Josep Torras i Bages
Encyclopedia
Josep Torras i Bages born at Les Cabanyes
, Alt Penedès
, on 12 September 1846 - died at Vic
, Osona
, on 7 February 1916) was a Catalan
thinker, writer and bishop
. He was one of the main figures in the turn of the 20th century Catholic
Catalan nationalism
.
displayed by the "militant nationalism" of Enric Prat de la Riba
(1870–1917). In 1892 he wrote La tradició catalana, where he emphasized Conservative Nationalism and warned against the erosion of Christian values. Exalting rural life, the family, religion and the love of Catalan language
, the land and the language took an almost mystical dimension in his point of view.
He was convinced that the Catalan nation had to be Christian in order to establish itself as something enduring and meaningful in the future, his words "Catalunya serà cristiana o no serà" (Catalonia will be Christian or will not be) are engraved at the gate of Santa Maria de Montserrat
abbey.
Torras was very interested in the study of the seny
, a virtue often considered a Catalan cultural symbol
, and encouraged others, like Josep Abril i Virgili
and Jaume Raventós, to do so.
Based on good sense and wisdom, seny was perceived by Torras to originate in the traditional Catalan rural farm (casa pairal or masia). The life in the traditional non-urban setting with its frugality, hard work and religious piety was the right ground for the development of the values and social norms embodied in the Catalan seny.
. Specializing in conflict-solving among Catholics, he also was the censor of some newspapers that were compromised in certain inner troubles (procesos canónicos) of the Spanish Church at the time.
Years later, in 1888, Josep Torras, after analyzing the growing secularization of Spanish society, had written the book El clero en la vida social moderna in Spanish
. In his work he wrote straightforwardly about the often integrist or reactionary position of the Catholic Church in Spain
, and sought to encourage the Spanish Catholic clergy to adapt to the spirit of the times and to focus on moderation and personal spiritual discipline, an advice that went largely unheeded at the time.
Torras was promoted to become archbishop
of Burgos in 1906 and Valencia
in 1913, but he declined because he didn't want to put a distance between himself and the mission he was committed to in the heart of Catalonia.
Les Cabanyes
Les Cabanyes is a municipality in the comarca of Alt Penedès, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
, Alt Penedès
Alt Penedès
Alt Penedès is a comarca in Catalonia, northern Spain. The capital is Vilafranca del Penedès.-Municipalities:*Avinyonet del Penedès - pop. 1334*Les Cabanyes - pop. 603*Castellet i la Gornal - pop. 1562*Castellví de la Marca - pop. 1497...
, on 12 September 1846 - died at Vic
Vic
Vic is the capital of the comarca of Osona, in the Barcelona Province, Catalonia, Spain. Vic's location, only 69 km far from Barcelona and 60 km from Girona, has made it one of the most important towns in central Catalonia.-History:...
, Osona
Osona
County of Osona was one of the Catalan counties of the Marca Hispanica in the Early and High Middle Ages. It was based around the capital city of Vic and the corresponding diocese, whose territory was roughly the current comarca of Osona....
, on 7 February 1916) was a Catalan
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
thinker, writer and bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
. He was one of the main figures in the turn of the 20th century Catholic
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
Catalan nationalism
Catalan nationalism
Catalan nationalism or Catalanism , is a political movement advocating for either further political autonomy or full independence of Catalonia....
.
Torras and the Catalan traditions
Josep Torras strongly criticized the secularismLaïcité
French secularism, in French, laïcité is a concept denoting the absence of religious involvement in government affairs as well as absence of government involvement in religious affairs. French secularism has a long history but the current regime is based on the 1905 French law on the Separation of...
displayed by the "militant nationalism" of Enric Prat de la Riba
Enric Prat de la Riba
Enric Prat de la Riba i Sarrà was a Catalan politician. He became a member of the Centre Escolar Catalanista, where one of the earliest definitions of Catalan nationalism was formulated....
(1870–1917). In 1892 he wrote La tradició catalana, where he emphasized Conservative Nationalism and warned against the erosion of Christian values. Exalting rural life, the family, religion and the love of Catalan language
Catalan language
Catalan is a Romance language, the national and only official language of Andorra and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencian Community, where it is known as Valencian , as well as in the city of Alghero, on the Italian island...
