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1902 Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer was born in Barbastro, Spain, on January 9, 1902, the second of six children born to José Escrivá and María Dolores Albás. His parents, fervent Catholics, brought him to the baptismal font on January 13 of that same month and year, transmitting to him the foundations of the faith and the Christian virtues: love for frequent Confession and Communion, trusting recourse to prayer, tender devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and active charity toward the poor and needy.

1910–1915 Saint Josemaría held deep affection for his mother and shared a bond of great trust and friendship with his father. Very early on, the Lord began to temper his soul in the forge of suffering: between 1910 and 1913 his three younger sisters died in infancy, and in 1914 the family suffered complete financial ruin. In 1915, the Escrivá family relocated to Logroño, where his father found employment that enabled him to modestly support his family.

1917–1918 During the winter of 1917–1918, an event occurred that decisively marked Josemaría Escrivá: one snowy day, he noticed footprints left on the snow; they were the bare footprints of a Discalced Carmelite friar walking barefoot through the freezing cold. He asked himself: “If others make such great sacrifices for God and neighbor, will I not be capable of offering Him something?” Thus arose within his soul a divine yearning: “I began to sense Love, to realize that my heart was asking me for something great, and that it was love.” Without yet knowing what the Lord was asking of him, he decided to become a priest, in order to be completely available to the divine will.

24:Tb67,

Seminary and studies Having completed secondary school, he began ecclesiastical studies at the Seminary of Logroño and, in 1920, transferred to the Seminary of Saragossa, completing his priestly formation at its Pontifical University. In the Aragonese capital he also pursued—at the suggestion of his father and with the permission of ecclesiastical superiors—a civil law degree. At age twenty, the Archbishop of Saragossa appointed him Inspector of the Seminary.

Life of prayer Throughout that period he spent long hours praying before the Blessed Sacrament, making daily visits to the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar: “From the time I first felt those intimations of God's love, within my wretchedness I sought to fulfill what He expected of this poor instrument. (...) And amidst those longings, I prayed, prayed, prayed in unceasing prayer. I never ceased repeating: Domine, ut sit! Domine, ut videam! like the blind beggar in the Gospel, crying out because God can do all things. Lord, that I may see! Lord, let it be! And I also repeated, filled with confidence toward my Mother in Heaven: Domina, ut sit! Domina, ut videam! The Blessed Virgin has always helped me discern the desires of her Son.”

1924–1925 On November 27, 1924, his father Don José Escrivá died suddenly of a heart attack. On March 28, 1925, Josemaría was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Miguel de los Santos Díaz Gómara in the church of the Seminary of San Carlos in Saragossa. Two days later, he celebrated his first solemn Mass in the Holy Chapel of the Basilica of the Pillar. On March 31 of that same month, he moved to Perdiguera, a small rural farming village, where he had been appointed assistant administrator of the parish.

Madrid In April 1927, with the approval of his Archbishop, he moved to Madrid to pursue his doctoral thesis in Civil Law, which at that time could only be completed at the Central University of Madrid. His pastoral zeal quickly brought him into contact with people from all walks of life: university students, artists, factory workers, intellectuals, and diocesan priests. In particular, he poured himself out tirelessly in caring for sick children, the dying, and the destitute in the peripheral hospital wards and impoverished slums of Madrid.

Family life At the same time, he supported his widowed mother and younger siblings by teaching law classes. These were years of severe financial hardship, borne by the entire family with exemplary dignity and cheerfulness. The Lord blessed him with numerous extraordinary spiritual graces which, falling upon the fertile soil of his generous soul, yielded abundant fruit.

25:T74a,On October 2, 1928, Opus Dei was born. Saint Josemaría was making a retreat in Madrid, and while meditating on the notes of interior inspirations received from God over previous years, he suddenly “saw”—the term he would always use to describe the foundational experience—the mission the Lord entrusted to him: to open within the Church a new vocational path, dedicated to spreading the universal call to holiness and the practice of apostolate through the sanctification of ordinary daily work in the middle of the world, without altering one's state in life. A few months later, on February 14, 1930, the Lord made him understand that Opus Dei had to develop its apostolate among women as well.

From that moment, Saint Josemaría gave himself entirely to fulfilling his foundational mission: promoting among men and women from all social strata a personal commitment to follow Christ, to practice selfless love of neighbor, and to pursue holiness in ordinary daily circumstances. Conscious that the task entrusted to him was supernatural in origin, he laid its foundations upon deep prayer, penitence, joyful awareness of divine filiation, and indefatigable labor. People from all walks of life began to follow him—in particular university students, in whom he kindled a sincere desire to serve their fellow men and a burning yearning to “place Christ at the summit and heart of all human activities through work that is sanctified, sanctifying, and sanctifier.” This is the supreme aim he assigned to all initiatives of the faithful of Opus Dei: to elevate toward God, with the assistance of divine grace, every created reality, so that Christ may reign in all and over all; “to know Jesus Christ; to make Him known; to carry Him everywhere.” Thus one understands his joyful exclamation: “The divine paths of the earth have been opened!”26:Tbf0,In 1933, Saint Josemaría promoted the DYA Academy, a university center fostering professional and spiritual formation. In 1934, he published—under the initial title Consideraciones Espirituales—the first edition of The Way, a spiritual classic that has since sold over four and a half million copies across 372 editions in 44 languages.

