-
The learned monk of Montserrat, eminent philologist and historian, leaves an immense legacy
A decisive man has left us, a wise man who made our country better. When we explain to others who we are, we often name artists and intellectuals who have projected our culture internationally. Well, the father Josep Massot i Muntaner, born in Mallorca in 1941, eminent philologist and historian, has been a point manfrom the International Association of Catalan Language and Literature (AILLC), to make our reality present in universities around the world.
Founder and secretary for many years of the AILLC, this tireless monk of Montserrat has been behind numerous initiatives that have given prestige to our image abroad. But, in addition, he has been the author of a very important work about the Civil War in Mallorca or about the history of Montserrat and of the Catalan Church.
numerous awards
Let us add that he has masterfully directed the Publications of the Abbey of Montserrat -the oldest active- and the magazines ‘Serra d’Or’, ‘Lengua & Literatura’, ‘Randa’ or ‘Studia Monastica‘ and who has been curator and promoter of the editions of the monumental ‘Obra del Cançoner Popular de Catalunya’, founded now a hundred years ago.
recognized with the Prize d’Honor of the Catalan Letters of 2012, the honorary doctorate of the University of the Balearic Islands in 1998 and that of the University of Valencia in 2016, the Xarxa Vives d’Universitats medal in 2018, the Francesc de B. Moll Award in 1989, the Creu de Sant Jordi in 1996, the National Prize for Popular Culture of the Generalitat in 1997 and the Medalla d’Or de les Balears in 2019, it is impossible to summarize in an article the immense legacy that the ‘stop’ Massot leaves us.
A man of constructive spirit and concord, he has devoted himself passionately to his scientific work without fanfare.
Certainly, his bibliographic production is impressive and his editorial task is of a colossal magnitude. And it is also necessary to underline its rigorous, demanding, deeply civilized contribution in the construction of our culture as a whole.
Man of constructive spirit and concord, has passionately devoted himself to his scientific work without fanfare and without ever neglecting the human dimension that roots us among others. She has been a civic man. Since my time as a Philology student and a collaborator with professors Antoni M. Badia i Margarit and Joan Coromines, my relationship with the ‘pare’ Massot has been intense, constant and extraordinarily stimulating and enriching. It seems truly impossible that a single person could carry out such an ambitious and purposeful task as the one that the ‘pare’ Massot has carried out since Montserrat, since the AILLC, from the Institut d’Estudis Catalans, the Institut d’Estudis Menorquins or the Acadèmia de Bones Lletres.
in the collective memory
Related news
During my time as director of the Fundació Carulla and Editorial Barcino I had the opportunity to maintain regular contact with him due to my status as an active member of the Advisory Council. His always consistent criteria, his admirable capacity for work, his boundless generosity have made him an indispensable figure of reference for scholars of our history, our language and our literature.
Montserrat Abbey appears in our collective memory associated with some of our most emblematic and influential personalities, such as the abbot Aureli Maria Escarré, the musician Ireneu Segarra or the biblical scholar Bonaventura Ubach. Without a doubt, it is necessary to include among these names that of the ‘pare’ Josep Massot.