Santa Maria in Monserrato degli Spagnoli
Finding the Black Madonna This altered image forms an arc
in a golden lacquer in this Roman Montserrat exalting Spanish piety. In the ceiling glowing diamond shapes surrounding octagons are framed with victor’s wreaths and ribbons on gold fields fulfilling spaced triangles where windows open. The dome is lifted high by the Gospel writers who give it radiating strength... A reminder nothing passes -- pagan herms are placed around a central oval with a central Christ in glory adored by cherub faces. Rich, polychromed materials emphasize and ring the arches’ symbols of the Virgin, while on the tympanum the Father looks on us. Here the Borgia pope rests among the modern kings of Catholic Spain. The imposing painted cross at the high altar finishes where the arc of gold has led, an altar privileged for prayer But hidden from our seeing are decorated chapel altars. One where James the Great, cause of the long Camino, poses like his brother Christ with a sash of pilgrim shells. And nearby is a chapel where the Black Madonna occupies. a golden throne, and she herself the throne of wisdom where her dark-skinned son is shown. We recall the lyric verses from the stirring Song of Songs: “I am black and beautiful”, needed now when Black Lives Matter. |
This is the Spanish national church in Rome, dedicated to the Virgin of Montserrat, the famous monastery and pilgrimage site in Spain, known for an episode in the life of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits. In a chapel is enshrined a copy of the so-called Black Madonna on whose lap the holy child is enthroned in a pose labelled: "The Seat of Wisdom". The church ceiling is made up of spaced diamond shapes, surrounding an elongated octagon, with wreaths and ribbons in gold triangular formations at the windows. Pagan herms and fauns support a central oval of Christ seated in glory. Above the arches are Marian symbols, and in the cupola St. Cecilia is shown. Pope Alexander VI, the infamous Borgia pope, is buried here.