A painful farewell
Those of us who are lucky enough to have friends who are older than us, often our teachers, we must always mourn their premature disappearance and feel the pain of their absence. It’s still good that some of us can find solace in the Verdaguerian words that have accompanied the dismissal of Mn. Miquel S. Gros i Pujol, passed away from this century on May 3, with 91 years full of service, wisdom and simplicity of heart.
A temporary relief
The death of Mn. Gros is not goodbye forever. It is, simply, a dream. But even the temporary farewell of a loved one grieves us. It is human that it is so. And the void left by Mn. Big is big.
A great intellectual contribution
Now is not the time to review, however briefly, all his great intellectual contribution. Already, recently, on the occasion of his 90th birthday, the Catalan Society of Liturgical Studies, of which he was president, collected his bibliography in a tribute issue. Extensive and essential for many disciplines, particularly for liturgy studies, in which he was an unbeatable teacher.
An indelible legacy
His scientific work, accompanied by another of even more hidden brilliance, but no less effective as a cultural protector and generous patronage, has yielded lasting fruits. The Museum, the Archive, the Episcopal Library of Vic and the Faculty of Theology, and all of us who have gone there in search of sources for our research, owe him a great deal. Moreover, as a good Lullian, no teaching or courtesy ever failed in his words.
A long tradition of ecclesiastical scholars
Mr. Gros was, until now, the last link in a long and uninterrupted chain of great and kind-hearted ecclesiastical scholars from Vigata. A series of egregious characters since the 9th century with the patriarchal figure of canon Adanagell. And the most recent Ripoll, Gudiol and Junyent. All of glorious memory.
The continuity of the task
But the chain has not been broken. Nor can it be broken. Thank God, we can still count on the teaching of another great ecclesiastic from Osona, Mn. Antoni Pladevall And we can enjoy the dedication, service and erudition of Rafael Ginebra, right hand of Mn. Gros a l’Arxiu, around which, among others, Ramon Ordeig and Josep Masnou have also been trained.
The importance of preserving the legacy
The gigantic work erected by Mn. Gros, going up and down every day (Saturdays included) the 54 steps of the stairs that lead to that anteroom of Paradise that is the Archive and Library of Vic, we are sure that it will last with the efficient work well demonstrated by its closest col· workers We must ensure this continuity. So much work non sit casus! We cannot let such a long and fruitful effort go to waste!
A tribute to other scholars
Mr. Gros, who has applied so much dedication to the study of the diplomas and codices of the Vigata archive, also paid attention, as could not be otherwise, to another of his distinguished predecessors, this one from the 11th century: canon Ermemir Quintila. Ermemir, also loved and respected in his time, was remembered in the pages of Vic’s obituary with words that fit our beloved Mn. Miquel S. Gros: “Canon of Sant Pere, he died in a good old age, due to his work and care many books have been written, and he has educated a large number of clergy for the honor and service of the Church.”