Opus Dei was taking its initial steps when, in July 1936, the Spanish Civil War erupted. In Madrid, fierce anti-religious persecution broke out, but Father Josemaría, despite mortal danger to his life, gave himself heroically to prayer, hidden priestly ministry, and sacramental assistance to those in hiding. In 1939, once the military conflict concluded, the Founder was able to give fresh apostolic momentum across the Iberian Peninsula, mobilizing university students and professionals to bring the love of Christ into all sectors of society and discover the grandeur of their Christian vocation. Concurrently, his reputation for holiness spread: numerous bishops invited him to preach spiritual retreats to diocesan clergy and Catholic Action organizations, requests echoed by superiors of major religious orders, to which he always generously acceded.

In 1941, while preaching a retreat to priests in Lleida, his beloved mother passed away—she who had so selflessly sustained the domestic apostolates of Opus Dei. At the same time, the Lord permitted severe misunderstandings and calumnies to be unleashed against him and the nascent Work. The Bishop of Madrid, Monsignor Leopoldo Eijo y Garay, gave him his most steadfast support, granting the first canonical approval of Opus Dei as a Pious Union. Saint Josemaría weathered these tribulations with serene prayer and supernatural cheerfulness, mindful of the words of Saint Paul: “All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim 3:12), exhorting his spiritual children never to harbor resentment, but always to forgive and forget: “to keep silent, to pray, to work, and to smile.”

In 1943, by a new foundational grace, the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross was founded within Opus Dei, enabling priests ordained from among the lay members of Opus Dei to be incardinated into its service. The organic unity and cooperation of lay faithful and ministerial priests in the single apostolate of Opus Dei is an essential hallmark of its charism, canonically confirmed by the Church in 1982 with its definitive erection as a personal prelature. On June 25, 1944, three engineers—among them Álvaro del Portillo, the Founder's first successor—were ordained to the priesthood.

The Priestly Society of the Holy Cross—intrinsically united to the Prelature of Opus Dei—also develops spiritual formation activities for diocesan priests and candidates for the priesthood in full harmony with local diocesan bishops. Diocesan priests may belong to the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross while preserving entirely unaltered their incardination and obedience to their respective diocesan bishops.27:Td20,As soon as the end of World War II approached, Saint Josemaría began preparing the expansion of apostolic work to other countries, insisting that “Jesus wants His Work from the very beginning to have a universal, Catholic heartbeat.” In 1946 he moved to Rome, in order to prepare the pontifical recognition of Opus Dei. On February 24, 1947, Pope Pius XII granted the Decretum laudis; and on June 16, 1950, definitive pontifical approval. From this date, non-Catholics and non-Christians could also be admitted as Cooperators of Opus Dei, assisting its apostolic undertakings through their professional labor, alms, and prayer.

The central headquarters of Opus Dei were established in Rome, to embody visibly the aspiration inspiring all its labors: “to serve the Church as the Church wishes to be served,” in steadfast communion with the Chair of Saint Peter and the ecclesiastical hierarchy. On numerous occasions, Popes Pius XII and John XXIII conveyed expressions of paternal affection and profound esteem; Pope Paul VI wrote in 1970 describing Opus Dei as a «living expression of the perennial youth of the Church».

This period of the Founder's life was likewise marked by great trials: severe physical suffering (he endured an acute, life-threatening form of diabetes for more than ten years until being miraculously cured in 1954), acute financial difficulties, and the complexities of worldwide apostolic development. Nevertheless, his face always radiated serene joy, for “true virtue is never sad or antipathetic, but lovably cheerful.” His unfailing good humor was an eloquent testimony of unconditional love for God's will.

“The world is small when Love is great”: the desire to illuminate the world with the light of Christ led him to welcome calls from bishops across the globe requesting the assistance of Opus Dei in evangelization. A vast array of educational and social initiatives blossomed: technical and vocational training schools, agricultural centers for farmworkers, universities, secondary schools, general hospitals, and medical dispensaries. These initiatives—a “shoreless sea,” as he loved to say—arising from the personal initiative of ordinary citizens striving to address concrete local needs with professional competence, welcome people of all races, creeds, and social conditions, harmonizing a clear Christian ethos with profound reverence for freedom of conscience.

