The Confraternity of Our Lady of Montserrat is made up of all believers who, using the Sanctuary of Montserrat as a point of reference, unite to encourage one another on their pilgrimage toward God.
It is a communion of prayer centered around the Sanctuary: the monks and pilgrims present there entrust to God all those who, though far away, feel united with it.
The purpose of the Confraternity
The purpose of the Confraternity is to spread and facilitate devotion to Our Lady of Montserrat through a connection with the Sanctuary and the creation of centers that, like true small sanctuaries, bring the love God displays on His Holy Mountain closer to all the faithful. This is achieved through personal prayer and, above all, through the organization of celebrations on the days the Church honors the Virgin Mary, especially the two Montserrat feast days on September 8th and April 27th.
Each year, on the Saturday closest to April 27th, members are invited to go up to Montserrat for a celebration at the Sanctuary, during which new members receive the Confraternity's souvenir and medal. Likewise, on the Saturday closest to September 8th, they are invited to attend the celebration in memory and suffragium of deceased members.
The Confraternity thus has a main center at the Sanctuary of Montserrat and delegate centers spread throughout the world, which share in the life and prayer of Montserrat. To become a member, one must register at any delegate center or at Montserrat itself. Members have no set obligations, but an active prayer life is recommended. To facilitate this, the Sanctuary—the common home of all members—provides materials for personal or group prayer. Participation in the events organized by the Confraternity at the delegate centers is strongly encouraged.
Presentation of the Confraternity
Nativitat de la Mare de Déu
Beneïda sigui l’hora, oh Pare Sant,
en què volguéreu que la Mare del
vostre Fill fet home, fos concebuda
sense pecat original amb vista al
compliment de les promeses.
Glòria i lloança per sempre.
Beneïda sigui l’hora, oh Crist,
en què nasqué la vostra Mare,
perquè vós poguéssiu venir al món
en la nostra carn mortal.
Glòria i lloança per sempre.
Beneïda sigui l’hora, oh Esperit Sant,
en què cobríreu amb la vostra ombra
el sí virginal de Maria i omplíreu la
seva ànima de l’esperit de profecia.
Glòria i lloança per sempre.
Beneïda sigui l’hora, oh Trinitat Santa,
en què ens donàreu Maria per Mare i
Patrona del nostre poble.
Que la festa de la seva Nativitat,
que ennobleix totes les Esglésies,
uneixi en la pietat i l’alegria
tots els membres de la Confraria
que, amb paraules de l’evangeli,
la saludem tot dient:
Déu vos salve Maria, plena de
gràcia, el Senyor és amb vós:
beneïda sou vós entre totes les
dones, i beneït és el fruit
del vostre sant ventre: Jesús.
Santa Maria, Mare de Déu,
pregueu per nosaltres, pecadors,
ara i en l’hora de la nostra mort.
Amén.
Images of the "Moreneta" at Home and Around the World
The devotion to Our Lady of Montserrat is undoubtedly one of the Marian titles with the greatest international reach. The original 12th-century Romanesque image—while retaining the iconographic features of the mountain and the saw—has given rise to a wide variety of appearances depending on where this Catalan devotion has taken root. The popular piety of each country has embraced the smile, tears, and maternal gaze of Saint Mary, which offer comfort to those longing for their homeland, warm the hearts of all who have welcomed her into their homes, and illuminate the path of all who invoke her as pilgrims.
On the occasion of the 800th anniversary, we present a video featuring 313 of these images from home and around the world. If you know of any image that is not in this presentation or among the geolocations [there are more than 500], please let us know at confraria@santuari-montserrat.com, and we will include it in the next update.
You can view these images geolocated at:
*These geolocations are continuously updated, both by adding new images and by incorporating new comments and photos.
"Morenetes" Around the World: Confraternities and Catalonia
"Morenetes" Around the World: Beyond Catalonia
Delegate Center
To create a Delegate Center, certain conditions must be met:
- Have a church or an altar dedicated to Our Lady of Montserrat, where the Confraternity can meet and organize its celebrations, especially for the two Montserrat feast days.
- Have the authorization of the diocesan bishop, who must appoint a chaplain/advisor for the center.
- Obtain the Document of Aggregation to the Confraternity of Our Lady of Montserrat, signed and sealed by the Father Abbot of Montserrat.
- Register all members of the Delegate Center in the general register of the Confraternity, which is kept at Montserrat.
- Each Delegate Center must draft its own constitutions, which will govern its operation at all levels.