The archivist of the Basilica of Santa Maria del Pi, Jordi Sacasas, asserts that the celebration for the beatification of Sant Josep Oriol in 1807 was for Barcelona like the 1992 Olympics.
The archivist and curator of the Basilica of Santa Maria del Pi and Sant Jaume, Jordi Sacasas, has compared the celebration of the beatification of Sant Josep Oriol, which took place in 1807, with the impact that the 1992 Olympics had on Barcelona. In an interview, Sacasas explained that this religious event gathered thousands of people and transformed the city for several days.
Sant Josep Oriol, known as the 'doctor of the poor', was a 17th-century priest from Barcelona who carried out his work in the church of Santa Maria del Pi. His beatification, driven by popular devotion, became the first major mass mobilization in the contemporary history of the Catalan capital. According to Sacasas, "the celebration for the beatification of Sant Josep Oriol in 1807 was for Barcelona like the 1992 Olympics."
The archivist detailed that the event lasted several days and included processions, fireworks, music, and religious acts throughout the city. The streets were filled with faithful from all over Catalonia and other parts of Spain. "It was an event that united Barcelona's society of the time, beyond political and social differences," he noted.
The archive of Santa Maria del Pi preserves original documents that allow for the reconstruction of those days. Among them are the parish account books, which reflect expenses on ornaments, candles, and musicians, as well as contemporary chronicles that describe the excitement and popular fervour. "We have invoices from the carpenters who set up the temporary altars, from the musicians who participated, even from the fireworks," Sacasas specified.
The archivist recalled that the Pi archive is one of the most important in Catalonia, especially in the musical field. "The Pi preserves one of the most important musical archives in Catalonia," he stated. During the Civil War, the documents were moved for protection: first to the convent of Esperança, then to Pedralbes, and finally outside Barcelona. After the war, they returned to the basilica in boxes, without any order. "Mosén Trinitat Prat, a scholar, was in charge of the archive, but he didn't get along well with the rector," he explained.
Sacasas has dedicated his career to recovering and organizing this heritage. "I got to know the archive in 1991 when I came with a friend, David Malet, organist of the Cathedral. In 2005 I started working here unofficially and in 2011 I was officially appointed archivist," he recounted. His work has allowed for the valorisation of documents that speak of the city's history and its needs. "An archive speaks of your needs, not your tastes," he summarised.
The comparison with the 1992 Olympics is not coincidental. For Sacasas, both events marked a before and after in Barcelona's projection. "In 1807, the beatification of Sant Josep Oriol put Barcelona on the map of Christendom and attracted thousands of visitors, with an economic and social impact comparable to that of the Olympics," he argued.
The archivist lamented that the memory of that celebration has partly been lost, but he hopes that his work will help recover it. "It is important for Barcelonans to know their history, and the Pi archive is an inexhaustible source of surprises," he concluded.
The Basilica of Santa Maria del Pi, located in the heart of the Barri Gòtic, continues to be a cultural and religious reference. Its archive, accessible to researchers, safeguards centuries of the city's history. The figure of Sant Josep Oriol, whose feast is celebrated every 23rd of March, continues to evoke devotion among Barcelonans.
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