Josep Torras i Bages

Deeply linked to the Renaixença, Josep Torras i Bages defended a traditional Christian regionalism. In 1892, he published his major work, 'La Tradició Catalana', asserting that the Christian faith is the soul of Catalonia. He became the first spiritual advisor of the Cercle Artístic de Sant Lluc in 1893, where he theorized a modern Christian aesthetic. In 1899, he founded the Lliga Espiritual de la Mare de Déu de Montserrat and wrote the 'Spiritual Visit to the Virgin of Montserrat', a very popular Marian prayer calling for the spiritual reconstruction of the region.

From his death in 1916, Josep Torras i Bages enjoyed an immense reputation for holiness. His secretary emphasized his absolute quest for truth, and his epitaph describes him as a saint. His cause for beatification was officially introduced at the diocesan level in 1931. The process continued in Rome with the promulgation of the decree on his writings in 1963, followed by the validation of the informative processes of Vic and Barcelona by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in 1987.

On April 7, 1992, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints unanimously recognized the heroic nature of his virtues. On June 13, 1992, with the approval of Pope John Paul II, the solemn decree declaring Josep Torras i Bages 'venerable' was officially published. The recognition of a miracle attributed to his intercession remains required for his beatification.

The spirituality of Josep Torras i Bages is Christocentric and Marian, marked by devotion to the Sacred Heart and the Virgin of Montserrat, drawing upon Thomism and traditional common sense ('seny'). He played a decisive role in the spiritual life of the architect Antoni Gaudí, helping him overcome a crisis in 1894 and integrate his faith into his art, which is reflected in the Sagrada Família. Nicknamed the 'Spiritual Patriarch of Catalonia,' his legacy is perpetuated by the Diocese of Vic through conferences and a virtual repository.