Montserrat

Yesterday we had the pleasure of taking a day trip with our host brother Didac and his girlfriend Anna to Montserrat, about 45 minutes from Barcelona by car. For the first time in weeks Monj and I were able to sit back and relax and let someone else do the planning. As natives of Catalonia, Didac and Anna were eager to show us around and explain everything we were seeing. We had no idea what to expect. When we arrived we took the "cremallera" (directly translating to "zipper" in English, but actually a type of tram) to the main square area of Montserrat. There we saw the church/cathedral, main town area and the trail-heads of many paths. Some people have apartments and there is one hotel and a couple of restaurants in this area, too.

Montserrat is nearly impossible to explain. We didn't really understand fully what it was until after we saw the informational video about it in the museum on top of the mountain. It is a mountain where monks live. It is also home to the black virgin, a Christian miracle story. People come from all around the world and wait in line for HOURS to see the statue of the black virgin (made hundreds of years ago) and hold their children up to it, for blessings for a good life. We saw this line but did not want to wait to see the black virgin ourselves. There is also a world acclaimed boys choir (ages 6-12) which is part of a boarding school. The little boys live on the mountain in dorms and go to school to be a part of this elite choir while they are young. It is very prestigious to get in to.

While the mountain is known for being a holy Christian spot, it is also known as an interfaith, spiritual, and philosophical place. There is a giant library in the main area housing many books of these genres. People travel internationally to hike the dozens of trails all around the mountain. You can also scale the 90 degree rock walls with proper climbing equipment. We saw some people doing this! Didac and Anna took us along one path, a 20 minute but DIFFICULT hike through the steep and narrow stone mountain. When we reached the end there was a place to pray, supposedly where the black virgin was first found in the year 880. This place was small and filled with candles and chairs. People make wishes and ask God to keep them safe or thank God for something good that has happened to them. An attached room was filled with pictures, wedding dresses, notes and other everyday artifacts. People wrote notes, much like the wailing wall, to God. It was unbeilevably emotionally moving. Suddenly, after climbing in the heat, along a steep and windy, rocky, path we came to an oasis where people were thanking God for all that they had. Some people had left helmets from bike accidents, giving thanks for life after their accident. Others had carried pictures of their children, asking God to watch over them for another blessed year. While this was inherently a Christian place of worship it was also very spiritual and open to all religions. I didn't feel out of place, but rather I felt connected to nature in the middle of the mountain and thus, closer to God.

Monj and I joked after we made a wish and as we were walking back along the path that suddenly the intensity of the day-trip had risen to a level that was unexpected. We commented that this seemed so "duro" (intense, hard) but came at such a good time for us. Sometimes all you need is some perspective to be thankful for everything in your life and to see others who are doing the same. After we got back to the main square we entered the church to peek around and take some pictures. A very accomplished women's choir was singing a famous classical piece. We sat down and closed our eyes and suddenly I felt tears rolling down my cheeks. This place, this fresh air, this sudden quiet (after the loud city), this interfaith haven, this spot of worship and this outpouring of thanks for life was so overwhelming and just so beautiful.