Sant Julià de Lòria Celebrates Patron Saint's Day with Thanksgiving Mass

Sant Julià de Lòria marked its patron saint's day on 7 January with the traditional Thanksgiving Mass, attended by local authorities and a large gathering of parishioners.

The event upholds a longstanding custom in the parish, as highlighted by rector Pepe Chisvert in his homily. New to the role years ago, he was advised to maintain such traditions, including the practice of naming children born around this time after the saint—Julià for boys and Canòlich for girls. The service draws even those more familiar with biblical references from fiction than regular worship, though participants showed devotion without embracing extremes like charismatic renewal movements.

Seated prominently near the communal leaders was a Riojan man with a pilgrim's staff, evoking a blend of weary wanderer and rugged guardian figure. His tenor voice stood out during the hymns.

Chisvert opened by congratulating two recent mothers from the parish: Health Minister Helena Mas and Tourism Councillor Judith López. He noted the Mass closes the Christmas cycle, describing it as a family and historical celebration. Drawing on physicist and theologian Isaac Newton, the rector urged building bridges over walls—geographic, ethnic, social, political, economic, and religious—that divide people.

The homily recounted Saint Julià's life: forced into marriage despite a vow of chastity, he and his wife Basilissa mutually preserved their virginity to serve God. She established a convent, he a monastery, and together they turned their home into a hospital for up to 1,000 people. Sometimes conflated with the legendary Hospitaler saint immortalized by Gustave Flaubert, Julià was beheaded during Diocletian's persecutions, while Basilissa died peacefully. The saint features centrally in the parish church's 1618 Baroque altarpiece by Antoni Tremulles.

Communion followed, with gluten-free hosts distributed by Carles Rosas, a Colombian long-time Andorran resident from the Fener area. Soon to be ordained a deacon, he assists in Andorra la Vella's Sant Esteve parish while studying as a seminarian, embodying a spirit of service.

The Mass concluded with traditional goigs—devotional songs—featuring music by Daniel Areny, a recording by Coral Rocafort, and medieval Catalan lyrics praising Julià as abbot, martyr, and confessor: "Juliá de gran clemencia, lliura'ns de tot dolor" ("Julià of great clemency, free us from all pain").

Such customs persist strongly amid modern distractions, as the Riojan pilgrim departed alone down Avinguda Verge de Canòlich toward Plaça Major.