Our Lady of Montserrat, the Seat of Wisdom

Speech of Most Rev. Charles John Brown, D.D., Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines

Solemnity of Our Lady of Montserrat and 130th Anniversary of the Benedictine Presence in the Philippines

September 12, 2025 | The Benedictine Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat, Manila City

Your Eminence Jose F. Cardinal Advincula, Jr., Archbishop of Manila; the Right Rev. Austin P. Cadiz, OSB, Abbot of Our Lady of Montserrat, here in Manila; the Right Rev. Manel Gasch i Hurios, Abbot of Santa Maria de Montserrat in Catalonia, Spain; my brother bishops, who have come this afternoon; Monks of the Abbey, Benedictine Sisters, here in very large numbers, faithful priests of the Archdiocese, people of God, students (especially, when I came into the beautiful church this afternoon, I was surprised by the number of students who are here, so, I welcome you in a very, very special way to this beautiful celebration):

For me as the papal nuncio, as a representative of Pope Leo XIV here in the Philippines, it gives me a lot of joy to be with you this evening, to celebrate 130 Years of Benedictine Life here in the Philippines, here in the Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat. I've come with the priests of the Apostolic Nunciature, the sisters, the consecrated women—all of us have come to be part of this wonderful celebration.

130 Years of Benedictine Life

So, it was 130 years ago today that Abbot José Deas y Villar, with his small band, his small delegation of eight priests and six brothers, arrived here in Manila from the Abbey of Montserrat in Catalonia in Spain. They arrived here in Manila on the morning of September 12, 1895, in the final years of the Spanish rule here in the Philippines. They brought with them this beautiful image of Our Lady: Our Lady of Montserrat, as part of their team.

So, it wasn't only eight priests and six brothers. Rather, it was eight priests, six brothers, and Our Lady. Then they began their work here, and that work, which began as a small, very humble presence here in the Philippines, has expanded and grown over the years is the magnificent work of the Benedictines: the sisters, the monks, throughout the islands of the Philippines.

We think in a very special way this evening, of the work of education. The Benedictines throughout the world are known for being great educators. The Benedictine schools go back more than a millennium in Europe. Here, of course, only six years after the monks arrived on that morning of September 12, 1895, only six years later, they founded El Colegio de San Beda, which is now known as San Beda University. It makes me very happy to see students from San Beda here this evening with us. So, we put these two themes together.

Sedes Sapientiae

Today is the Feast also of the Holy Name of Mary. For the monks, it's the Feast of Our Lady of Montserrat. When we look at her image, we see Mary with the baby Jesus on her lap. Mary showing us Jesus. That image, traditionally, is known as “Sedes Sapientiae”, the “Seat of Wisdom” because Jesus is our Wisdom. He is our Way, our Truth and our Life; and we find Him on the lap of Mary in this beautiful image of Our Lady of Montserrat. Mary is the Sedes Sapientiae.

So, let me address myself, in conclusion, to the students here. Some of you, I'm told, are in the middle of your bar exams. Some of you will do your final exam, I believe, on Sunday. So, let me encourage you who are doing your exams. In fact, I offered my Mass for those of you who will be doing your exams on Sunday.

I encourage you to go to Our Lady. Go to her, the Seat of Wisdom, and ask her for the wisdom that you need to finish your exams well; and she will reply. She will help you. She'll protect you.

Many of us who know that if we have recourse to Our Lady, she always helps us out in her quiet way, her somewhat secret way. That she's always there, guiding, leading, helping.

That's what the Benedictine Monks have shown us over these years. This beautiful devotion to Our Lady of Montserrat.

So, dear students, law students, especially those who finish up on Sunday with your bar exams, may God bless you.

May Our Lady of Montserrat watch over all of us, especially the monks, with their beloved Abbot here in Our Lady of Montserrat, and throughout the Philippines.

I wish you all, in the name of Pope Leo XIV, a very blessed and wonderful, 130th anniversary of the foundation of this monastery.

God bless you!

Transcribed by Joel V. Ocampo

cover photo from Buen Viaje Ph Facebook page