Beginning Sunday, September 8th, the Abbey of Montserrat in Spain is celebrating one thousand years of existence. The jubilee year will include numerous events, though I’m not sure of what they all are.
The multitudes of pilgrims who come here every day attest to the importance of this sacred place of prayer and conviviality. It would be hard to call it a “super-silent space,” since the pilgrims from around the world tend to be less-than-silent on the grounds, but the abbey church is a quiet haven nonetheless.
With the General Chapter of the Subiaco Cassinese Congregation now over, abbots and delegates will be departing on Monday morning, most of us to Rome for the Abbots Congress at Sant’Anselmo on the Aventine Hill, the flagship of the worldwide Benedictine Confederation.
The hospitality of Abbot Manel Gasch and the monks of Montserrat these past days has been outstanding and very much appreciated. May Our Lady of Montserrat watch over them all now and always!
With prayers and greetings.