When Pope John XXIII announced the convocation of the Second Vatican Council, Saint Josemaría prayed and asked countless people to pray “for the happy success of that great initiative that is the Second Vatican Council,” as he wrote in a 1962 letter. During the Council sessions, the solemn Magisterium affirmed essential dimensions of the spirit of Opus Dei: the universal call to holiness; professional work as a means of sanctification and apostolate; the legitimate freedom of lay Catholics in temporal matters; the Holy Mass as the “center and root” of the interior life, and the dignity of the lay vocation. Saint Josemaría met with numerous Council Fathers and periti, who saw in him an authentic precursor of the council's major insights. Deeply united to conciliar teachings, he diligently promoted their implementation through Opus Dei's worldwide educational and pastoral apostolates.28:T5ca,“From afar—there on the horizon—heaven and earth seem to merge. But do not forget that where heaven and earth truly meet is in your heart when you live as a child of God.” Saint Josemaría's preaching tirelessly underscored the absolute primacy of the interior life over organizational activity: “These world crises are crises of saints,” he wrote in The Way; and holiness always requires that harmonious synthesis of prayer, work, and apostolate which he termed “unity of life,” of which his own daily conduct offered the finest witness.

He was deeply convinced that to attain holiness in daily professional work, one must strive to be a soul of contemplative prayer, a soul of profound interior life. When lived in this supernatural spirit, “everything is prayer, everything can and should lead us to God, nourishing that continuous dialogue with Him from morning to night. Every honest work can be prayer, and every work that is prayer is apostolate.”

The secret of the extraordinary fruitfulness of his ministry lies precisely in the ardent interior life that made Saint Josemaría a contemplative in the middle of the world: an interior life nourished by daily prayer and the sacraments, manifesting itself in passionate love for the Holy Eucharist, in living the Mass as the center and root of his day, in tender devotion to the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph, and the Guardian Angels, and in unswerving loyalty to the Church and the Roman Pontiff.29:T885,In the final years of his life, the Founder of Opus Dei undertook extensive catechetical journeys across numerous countries in Europe and Latin America. Everywhere, he held simple, family-like gatherings—often attended by thousands of people—speaking tirelessly of God, the sacraments, Christian piety, the sanctification of daily work, and love for the Church and the Pope. On March 28, 1975, he celebrated his golden jubilee of priestly ordination. That day, his prayer encapsulated his entire life: “Looking back over fifty years, I am like a stammering child: I am beginning, re-beginning, in my daily interior struggle. And so it will be until the end of my days: always beginning again.”

On June 26, 1975, at midday, Saint Josemaría died in his workroom in Rome from cardiac arrest, collapsing beneath a painting of Our Lady of Guadalupe to which he directed his final gaze. At that moment, Opus Dei was established across all five continents, with over 60,000 members of eighty nationalities. The published spiritual works of Saint Josemaría Escrivá (The Way, Holy Rosary, Conversations with Monsignor Escrivá de Balaguer, Christ Is Passing By, Friends of God, In Love with the Church, The Way of the Cross, Furrow, The Forge) have circulated in tens of millions of copies worldwide.

Following his death, thousands of faithful and hundreds of bishops petitioned the Holy See for the introduction of his cause of canonization. On May 17, 1992, in Saint Peter's Square in Rome, Pope Saint John Paul II beatified Josemaría Escrivá before an immense gathering of faithful. On September 21, 2001, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints unanimously confirmed the miraculous nature of a medical cure attributed to his intercession. On October 6, 2002, Pope John Paul II solemnly canonized Saint Josemaría Escrivá before hundreds of thousands of pilgrims, proclaiming him “the saint of ordinary life.”

Further information: Saint Josemaría Escrivá ; books about Opus Dei2a:T420,«A clear manifestation of this divine Providence is the constant presence across the centuries of men and women, faithful to Christ, who illuminate with their lives and message the diverse epochs of history. Among these distinguished figures an eminent place is occupied by Blessed Josemaría Escrivá, who, as I stressed on the solemn day of his beatification, recalled to the contemporary world the universal call to holiness and the Christian value that professional work can acquire in the ordinary circumstances of each person» (October 14, 1993).

«With supernatural intuition, Blessed Josemaría preached untiringly the universal call to holiness and apostolate... In a society where an unbridled craving for material possessions turns them into an idol and a source of distance from God, the new Blessed reminds us that these very realities, creatures of God and of human ingenuity, if used uprightly for the glory of the Creator and the service of our brothers and sisters, can be a path for men and women to encounter Christ» (May 17, 1992).2b:T407,- The sanctification of work is the hinge on which the spiritual life of the Christian rests. Sanctifying work requires carrying it out with the greatest possible human perfection (professional competence) and with Christian perfection (for love of God's will and in the service of mankind).

