The Sanctuary of the Cave

The river Cardener is characterised by its natural caves dug into the rock by the power of the wind and rain. These caves were inhabited by hermits during the sixteenth century. Ignatius chose one of them to pray in and according to tradition, started to write the Spiritual Exercises there. At the end of the sixteenth century, pilgrims began to worship in this place. At first, they placed a cross inside and closed the cave with a door. Subsequently, a small chapel was built in 1603. Gradually, the number of visitors grew and during more than four centuries, the site became more and more important with the addition of new buildings. Nowadays the complex is known by the name of the Cave, and it comprises the Sanctuary of the Cave and the International Centre of Ignatian Spirituality (formerly the Retreat House). The latter originally dates from 1894 and is the work of Joan Martorell. The building was renovated between 2012 and 2014 and it is now home to the Jesuit community who live there permanently. After the refurbishment of modern times, the sanctuary is now divided into four areas: the church, the reception area, the antechamber and the Small Cave. The whole set of buildings represents a good example of Jesuit architecture and especially of Catalan Baroque art. In addition to its evident artistic value, it is clearly a symbol for the members of the Society of Jesus as it is considered to be the place where the ideas of its founder took shape and flourished.

External view of the Cave

The Baroque lateral façade

An impressive example of Baroque theatricality, it was conceived as a way to close an empty space. It consists of three sectors, the Small Cave, the antechamber and the church sanctuary. Its structure comprises three levels: a simple basement; a central part with Ionic pillars and voussoired windows (including an entablature at the top with figures representing fauna and flora) and an upper part with musical angels and elliptical oculi. It dates from the seventeenth century and is the work of Joan Grau and Francesc Grau.

The Church façade

It is an exceptional example of Jesuit and Catalan baroque architecture thanks to the movement of its elements and its decoration in the form of a Baroque altarpiece. At the centre, a niche can be found with the sculpture of the saint holding a pen and the Spiritual Exercises book framed by Corinthian columns. Above the statue, the Rosette oval symbolises divine enlightenment.

The inside of the Cave

The Church

Built between 1750 and 1763, it is formed by a single nave with interconnecting lateral chapels, connected by an upper platform with a lattice. The decoration was not finished until the mid-nineteenth century, because of the expulsions which the community underwent. On the sides, the sculptures of the Society of Jesus can be found. The main altar is presided by an image of the Virgin Mary and above this, the Holy Trinity with the saints Ignatius and Francis Xavier on each side can be seen.

The Reception Area

We can find the door dating back to 1625, through which the Small Cave could be accessed until 1900, and the marble banister from 1900 covering most of the rock walls of the Small Cave. We can also see the nine medallions with alabaster relief by Josep Sunyer (1720) showing episodes from the life of Ignatius in Manresa.

The Antechamber

Until the nineteenth century, this place was dedicated to worship, but with the construction of the church, it became the entrance hall to the Small Cave. It was decorated between 1906 and 1919 by the Jesuit painter, Martín Coronas, who directed the modernist style refurbishment with a certain eclecticism and varied decoration for the floor, the walls and the ceiling. This choice of decoration reflects a communicative function: it is the space that prepares us to enter into the most spiritual place of the whole collection of buildings. This idea is conveyed through the iconography of the walls: the stained glass windows and the mosaics of the pseudo windows; between the windows there are six medallions explaining episodes from the life of the saint whereas the family coat of arms and weapons found on the floor bear witness to the former profession of Ignatius.

The Small Cave

It is the heart of Saint Ignatius’ legacy. It consists of a cave which was formed by the erosion of the River Cardener. In the seventeenth century, it was decorated with an alabaster altarpiece made by Joan Grau, showing Saint Ignatius writing the Spiritual Exercises in Manresa. The stucco found on the side of the river dates from the eighteenth century.