February 14, 1930 and 1943: New lights on founding Opus Dei

From October 2, 1928, when St Josemaría clearly “saw” the mission God was entrusting to him, his life had only one meaning: to fulfill God’s Will, to be a faithful instrument for opening up the way to holiness in the middle of the world that God showed him: a path of holiness for ordinary Christians, through their work. Tags: February 14, Founding of Opus Dei, Priesthood, Priestly Society of the Holy Cross

“Deeds are love – not sweet words”

Bishop Javier Echevarría

Bishop Javier Echevarría recalls the divine locution that gave rise to n. 933 in The Way: “There is a story of a soul who, on saying to our Lord in prayer, ‘Jesus, I love you,’ heard this reply from heaven: ‘Love means deeds, not sweet [...] Tags: Generosity, Javier Echevarria, Ascetical struggle

St Josemaría’s own account of his sister’s death

Andrés Vázquez de Prada

After St Josemaría died, a sealed envelope was found among his papers. Written on it were the words, “Not to be opened until my death. Mariano, 2-VII-1957.” Inside were six handwritten sheets that read as follows. Tags: Eucharist, The Escriva family, Death

First ordination of faithful of Opus Dei to the priesthood

Andrés Vázquez de Prada

The first three priests ordained from among the faithful of Opus Dei, on June 25, 1944 by the Bishop of Madrid were Father Alvaro del Portillo, Father Jose Maria Hernandez Garnica, and Father Jose Luis Muzquiz. All three of them were qualified civil or mining engineers. Tags: Alvaro del Portillo, Opus Dei, Priesthood, Priestly Society of the Holy Cross

Account of St Josemaría’s death

Msgr. Alvaro del Portillo

On June 26, 1975, Msgr. Josemaría died suddenly in Rome. The previous month he had made his last visit to Spain, where he received the gold medal of his native town, Barbastro, and visited the nearby shrine of Torreciudad, which had been built at his [...] Tags: Alvaro del Portillo, Death

An Italian song that St Josemaria loved

Aprite le finestre - 'Open the Windows', an Italian song that St Josemaria wanted people to sing to him as he was dying. The following is the account of this episode as given by Pilar Urbano in her biography of St Josemaria, 'El Hombre de Villa Tevere'. Tags: Joy, Death, Get-together

St Josemaría’s stay in Venezuela, August 1974

Ana Sastre

The Father arrived at Maiquetia airport, Caracas, at 5 p.m. on August 15, 1974. Hurricane Alma had caused airports in Venezuela to be on a state of alert, but the worst of the wind had passed off to the west of the country, and all was now calm. Tags: Catechetical trips

He put all his love into saying Holy Mass

Msgr Javier Echevarría

Msgr Javier Echevarría saw from close at hand, from 1953 onwards, how St Josemaría prepared to celebrate Mass, how he said it, how he did his thanksgiving afterwards, and how he prolonged it throughout the day. The following is an extract from Msgr Echevarría’s book [...] Tags: Gratitude, Eucharist, Faith, Javier Echevarria, Prayer, Piety, Priesthood

August 31, 1937

Bishop Javier Echevarría recalled this date in St Josemaría’s life, in the context of his apostolic zeal even in times of religious persecution and great hardship. Tags: Spanish Civil War

A picture that never fades from my memory

José Ramón Herrero

“I have on my conscience,” St Josemaría used to say, “many hours spent hearing children’s confessions in the poorest districts of Madrid. I would have liked to go and hear the confessions of all the children in all the saddest, most destitute neighbourhoods in the world". Tags: Charity, Sickness, Youth, Madrid, Poverty