According to the spirit of Opus Dei, work can be sanctified and become a path of holiness: "Having been assumed by Christ, work presents itself to us as a redeemed and redeeming reality: not only is it the background of man's life, but a means and path to holiness, a reality that can be sanctified and that sanctifies." Any honest work is an opportunity to give glory to God and serve others.

"We are people of the street, ordinary Christians, immersed in the bloodstream of society; and the Lord wants us to be holy, apostolic, precisely in the midst of our professional work—that is, sanctifying ourselves in that task, sanctifying that task, and helping others sanctify themselves through that task."2c:Tb4e,

Having entered a chapel in the Latin Quarter of Paris at 5:10 to look for a friend, I found myself leaving at 5:15 in the company of a friendship that was not of this earth. I had entered skeptical and atheist... indeed, more than skeptical and more than atheist: indifferent, preoccupied with countless things other than a God about whom I never thought, not even to deny Him... Standing by the door, I looked around for my friend, but could not spot him... My gaze passed from the shadows to the light... from the faithful, to the sisters, to the altar...

André Frossard

My eyes came to rest on the second lighted candle to the left of the Cross (unaware that I was standing before the Blessed Sacrament). Suddenly, there was unleashed a series of wonders whose inexorable power dismantled in an instant the absurd being that I was, giving birth to the astonished youth I had never been...

First, these words were whispered to me: "Spiritual Life"... as though uttered in a soft voice right beside me... then a brilliant light... a world, another world of splendor and density that in a single flash reveals our own world among the fragile shadows of unfulfilled dreams... the self-evidence of God... whose sweetness I felt in all its fullness... an active sweetness, filled with wonder, beyond all violence, capable of shattering the hardest stone, and harder still than stone, the human heart.

His overwhelming, total inbreaking was accompanied by the joy that is the exultation of the saved, the joy of the shipwrecked soul rescued in the nick of time. These sensations, which I struggle to translate into an adequate language of concepts and images, were simultaneous... Everything was dominated by the presence... of Him whose name I can never write without the fear of wounding His tenderness, Him before whom I have the blessed fortune of being a forgiven son who awakens to learn that everything is gift." Frossard would later comment:

God existed and was at the very same time present, revealed, veiled in that lavish outpouring of light which, without words or figures, offered itself entirely to understanding and love... Only one thing astonished me: the Eucharist. Not that it seemed incredible to me, but I was amazed that divine charity had devised this unheard-of means to communicate itself, and above all that to do so it had chosen bread, the food of the poor and the favorite of the young...

Frossard concludes his confession with these beautiful words: "Love, to speak of You, eternity itself would be too short."

2d:Tb16,

Alexandrina Maria was born in Balasar on March 30, 1904. At the age of 14, seeking to preserve her purity under threat from three men, she did not hesitate to leap from a window. The consequences were severe and developed gradually: after several years she could no longer walk, remaining bedridden for the rest of her life—a total of thirty years. Rather than sinking into despair, she resolved to surrender herself to Jesus with these words: “As You are a prisoner in the tabernacle, and I am a prisoner of my bed by Your will, we will keep each other company.”

Image from the Eucharistic Miracles exhibition

Following this, she began to undergo increasingly intense mystical experiences. From Friday, October 3, 1938, until March 24, 1942, she relived the sufferings of the Passion every Friday on 182 occasions. From 1942 until her death, Alexandrina was nourished solely by the Holy Eucharist. Admitted to the hospital at Foz do Douro in Porto, she was closely monitored for forty days and forty nights by a team of physicians who conclusively verified her total fast and complete absence of excretion. After the long years of paralysis she had embraced in Eucharistic reparation and for the conversion of sinners, Jesus appeared to her on July 30, 1935, saying:

I have placed you in the world so that you may live only on Me, to bear witness to the world of how much the Eucharist is worth. [...]. The strongest chain that binds souls to Satan is the flesh, it is impurity. Never has there been seen such an outpouring of vices, wickedness, and crimes as in these days! Never has there been so much sinning [...]. The Eucharist, My Body and My Blood! The Eucharist: there lies the salvation of the world.

Our Lady also appeared to her on September 2, 1949, with the Rosary in her hand, saying:

The world is agonizing and dying in sin. I desire prayer, I desire penance. With this rosary, protect all those you love, and the whole world.

On October 13, 1955, the anniversary of Our Lady's final apparition at Fatima, she was heard to exclaim: “I am happy because I am going to heaven.” At 7:30 p.m. that same day, she breathed her last. Inscribed on her tomb are these words chosen by herself:

Sinners, if the ashes of my body can be of any help to save you, come near, walk over them, trample them underfoot until they disappear. But sin no more; offend our Jesus no longer!

