JAVIER CORSO - Montserrat

Catalonia, 2025

Montserrat Mil·lenari

“Montserrat Millenium” is a documentary project conceived with the aim of paying tribute to the ten centuries of history of the Monastery of Montserrat while, at the same time, offering a serene, respectful, and contemporary взгляд on the Benedictine monastic life that continues to pulse within this sacred mountain.

Through a photographic series produced over months of coexistence—and privileged access—with the community, the project seeks to bring the general public closer to a world so often idealized or unknown, revealing with naturalness and sensitivity its moments of contemplation, its silent dilemmas, and its inner richness.

The uniqueness of Montserrat lies not only in its longevity or its exceptional natural setting, but in the singular convergence of functions that intertwine here: beyond being a monastery, Montserrat is also a sanctuary dedicated to the Mother of God, La Moreneta, whose dark-skinned figure has become a spiritual, cultural, social, and emotional symbol for generations of Catalans.

The monks who inhabit this place are therefore custodians of a millenary legacy and, at the same time, hosts to one of Europe’s principal pilgrimage destinations, capable of reconciling contemplative life with the welcome of millions of visitors each year.

Beyond Ora et Labora

Benedictine Motto

Coinciding with the millennium of the monastic foundation (1025–2025), the community has chosen to expand the traditional Benedictine motto—Ora et labora—with a broader, deeply humanistic formulation adapted to the present day and addressed to society as a whole: ORA, as an invitation to cultivate interior life; LEGE, to never abandon the search for wisdom through reading; LABORA, because work—manual, intellectual, or scientific—confers dignity and connects us with reality; REGE TE IPSUM, a call to govern oneself with freedom and responsibility; and IN COMMUNITATE, a reminder that fulfillment is achieved in relationship with others.

These five words or concepts encapsulate a way of understanding and being present in the world. Montserrat, with all that it represents, continues to propose a path of meaning that goes beyond faith, offering vital keys in an age that, paradoxically, rushes forward without stopping to look.

Ep. I - ORA

The Birth of the Sanctuary

From the well-known legend recounting the discovery of the “Santa Imatge de la Mare de Déu a la Muntanya” (Holy Image of Our Lady on the Mountain), to the events that led Abbot Oliba to become the founding father of the monastery in the year 1025, including the figure of the hermit. A narrative that places in context the first centuries of life of this Benedictine community, when Montserrat began to emerge as a destination for pilgrimage, while also revealing some of the secrets of a monastic way of life that has remained almost unchanged for a thousand years.

Ep. II - LEGE

The Growth of the Community

We travel to the fifteenth century, within a feudal context in which Montserrat expanded significantly and became a monastery of great power and influence, eventually achieving independence as an abbey. This was also a period in which Montserrat’s cultural dimension was consolidated, with the creation of the Escolania and its own publishing imprint—initiatives that endure to this day. On the eve of the discovery of the New World, the figure of Abbot Cisneros stands out. Cisneros, a figure of vital importance, is considered the second great founding father of the monastery and marked the beginning of a new era for the abbey through his pioneering contributions and comprehensive reform of the community.

Ep. III - LABORA

War Reaches the Monastery

Ep. IV - REGE TE IPSUM

The Search for Identity

Throughout the twentieth century, amid major historical events, Montserrat became established as a symbol of Catalan identity and culture. We discover the monastic figures who laid the foundations of modern Montserrat, such as Abbot Marcet, regarded as the monastery’s third great founding father, and Abbot Escarré, who assumed leadership during a period of profound social and political instability. Against the backdrop of World War and the dictatorships that devastated Europe, we follow Father Bonaventura Ubach on his journeys through the East—a biblical scholar and adventurer who, more than anyone else, embodies the intellectual curiosity and openness of the community, as well as Montserrat’s internationalization.

Ep. V - IN COMMUNITATE

Montserrat for Everyone

We come to know all the people who surround Montserrat and give it life. A rich and diverse ecosystem of individuals who, through passion and commitment, contribute to the shaping and preservation of Montserrat’s identity. From the mountain guide and cultural communicator who accompanies the many visitors to the sanctuary, to the organ artisan who crafts the musical soul of the monastery, as well as the Benedictine community of nuns who live and pray on the same mountain. In 2025, one thousand years after the monastery’s founding, we celebrate this highly significant anniversary in community, bringing us all together. A reflection on the past in order to face the challenges of the future.

Co-producction with La Mira and Antartida

Documentary Series

Five chapters invite us on a journey through time to discover the long and fascinating evolution of this unique sanctuary. A production by 3Cat (Catalonia), in collaboration with La Mira and Antártida, the series combines investigative journalism, historical reenactment, and firsthand testimony to deliver a deep, rigorous perspective and a compelling collective narrative of Montserrat’s trajectory.

Through a chronological approach, the five episodes explore some of the most significant moments of this sacred mountain and its monastery—from the legend of the discovery of the Holy Image of the Mother of God, La Moreneta, to the modern era. The documentary traces periods of great splendor and expansion, as well as times of crisis, conflict, and destruction.

The series features interviews with leading experts who provide context, reflection, and perspective, alongside the invaluable testimony of the Benedictine monks themselves, offering a living, intimate view of life within the monastery. The complementary use of historical fiction sequences helps recreate key moments and bring the protagonists of each era to life, humanizing them and drawing today’s audience closer to their stories.