Black Madonna of Montserrat Statue – 1 1/2″ metal.
(See photo of actual Madonna at left)
On the mountain named Montserrat, near Barcelona, in the Catalonia region of Spain, a church now contains a ‘miracle- working’ statue of the Madonna and Child known as La Moreneta, that is: the dark little one.
Legend relates that the miraculous image was first known as La Jerosolimitana (the native of Jerusalem), since it is believed to have been carved in that city during the early days of the church.
Another account, seemingly well-attested, indicates that the image was moved to Montserrat in 718, to avoid the danger posed by invading Saracens. The image disappears from the historical record at this point, to reappear in a legend holding that shepherds found the lost statue under supernatural guidance in 890:
While tending their flocks that night the shepherds were amazed to see lights and to hear singing coming from the mountain. When this was repeated, the shepherds reported the situation to their priest, who investigated. When the priest also heard the singing and saw the mysterious lights, he informed the Bishop, and he also witnessed the phenomenon. The statue of Our Lady was discovered in a cave and was brought out and placed in a small church that was soon erected.
description of Black Madonna by Michael P. Duricy