Letter written by Alexandrina

2e:Tbf7,

Anna Katharina Emmerick was born in Germany on September 8, 1774, to a family of peasant farmers. She began working at a very early age. Soon after, her religious vocation matured and she sought admission into several monasteries, but was rejected by all of them because she lacked a dowry due to her family's poverty. At the age of twenty-eight, she was finally accepted at Agnetenberg, where she embraced monastic life with great fervor, always ready to undertake the most demanding physical labor.

Image from the Eucharistic Miracles exhibition

One night while she was in deep prayer, Jesus appeared before her and offered her two crowns: one of roses and another of thorns. She chose the crown of thorns, and Jesus placed it upon her head. Soon the first stigmata appeared around her forehead. Shortly afterward, following another apparition of Jesus, the wounds of Christ appeared in her hands, feet, and side. In 1811, the monastery of Agnetenberg was suppressed by the secularization decrees. Anna Katharina was able to find shelter by working as a domestic helper in the house of a priest.

Soon, however, she fell severely ill and became permanently bedridden. Dr. Wesener, a young physician, examined her and was deeply struck by the stigmata. Over the subsequent eleven years he became her trusted friend and faithful chronicler, keeping a meticulous journal of her mystical visions. Meanwhile, the nun had virtually ceased taking ordinary food. A small sip of water and the consecrated Host were sufficient to sustain her life for years. She dictated numerous pages regarding the Eucharist, to which she had immense devotion:

My longing for the Most Holy Eucharist was so vehement and irresistible that at night I would frequently leave my cell to enter the church… Often I knelt and prostrated myself before the Blessed Sacrament with arms outstretched, and at times I was drawn into profound ecstasy.

Anna Katharina constantly united her acute suffering with the Passion of Jesus, offering it for the redemption of souls. Her most renowned biographer was the celebrated German author Clemens von Brentano, who transcribed her extensive visions. Brentano compiled thousands of manuscript pages concerning the Blessed, many of which remain unpublished. In one of his most famous reflections he wrote: “Anna Katharina stands like a roadside cross pointing the right way to the faithful. What she says is brief and simple, yet filled with depth, warmth, and life. I understood everything. Always joyful, loving, dignified, wonderful, always ill and in agony, yet at the same time delicate, fresh, chaste, tested, and pure. Sitting at her side meant occupying the most beautiful place in the world.”

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From a spiritual perspective, Opus Dei is a path of sanctification in professional work and in the fulfillment of the ordinary duties of a Christian.
Descriptively: Opus Dei consists of people of all professions and walks of life (farmers, nurses, architects, homemakers...) who share the pursuit of holiness in their ordinary life.
In terms of its activity, Opus Dei is a great catechesis, offering Christian formation to all who desire it.
For those who know it, Opus Dei is a family, reflecting the Christian charity, warmth, and welcoming affection taught in its means of formation.
From a juridical and canonical perspective, Opus Dei is a Personal Prelature of the Catholic Church. (Essentially, a personal prelature functions like a diocese with specific pastoral characteristics).

"},{"number":3,"question":"When was Opus Dei born?","answer":"God our Lord showed Opus Dei to Saint Josemaría Escrivá on October 2, 1928."},{"number":4,"question":"Who can belong to Opus Dei?","answer":"All people who have received this divine vocation: a call from God to seek holiness in work and daily life, and to help others encounter the Lord in ordinary activities."},{"number":5,"question":"How can a person know if they have that vocation?","answer":"A vocation is a great divine gift. To discover it, prayer is necessary, asking God to know His will. It is also essential to consult the directors of Opus Dei, who know the specific characteristics of this vocation and can help discern whether one has that vocation."},{"number":6,"question":"What teachings does Opus Dei transmit?","answer":"Following Saint Josemaría Escrivá, Opus Dei spreads the teachings of Jesus Christ, applying them to ordinary life and showing that holiness in everyday tasks is accessible and attractive."},{"number":7,"question":"Is the formation given by Opus Dei theoretical?","answer":"Opus Dei strives to make its formation both theoretical and practical, ensuring balance, coherence, and unity in the Christian's life. In Opus Dei's activities of formation, participants not only learn doctrinal concepts but also receive encouragement and practical advice to live them out."},{"number":8,"question":"What areas does this formation encompass?","answer":"The formation offered in Opus Dei can be grouped into several areas:

Doctrinal formation: to gain a deep knowledge of the teachings of the Catholic Church.
Human and spiritual formation: to acquire the virtues characteristic of a Christian who seeks to love God ardently in daily work.
Apostolic formation: fostering an active concern for the salvation of souls.

