The abbot of Montserrat celebrates the fifth anniversary of his Abbatial Blessing
Every October 13th, since 2021, Abadia de Montserrat celebrates the anniversary of the Abbatial Blessing of Fr. Manel Gasch i Hurios, abbot of Montserrat, which coincides with the Feast of the Blessed Martyrs of Montserrat.
Abadía de Montserrat - EN
13 October de 2026
Tuesday, October 13, 2026.- As every year on this date, Abadia de Montserrat commemorates the Solemnity of the Blessed Martyrs of Montserrat, and as every year since 2021, Fr. Manel Gasch i Hurios, abbot of Montserrat, celebrates the anniversary of his Abbatial Blessing. This is his fifth year as the head of the abbey.
Father Gasch took over from abbot emeritus Josep M. Soler i Canals upon receiving the insignia that define him as abbot of Montserrat: the ring—recalling the covenant with the community—the mitre—an ornament of authority—and the crosier—suggesting the mission of a shepherd.
In the homily of the Conventual Mass for this solemnity, the father abbot has said "our blessed martyrs, as Benedictine monks, sought God and died for the simple consistency of being who they were. They passed from the mountain of Montserrat, as from the tangible Sinai, to the mountain of Zion, to a different reality. They ended their journey in this tragic way. The lesson they give to us—who surely will not be violently killed for our faith—is the daily readiness to believe and make God present upon this mountain, so that it may also become a hope for so many pilgrims".
Solemnity of the Blessed Martyrs of Montserrat
In parallel, this anniversary coincides with the day of commemoration of the Blessed Martyrs of Montserrat, on which we remember the twenty monks of Montserrat who died during the Civil War, in the years 1936 and 1937, because of their faith.
On June 28, 2012, Holy Father Benedict XVI authorized the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to promulgate the decree of martyrdom of the monks of Montserrat.
The martyrs were Br. Bernat Vendrell i Olivella, Dom Francesc de P. Sánchez i Soler, Br. Ildefons M. Civil i Castellví, Br. Josep M. Jordà i Jordà, Fr. Àngel M. Rodamilans i Canals, Fr. Odiló M. Costa i Canal, Dom Narcís M. Vilar i Espona, Dom Hildebrand M. Casanovas i Vila, Fr. Josep M. Fontserè i Masdéu, Fr. Domènec González i Millán, Fr. Joan Roca i Bosch, Fr. Ambròs M. Busquets i Creixell, Fr. Plàcid M. Feliu i Soler, Br. Eugeni M. Erausquin i Aramburu, Br. Emilià M. Guilà i Ximenes, Fr. Lleó Alesanco i Maestro, Fr. Lluís Palacios i Lozano, Fr. Fulgenci Albareda i Ramoneda, Fr. Robert Grau i Bullich, and Fr. Pere Vallmitjana i Abarca.
All of them were beatified in Tarragona on October 13, 2013, a year that marks the beginning of the commemoration of the Feast of the Blessed Martyrs of Montserrat.
Father Gasch took over from abbot emeritus Josep M. Soler i Canals upon receiving the insignia that define him as abbot of Montserrat: the ring—recalling the covenant with the community—the mitre—an ornament of authority—and the crosier—suggesting the mission of a shepherd.
Abbatial blessing of Father Abbot Gasch, in the year 2021.
In the homily of the Conventual Mass for this solemnity, the father abbot has said "our blessed martyrs, as Benedictine monks, sought God and died for the simple consistency of being who they were. They passed from the mountain of Montserrat, as from the tangible Sinai, to the mountain of Zion, to a different reality. They ended their journey in this tragic way. The lesson they give to us—who surely will not be violently killed for our faith—is the daily readiness to believe and make God present upon this mountain, so that it may also become a hope for so many pilgrims".
Solemnity of the Blessed Martyrs of Montserrat
In parallel, this anniversary coincides with the day of commemoration of the Blessed Martyrs of Montserrat, on which we remember the twenty monks of Montserrat who died during the Civil War, in the years 1936 and 1937, because of their faith.
On June 28, 2012, Holy Father Benedict XVI authorized the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to promulgate the decree of martyrdom of the monks of Montserrat.
The martyrs were Br. Bernat Vendrell i Olivella, Dom Francesc de P. Sánchez i Soler, Br. Ildefons M. Civil i Castellví, Br. Josep M. Jordà i Jordà, Fr. Àngel M. Rodamilans i Canals, Fr. Odiló M. Costa i Canal, Dom Narcís M. Vilar i Espona, Dom Hildebrand M. Casanovas i Vila, Fr. Josep M. Fontserè i Masdéu, Fr. Domènec González i Millán, Fr. Joan Roca i Bosch, Fr. Ambròs M. Busquets i Creixell, Fr. Plàcid M. Feliu i Soler, Br. Eugeni M. Erausquin i Aramburu, Br. Emilià M. Guilà i Ximenes, Fr. Lleó Alesanco i Maestro, Fr. Lluís Palacios i Lozano, Fr. Fulgenci Albareda i Ramoneda, Fr. Robert Grau i Bullich, and Fr. Pere Vallmitjana i Abarca.
All of them were beatified in Tarragona on October 13, 2013, a year that marks the beginning of the commemoration of the Feast of the Blessed Martyrs of Montserrat.
Reliquary of the Blessed Martyrs of Montserrat.
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