Sheraton Santa Maria de El Paular - Monastery - Religious Life
With the war of independence in the early nineteenth century and later the confiscation of 1835, religious life was interrupted. In 1844 His Excellency Don Rafael Sánchez Merino purchased the monastic enclosure for 40,000 duros and the State 20 years later bought it from this family for 60,000 duros.
Religious life was back again, but in the hands of Franco. In 1942, on a trip to Catalonia and staying in Montserrat, Franco liked so much the religious atmosphere that he decided he wished to move it back to Madrid and chose the La Cartuja de El Paular, which at that time was uninhabited. He suggested this to its rightful owners, the Carthusians, who rejected it. La Cartuja de El Paular was then offered to a Benedictine community in La Rioja, "La Abadía de Valvanera", whose monks arrived at
El Paular on 20th March 1954.
The Benedictine community that currently resides at El Paular is formed of contemplative monks. Their founder is Saint Benedict (480-528). The monks go to the chapel several times a day pray and sing to God. The first few years at El Paular were very difficult, as the monastery was in very poor condition. Effort and the arrival of these first settlers allowed the monastery to improve and become more comfortable over the years.
Over these years a number of varied works have been carried out: The distillery, where various liquors are fabricated such as Whiskey and the Benedictine liquor made following the monastery's own recipe. A few years ago El Paular further recuperated and now sells items in its own shop. The dairy, where they make cheese, a trout hatchery, a boarding school for children, the garden and farm all show a marked recovery since years past.
Currently the monks of El Paular dedicate their time to the conservation and upkeep of the monastery. They serve and teach those who visit. In the shop the monks' homemade items and souvenirs are sold, along with items made by nuns of other religious establishments. Following the Benedictine tradition they receive guests who are accommodated for in the inn. Also, respecting pastoral liturgy, they celebrate weddings the monastery's church.
Apart from work, the monks devote a significant part of the day to the Divine Office and their training (music or singing, Lectio Divina ...), as goes the Benedictine motto "Ora et labora".