"},{"number":9,"question":"In what countries can Opus Dei be found?","answer":"Throughout the Americas and most of Europe; in Australia, New Zealand, and in numerous countries across Asia and Africa (for example Japan, the Philippines, India, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Nigeria, Congo, Cameroon, etc.). For information regarding Opus Dei in your country, visit the official website: opusdei.org."}]},{"title":"B. Brief History of Opus Dei","items":[{"number":1,"question":"Beginnings of Opus Dei","answer":"

1928 — Foundation. On October 2, in Madrid, God our Lord reveals Opus Dei to Saint Josemaría Escrivá.

1933 The first center of Opus Dei opens: the DYA academy, which soon expands into a university residence.

1941 Bishop Leopoldo Eijo y Garay of Madrid, who knew and blessed Opus Dei from its inception, grants diocesan approval. Three years later, he ordains the first three priests of Opus Dei: Blessed Álvaro del Portillo, Father José María Hernández Garnica, and Father José Luis Múzquiz.

1947 The Holy See issues the first pontifical approval (*decretum laudis*). The previous year, Saint Josemaría moved his residence to Rome.

1950 Pope Pius XII grants definitive pontifical approval to Opus Dei.

"},{"number":2,"question":"Expansion of Opus Dei","answer":"Opus Dei was born in Spain, but with an intrinsically universal vocation. As soon as the end of World War II permitted, it began expanding internationally:

1946-47 Opus Dei begins in Europe: Portugal, Italy, Great Britain, France, Ireland.

1949-51 Beginnings in the Americas: Mexico, the United States, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela.

1951-57 Expansion to other nations in Europe and the Americas.

1958 Beginnings in Africa and Asia: Kenya and Japan.

1963 Work begins in Oceania: Australia.

(Currently, Opus Dei is present in over sixty countries).

"},{"number":3,"question":"Maturity of Opus Dei","answer":"

1969 Saint Josemaría Escrivá convokes an extraordinary General Congress of Opus Dei to prepare its juridical transition to a Personal Prelature, a figure established by the Second Vatican Council.

1975 Saint Josemaría Escrivá dies in Rome. At that time, Opus Dei comprises some 60,000 members. He is succeeded by Monsignor Álvaro del Portillo.

1982 Saint John Paul II establishes Opus Dei as a Personal Prelature.

1994 Monsignor Álvaro del Portillo passes away in Rome, succeeded by Monsignor Javier Echevarría.

2002 Saint John Paul II canonizes Saint Josemaría Escrivá, entering him into the catalog of saints of the Catholic Church. By then, Opus Dei numbers approximately 84,000 members worldwide.

"}]},{"title":"C. Popes on Saint Josemaría and Opus Dei","items":[{"number":1,"question":"Saint John Paul II","answer":"$2a"},{"number":2,"question":"John Paul I","answer":"«Escrivá de Balaguer, with the Gospel in hand, constantly said: \"Christ does not ask us for a little bit of goodness, but for a great deal of goodness. But He wants us to attain it not through extraordinary actions, but through ordinary actions, although the manner of carrying out those actions must not be ordinary.\" There, *nel bel mezzo della strada*, in the office, in the factory, we become holy provided we carry out our duty competently, for love of God, and cheerfully, so that daily work turns not into a \"daily tragedy,\" but into a \"daily smile\"» (July 25, 1978)."},{"number":3,"question":"Saint Paul VI","answer":"«We consider with paternal satisfaction all that Opus Dei has accomplished and continues to accomplish for the Kingdom of God; the desire to do good that guides it; the burning love for the Church and its visible Head that distinguishes it; the ardent zeal for souls that spurs it onto the arduous and challenging paths of an apostolate of presence and witness across all sectors of contemporary life» (October 1, 1964)."}]},{"title":"D. The Spirit of Opus Dei","items":[{"number":1,"question":"What is the spirit of Opus Dei?","answer":"Opus Dei spreads the call to holiness in the fulfillment of one's professional work and personal obligations. «The spirit of Opus Dei has as an essential characteristic the fact of not taking anyone out of their place, but rather leading each person to fulfill the tasks and duties of their own state, of their mission in the Church and civil society, with the greatest possible perfection.» Key features of the spirit of Opus Dei include the following:"},{"number":2,"question":"Divine Filiation","answer":"- A Christian is a child of God by virtue of Baptism. This foundational truth of Christianity holds a central place in the spirit of Opus Dei, as its founder taught: «Divine filiation is the foundation of the spirit of Opus Dei.» Consequently, Opus Dei fosters trust in Providence, simplicity in one's relationship with God, a profound sense of the dignity of every human person and fraternity among all men, Christian love for the world and created realities, interior peace, and optimism."},{"number":3,"question":"Ordinary Life in the Spirit of Opus Dei","answer":"- The Christian can seek holiness through their everyday activities. In the words of the founder of Opus Dei: «Ordinary life can be holy and full of God»; «The Lord calls us to sanctify our ordinary task, because therein lies Christian perfection.» Key consequences include:

The transcendence of little things. «\"Great\" holiness consists in carrying out the \"little duties\" of each moment,» taught the founder. For example, details of service, good manners, respect for others, material order, punctuality: when lived for love of God, these details are deeply significant for Christian life.
Marriage and family life are among the ordinary realities upon which a Christian must build sanctification. «For a Christian, marriage is not a mere social institution, much less a remedy for human weakness: it is an authentic supernatural vocation.»
Sanctifying work, sanctifying oneself in work, and sanctifying others through work.

