Abadía de Montserrat - EN

Dear devotees of Our Lady and pilgrims of Montserrat. The pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of the Patron Saint of Catalonia that you make year after year is a clear sign of devotion, a privileged time for reconciliation and the renewal of faith, and at the same time an act of evangelization in the midst of Catalan society to which Jesus sends us.
 
This year, we remember Mary as a woman who is fully happy in God, because she has made the divine word the light of her life. Also in these times of trial that we are experiencing, we are invited by the psalmist to live this happiness through closeness: "Blessed is the one who considers the poor and helpless" (Ps 41:1).
 
Like Mary, who remained near the cross of Jesus, we too are called to be close to those who, because of everything we are experiencing, feel most helpless. It is this attitude of love that will make us live, like Mary, the deep joy of the happiness we receive from God. A happiness that, being complete, overflows with comfort and strength over all circumstances of life.
 
The monks and choirboys keep you in our daily prayers. Since this year the global pandemic we are suffering prevents you from making your pilgrimage to Montserrat as usual, we propose that you visit Saint Mary from your own parish by making an act of "spiritual pilgrimage" after Sunday Mass, in front of the image of Our Lady of Montserrat in your churches.
 
With this brief prayer, we wish to remember all those who suffer most from the consequences of the pandemic, those who work to eradicate it, and all those who, because of it, have gone before us marked with the sign of faith and now sleep the sleep of peace. Above all, it is also intended to be a community prayer that strengthens our spirit and opens our hearts to hope.

1. Wondrous Virgin, purest throne where eternal Wisdom rested when coming into the world to teach the path of salvation, obtain for your Catalan people that faith which moves mountains, fills the valleys, and makes smooth the path of life.
2. Hail Mary...
2. Chaste Mother, mirror of purity, flower of virgins, who brought into the world the balm of incorruptibility, Jesus Son of God, obtain for us honesty in public morals.
3. Rose of Charity, fire that warms without consuming, remove the spirit of discord from Catalonia, and unite all its children with the heart of brothers and sisters.
4. Holy Mother of the Eternal, daughter of your Son, grant that this Catalan nation, which you spiritually engendered, may never be broken apart.
5. Powerful Virgin, stronger than an army arrayed for battle, from your high castle of Montserrat, defend all the Catalan land entrusted to you from spiritual and temporal enemies.
6. Lady of Montserrat, who have your holy mountain surrounded by olive trees, a sign of peace, obtain for the people of Catalonia a Christian and perpetual peace.
   1. Deliver us from the pandemic we suffer and help us build, among ourselves, the civilization of love.
   2. Saint Mary of Montserrat: Pray for us.

Prayer: O God, giver of all good gifts, who glorify with distinguished devotion the mountain chosen by the sublime mother of your only Son. Grant that, aided by the powerful protection of the immaculate ever-Virgin Mary, we may safely reach the mountain that is Christ. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

May this visit of Saint Mary to your home be for you, as it was for Elizabeth in her home, a new moment of grace, joy, and hope as you receive her kiss of peace and sing her Magnificat with her.

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