is affectionately called by the Catalans, spread with Spanish expansion and found its way to Southern Italy. For example, in the hilltop town of Craco Vecchio in Basilicata there is a private 16th century chapel and cemetery dedicated to the Madonna di Monserrato. The Crachesi in turn brought their devotion with them to America and at the beginning of the 20th century helped restore the old chapel by sending donations back to the old country. Her feast is celebrated in Craco on the third Sunday in September. 

In Vallelonga, the Feast of the Madonna di Monserrato is also celebrated on the second Sunday in July. While the town's devotion to her can be traced back to at least the 1550s, the commemoration has existed since 1783 when Our Lady miraculously saved the townspeople from a violent earthquake. 

In celebration, I’m posting a prayer to Our Lady of Montserrat. The accompanying photo of La Moreneta was taken at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola (980 Park Avenue) in New York City. The image of the prayer card comes courtesy of the Craco Society. Evviva Maria!

Prayer to Our Lady of Montserrat

My Lord Jesus Christ, who has been pleased to give into the hands of Thine Immaculate Mother Mary distribution of the graces merited for us by thy Life, Death and Resurrection; and Who hast answered the recommendations of Her Loving Heart by favors granted to numberless saints and sinners at Her Shrine of Montserrat; listen, I beseech Thee to her pleadings on my behalf: And do Thou, O Mother of Jesus – Mine also – present my plea before His Throne for all the graces that I need, but especially for the favor I now implore... [Mention your intentions here...] May His glory and the renown of Thy intercession be everywhere known and extolled. Amen.