Rebeca Pérez Vega
In San Cristóbal de la Barranca, in a remote area of the community of Los Pueblitos, the priest Javier Magdaleno has promoted since 2012 a space consecrated to solitude, stillness and contemplative life: the San Máximo Confesor Monastery.
The idea is simple but profound: a hermitage where the spiritual value of solitude is recovered, following the Christian monastic tradition and the inspiration of Saint Bruno, before Saint Ignatius of Loyola and Saint Francis of Assisi.
In the Catholic Church, monasteries have historically been places inhabited by monks who seek the experience of living alone, in silence, but in community. The term monk comes from the Greek monos, which means “alone,” and refers to a vocation that, although isolated, is not separated from humanity.
“Loneliness does not mean being obsessed with God speaking to you,” explains Father Magdaleno, “it means having a deep existential awareness of what you are experiencing.” The monastery seeks to be a space where one can connect with God, so that his voice can be heard in the simplicity of everyday life, highlights the priest, who is also Chancellor Secretary of the Archdiocese of Guadalajara.
The tradition that inspires this space dates back to the first hermits of Christianity, who abandoned the cities to retire to the deserts. Unlike the Franciscan hermitages – which are characterized by their austerity – the monastery dedicated to Saint Maximus Confessor, a theologian and philosopher of the 6th century, is committed to a balance: a life of silence and contemplation should not be confused with isolation.
The monastery cells are designed to promote silence and concentration, with natural ventilation and simple but warm details, such as essential oil diffusers that welcome each visitor.
“What we seek is for each person who comes here to feel loved, deeply loved, in an austere environment and connected to nature,” says the priest.
The monastery currently has 12 individual cells in operation and four more in the process of completion. Although the orientation is Catholic, this initiative is open to people seeking a deep encounter with their spirituality, under the condition of absolute respect for the space.
The experience of loneliness, according to Javier Magdaleno, is no stranger to anyone: “Even if one is born with a twin brother, being born is a solitary act, and dying is also solitary. Solitude is part of human life, and knowing how to live it connects us more fully with our existence.” Hence the value of this complex: a refuge where silence is not a void, but an encounter, complete.
In the Monastery of Saint Maximus Confessor, time seems to slow down, accompanied by monastic routines and contemplation of the natural environment. San Cristóbal de la Barranca, with its landscape towards the ravine and the Santiago River, thus becomes an accomplice of a longing that remains valid: that of returning to the essential, to the inner voice, to the experience of silence as an act of love and search.
SACRED ART
The project, completely financed by private initiative, was born from the desire to integrate the principles of Eastern and Western Christianity in a space where both traditions could coexist. To do this, Magdaleno chose a secluded site to provide an ideal environment due to its isolation and tranquility.
The architecture of the monastery did not follow a predetermined plan; Instead, the buildings were distributed according to the topography of the land, respecting the surrounding nature.
One of the most notable aspects of the monastery are the murals that decorate its interiors. These monumental works, created under the canons of Byzantine painting, relate symbolic passages from the Bible, turning each of the chapels: the largest and the smallest, into a kind of plastic catechism.
The murals represent scenes of creation, the spiritual combat of human beings – such as Abraham sacrificing his son Isaac -, the birth, passion and resurrection of Christ, as well as different characters from religious iconography that evoke different scenes from ancient times and New Testament with highlights of the Christian faith.
The person in charge of this work has been the painter Arturo Ruvalcaba Salazar, originally from Zacatecas and graduated from the University of Guadalajara, who has used the tempera painting technique to seek to give more luminosity and depth to the works.
Currently, the murals are still in the process of being created, with the aim of covering large surfaces with scenes that invite contemplation and spiritual understanding, adds Magdaleno.
This enclosure also has an evocation of the Holy Sepulchre, a structure alluding to the Christian faith. This work, made with local stone, is a free imitation of the original tomb, with dimensions of seven by seven meters and two bedrooms decorated in marble, built by artisans from Zapotlanejo.
“It is an evocation, more than a replica,” explains Father Javier. The structure includes the Angel Chapel and the space intended to represent the tomb of Jesus Christ.
In addition, the monastery is in the process of building a viewpoint with a 12-meter-high monumental cross on the Cerro de la Cruz. This work is expected to be completed by the end of next year, according to Magdaleno.
A RELIGIOUS ROUTE
Although the monastery has been open to the public for some time, there has been a professionalization effort to make this attraction known to more people, which is why Magdaleno and his team have worked hand in hand with the Ministry of Tourism to develop a religious route that Consider a more complete visit for those who come.
With an investment of close to 300 thousand pesos, the agency has developed an experience that seeks to highlight the plastic works of Ruvalcaba Salazar, the evocation of the Holy Sepulcher, as well as different tours of the natural areas near the religious complex.
The development of this route was carried out together with the consulting team of the Procesa Incentives agency and the priest Javier Magdaleno himself. The intervention of the Ministry of Tourism also included the training of guides and monastery staff, as well as the creation of marketing strategies to attract national and international visitors.
In this context, the San Máximo Confesor Monastery seeks to offer a complete experience that includes food and contemplative activities. The cost per person is 600 pesos and the visit lasts around eight hours from the departure of Guadalajara, and it is necessary to reserve in advance.
The walk to the monastery is part of the experience itself. To get there, it is necessary to travel the winding road towards Colotlán, narrow but with views of the ravine. The trip takes approximately one hour and 15 minutes, although access can be difficult for those who do not have their own vehicle.
At the end of the path, a small gap leads to a metal gate that protects this sanctuary of silence. Within the complex, in addition to the cells and the main chapel, there is a minor chapel and stone cabins with red tile roofs, all surrounded by the view of the ravine.
Father Javier Magdaleno expresses that in addition to being open to the general public, for short visits or longer stays, the monastery will open new spiritual experiences starting this month.
These activities are designed for families and people interested in entering into contemplation and silence. On Sundays, especially, lightning tours will be offered, ideal for those looking for a break from the fast pace of the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area. It is expected that the full week of silence experience will also be available, with limited capacity of up to 10 people.
To reserve you can consult the site: https://www.monasteriosanmaximoconfesor.org.