"},{"number":4,"question":"Work in Opus Dei","answer":"$2b"},{"number":5,"question":"Freedom in Opus Dei","answer":"- The faithful of Opus Dei are citizens who enjoy the same rights and are subject to the same obligations as their fellow citizens. In their political, economic, and cultural activities, they act with full personal freedom and responsibility, never claiming to represent the Church or Opus Dei in their secular choices, nor presenting their decisions as the only ones compatible with the faith. This entails deep respect for the freedom and opinions of others."},{"number":6,"question":"Prayer and Sacrifice in the Spirit of Opus Dei","answer":"- The spirit of Opus Dei encourages prayer and penance to sustain the effort to sanctify ordinary occupations. The faithful of the prelature incorporate into their daily lives mental prayer, daily attendance at Holy Mass, frequent sacramental confession, reading and meditation on the Gospel, and devotion to Our Lady. To imitate Jesus Christ, they also practice sacrifices, especially those that facilitate the fulfillment of duty and make life pleasant for others."},{"number":7,"question":"Charity in Opus Dei","answer":"- Members of Opus Dei strive to bear witness to their Christian faith. In the words of the founder: «By working shoulder to shoulder in the same concerns as our companions, our friends, and our relatives, we will be able to help them come to Christ.» This zeal to make Christ known is inseparable from the desire to contribute to meeting the material needs and solving the social problems of one's environment."},{"number":8,"question":"Unity of Life in Opus Dei","answer":"- Friendship with God, daily work, and personal apostolic zeal must blend into a «simple and strong unity of life,» a classic expression of Saint Josemaría. A Christian must not «lead a kind of double life: on the one hand, an interior life, a life of relationship with God; and on the other, a separate and distinct family, professional, and social life.» On the contrary, «there is only one life, made of flesh and spirit, and that is the life that must become—in soul and body—holy and full of God»."}]}],"relatedSlugs":["escriva","escrivabalaguer","opusdeibooks","doctrine","church","neocatechumenal","prayer","pope","religion","work","vocation","charity"],"translations":{"fr":"opusdei","it":"opusdei","pt":"opusdei","es":"opusdei"},"sourceFile":"IDEAS_RAPIDAS\\idpru\\idprui\\opusdei.htm"},{"slug":"andre-frossard-20th-century","lang":"en","title":"André Frossard, 20th Century","description":"This article presents a Eucharistic testimony from the exhibition of Saint Carlo Acutis, based on the original exhibition panel.","keywords":["André Frossard, 20th Century","Eucharistic miracles","Carlo Acutis","Eucharist"],"categories":["personas"],"sections":[{"title":null,"items":[{"number":1,"question":"","answer":"$2c"},{"number":2,"question":"","answer":"

Text and photographs: International Exhibition \"The Eucharistic Miracles of the World\", by Saint Carlo Acutis. Original panel at miracolieucaristici.org.

"}]}],"relatedSlugs":["eucharist","mass","faith"],"translations":{"es":"andre-frossard-siglo-xx","it":"andre-frossard-xx-secolo","fr":"andre-frossard-xxe-siecle","pt":"andre-frossard-seculo-xx"},"sourceFile":"miracolieucaristici.org — exposición de san Carlo Acutis"},{"slug":"blessed-alexandrina-maria-da-costa-1904-1955","lang":"en","title":"Blessed Alexandrina Maria da Costa, 1904–1955","description":"This article presents a Eucharistic testimony from the exhibition of Saint Carlo Acutis, based on the original exhibition panel.","keywords":["Blessed Alexandrina Maria da Costa, 1904-1955","Eucharistic miracles","Carlo Acutis","Eucharist"],"categories":["personas"],"sections":[{"title":null,"items":[{"number":1,"question":"","answer":"$2d"},{"number":2,"question":"","answer":"

Text and photographs: International Exhibition \"The Eucharistic Miracles of the World\", by Saint Carlo Acutis. Original panel at miracolieucaristici.org.