, the land and the language took an almost mystical dimension in his point of view.
He was convinced that the Catalan nation had to be Christian in order to establish itself as something enduring and meaningful in the future, his words "Catalunya serà cristiana o no serà" (Catalonia will be Christian or will not be) are engraved at the gate of Santa Maria de Montserrat
Santa Maria de Montserrat
Santa Maria de Montserrat is a Benedictine abbey located on the mountain of Montserrat, in Monistrol de Montserrat, in Catalonia, Spain.It hosts the Virgin of Montserrat, and the Publicacions de l'Abadia de Montserrat, a publishing house, one of the oldest presses in the world still running, with...
abbey.
Torras was very interested in the study of the seny
Seny
Seny is a form of ancestral Catalan wisdom or sensibleness. It involves well-pondered perception of situations, level-headedness, awareness, integrity and right action. The opposite of seny is known as rauxa "foolish recklessness"....
, a virtue often considered a Catalan cultural symbol
Catalan symbols
The oldest Catalan symbol is the Coat of arms of Catalonia, one of the oldest coats of arms in Europe.. It dates back to the 9th century, according to a legend that says that the four red bars are the result of Charles the Bald, known also as Charles II, king of West Francia, smearing four...
, and encouraged others, like Josep Abril i Virgili
Josep Abril i Virgili
Josep Abril i Virgili was a self-taught Catalan poet and playwright. He specialized in the production of works with easily-understood and popular moral lessons, which were publicised through Roman Catholic organizations.-Publications:...
and Jaume Raventós, to do so.
Based on good sense and wisdom, seny was perceived by Torras to originate in the traditional Catalan rural farm (casa pairal or masia). The life in the traditional non-urban setting with its frugality, hard work and religious piety was the right ground for the development of the values and social norms embodied in the Catalan seny.
Ecclesiastical work
In 1882 Torras became counselor of bishop of Barcelona J. M. UrquinaonaJosé María de Urquinaona y Vidot
José María Urquinaona y Bidot was a bishop of Barcelona. Born in Cádiz, he was presented at the First Vatican Council as secretary of the bishops from Spain. In 1878, he was made bishop of Barcelona. The Plaça Urquinaona is named after him....
. Specializing in conflict-solving among Catholics, he also was the censor of some newspapers that were compromised in certain inner troubles (procesos canónicos) of the Spanish Church at the time.
Years later, in 1888, Josep Torras, after analyzing the growing secularization of Spanish society, had written the book El clero en la vida social moderna in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
. In his work he wrote straightforwardly about the often integrist or reactionary position of the Catholic Church in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, and sought to encourage the Spanish Catholic clergy to adapt to the spirit of the times and to focus on moderation and personal spiritual discipline, an advice that went largely unheeded at the time.
Torras was promoted to become archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of Burgos in 1906 and Valencia
Archdiocese of Valencia
The Archdiocese of Valencia is a Catholic ecclesiastical territory located in north-eastern Spain, in the province of Valencia, part of the autonomous community of Valencia. The archdiocese heads the ecclesiastical province of Valencia, having Metropolitan authority over the suffragan dioceses of...
in 1913, but he declined because he didn't want to put a distance between himself and the mission he was committed to in the heart of Catalonia.
Works
Even though most of his works have been published in compilations under the title Obres completes, his abundant correspondence, crucial for the understanding of certain issues surrounding Catalan nationalism, remains for the most part unpublished.- Obres completes,Foment de Pietat, 10 vols., Barcelona 1912-27
- El clero en la vida social moderna, 1888
- La tradició catalana, 1892
See also
- SenySenySeny is a form of ancestral Catalan wisdom or sensibleness. It involves well-pondered perception of situations, level-headedness, awareness, integrity and right action. The opposite of seny is known as rauxa "foolish recklessness"....
- Catalan nationalismCatalan nationalismCatalan nationalism or Catalanism , is a political movement advocating for either further political autonomy or full independence of Catalonia....
- Catalan symbolsCatalan symbolsThe oldest Catalan symbol is the Coat of arms of Catalonia, one of the oldest coats of arms in Europe.. It dates back to the 9th century, according to a legend that says that the four red bars are the result of Charles the Bald, known also as Charles II, king of West Francia, smearing four...
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Vic