12. Altarpiece of Saint Michael the Archangel

In 1552, Abbot Pere Despuig commissioned this altarpiece dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel.

For almost four centuries, it stood in the left apse of the church, in the space now occupied by the altarpiece of Our Lady of All Saints.

After the Spanish Civil War, it was moved to this wall, allowing the Romanesque apses at the front end of the church to be seen once again.

This altarpiece is a magnificent example of the Catalan Renaissance and allows us to appreciate the evolution of altarpieces, which became increasingly large and elaborate over time.

Take a moment to observe the altarpiece as a whole. Its structure recalls the façade of a church, with several clearly defined elements: classical columns, niches with sculptures, decorative mouldings and, at the top, an attic section framed by two large volutes. These volutes are a distinctive feature of Renaissance architecture and can also be seen in renowned churches such as Santa Maria Novella in Florence and the Church of Gesù of Rome.

Now direct your attention to the central section of the altarpiece. Here, every scene focuses on Saint Michael the Archangel, the principal figure of this work.

At the centre, a large niche contains the image of Saint Michael. The original sculpture has been lost; the one you see today dates from the Baroque period. If you look closely, you may notice that it appears rather small in relation to the niche that surrounds it.

At the very top of the altarpiece is one of the most dramatic scenes in the Bible: the battle in heaven described in the Book of Revelation. Saint Michael, holding a spear, defeats Satan, who falls vanquished among the flames. On either side, two angels armed with fiery swords continue the fight against the other demons.

For the Benedictine monks, this battle was not merely an event of the past. It symbolised the inner struggle experienced by every person: the conflict between good and evil, between faithfulness and temptation.

The right-hand side of the altarpiece develops this theme through three scenes from the life of Saint Benedict. Altogether, they illustrate the spiritual struggle described above. In one of the best-known scenes, Saint Benedict throws himself into a thorn bush to overcome the temptation of the flesh.

Another scene shows Saint Benedict withdrawn in prayer in a cave at Subiaco. A monk brings him food in a basket, but, according to tradition, the devil tries to interrupt this act of assistance. He throws a stone and breaks the small bell used to let Saint Benedict know that the food had arrived.

On the left-hand side are several scenes from the life of Saint Placid, who was martyred for his faithfulness to Jesus Christ.

Take a moment to contemplate this altarpiece. It reminds us that spiritual struggle is part of all human life: not a battle against other people, but against everything that draws us away from goodness, truth and love.

Even today, Saint Michael remains a powerful intercessor in our struggle against temptation, helping us trust that evil will not have the final word.