Virgin of Montserrat
The Black Madonna Our Lady of Montserrat ( Catalan c: Mare de Deu de Montserrat ), popularly called La Moreneta ( Little Brown ), is the patron saint of Catalonia and is located in the Montserrat Monastery. The figure has become a symbol of Catalonia and the monastery has been a pilgrimage destination and a center of attraction for tourists.
History
According to legend, the first figure of Mary in 880 by some shepherd boy was found in a cave. When the bishop heard this, he intended to transfer the character to Manresa. However, this proved to be impossible, since the statue was too heavy apparently. The bishop interpreted this as a request of the Madonna, to remain in their locality, and ordered the building of the Hermitage of Santa Maria, on the site of the present monastery.
The figure that is worshiped today, is a Romanesque statue from the 12th century.
The figure is about 95 cm tall, carved from poplar wood and completely caught up on face and hands in gold. It corresponds to the Byzantine Madonnas type of Nikopoia, one in royal posture seated on a throne Madonna with a fully clothed seated or standing Jesus boy who has his hand raised in a gesture of blessing. Both are strictly frontally aligned without looking at the viewer.
Mother and child both wearing a crown. The Madonna wears in her right hand a globe, symbolizing the universe. Remarkable are her big, delicate hands. The boy Jesus with the facial features and posture of an adult holding a pine cone in his left hand. The pine cones comes in Christian iconography in terms of a Madonna and Child representation rare. In ancient mythology, the pin was common as a symbol of fertility in the cults of Cybele and Dionysus. As a symbol of resurrection and immortality is the fruit of the pine tree, used in combination with the Tree of Life of Paradise, but also in Christian art.
Except for the face and hands of the Madonna and Child figurine is fully gold plated. The Mother of God itself, however, almost black, as the Song of Solomon is, found its images and metaphors in the Middle Ages in the iconography of Mary input: " Brown I am, but beautiful, O daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar ... " (Song of Songs 1, 5 EU ) popularly known the character was named " La Moreneta " - the small brown or Tanned.
The reason for this darkness one suspects like the smoke of many candles that were lit throughout the centuries to worship at the foot of the statue. However, it is more likely that there is a genuine Black Madonna, as they emerged in the wake of the Crusades, especially in southern Europe.
On September 11, 1881 the Catalan National Day, declared by Pope Leo XIII. Our Lady of Montserrat patroness of Catalonia near the Saint George (Sant Jordi in Catalan). He granted the privilege to devote their own services. The anniversary will be celebrated on April 27.