"}]}],"relatedSlugs":["eucharist","mass","faith"],"translations":{"es":"beata-alexandrina-maria-da-costa-1904-1955","it":"beata-alexandrina-maria-da-costa-1904-1955","fr":"bienheureuse-alexandrina-maria-da-costa-1904-1955","pt":"beata-alexandrina-maria-da-costa-1904-1955"},"sourceFile":"miracolieucaristici.org — exposición de san Carlo Acutis"},{"slug":"blessed-anna-katharina-emmerick-1774-1824","lang":"en","title":"Blessed Anna Katharina Emmerick, 1774–1824","description":"This article presents a Eucharistic testimony from the exhibition of Saint Carlo Acutis, based on the original documentary panel.","keywords":["Blessed Anna Katharina Emmerick, 1774-1824","Eucharistic miracles","Carlo Acutis","Eucharist"],"categories":["personas"],"sections":[{"title":null,"items":[{"number":1,"question":"","answer":"$2e"},{"number":2,"question":"","answer":"

Text and photographs: international exhibition «The Eucharistic Miracles of the World», by Saint Carlo Acutis. Original panel at miracolieucaristici.org.

"}]}],"relatedSlugs":["eucharist","mass","faith"],"translations":{"es":"la-beata-anna-katharina-emmerick-1774-1824","it":"beata-anna-katharina-emmerick-1774-1824","fr":"bienheureuse-anne-catherine-emmerich-1774-1824","pt":"beata-anna-katharina-emmerick-1774-1824"},"sourceFile":"miracolieucaristici.org — exposición de san Carlo Acutis"}],"title":"Related topics","prevLabel":"See previous","nextLabel":"See next","categoryLabels":{"humanos":"Humanity","espirituales":"Spirituality","virtudes":"Virtues","bioetica":"Bioethics","personas":"People","lugares":"Places"}}]]}]}]]}]}]] 16:[["$","meta","0",{"charSet":"utf-8"}],["$","meta","1",{"name":"viewport","content":"width=device-width, initial-scale=1"}],["$","meta","2",{"name":"theme-color","content":"#040273"}]] 2f:I[27201,["/_next/static/immutable/chunks/2corl6wyj4669.js","/_next/static/immutable/chunks/2x48ynq3h9g4d.js","/_next/static/immutable/chunks/2b8t-1ljizclw.js","/_next/static/immutable/chunks/2y8ybongo0zyv.js","/_next/static/immutable/chunks/01la0uw59_564.js"],"IconMark"] 13:null 18:[["$","title","0",{"children":"Saint Josemaria Escriva — ideasrápidas"}],["$","meta","1",{"name":"description","content":"English reference page for the German version about Saint Josemaria Escriva."}],["$","meta","2",{"name":"application-name","content":"ideasrápidas"}],["$","meta","3",{"name":"author","content":"ideasrápidas"}],["$","link","4",{"rel":"manifest","href":"/manifest.webmanifest","crossOrigin":"$undefined"}],["$","meta","5",{"name":"keywords","content":"ideasrápidas,ideas rápidas,fe,filosofía,ética,virtud,espiritualidad"}],["$","meta","6",{"name":"robots","content":"noindex, follow"}],["$","link","7",{"rel":"canonical","href":"https://ideasrapidas.org/en/topic/escriva-de"}],["$","link","8",{"rel":"alternate","hrefLang":"en","href":"https://ideasrapidas.org/en/topic/escriva-de"}],["$","meta","9",{"name":"format-detection","content":"telephone=no"}],["$","meta","10",{"name":"mobile-web-app-capable","content":"yes"}],["$","meta","11",{"name":"apple-mobile-web-app-title","content":"ideasrápidas"}],["$","meta","12",{"name":"apple-mobile-web-app-status-bar-style","content":"default"}],["$","meta","13",{"property":"og:title","content":"Saint Josemaria Escriva"}],["$","meta","14",{"property":"og:description","content":"English reference page for the German version about Saint Josemaria Escriva."}],["$","meta","15",{"property":"og:url","content":"https://ideasrapidas.org/en/topic/escriva-de"}],["$","meta","16",{"property":"og:locale","content":"en_US"}],["$","meta","17",{"property":"og:type","content":"article"}],["$","meta","18",{"name":"twitter:card","content":"summary"}],["$","meta","19",{"name":"twitter:title","content":"ideasrápidas"}],["$","meta","20",{"name":"twitter:description","content":"Mens sana in corpore sano"}],["$","link","21",{"rel":"shortcut icon","href":"/icons/icon-192.png"}],["$","link","22",{"rel":"icon","href":"/icons/icon-192.png","sizes":"192x192","type":"image/png"}],["$","link","23",{"rel":"icon","href":"/icons/icon-512.png","sizes":"512x512","type":"image/png"}],["$","link","24",{"rel":"apple-touch-icon","href":"/icons/apple-touch-icon.png"}],["$","$L2f","25",{}]]