Josemaría Escrivá

1584:, subject only to its own prelate and to the Pope. As such, Opus Dei is currently the only personal prelature in the Catholic Church, although this juridical figure ―similar in nature to other kinds of hierarchical organization in the church's history, such as military and personal ordinariates― is fruit of the Second Vatican Council's aim to provide pastoral attention in ways more suited to the actual situation of many of its faithful. In this way, its work complements that of the dioceses, and in some cases even takes the form of a more direct collaboration: for example, when priests of Opus Dei assume pastoral care of parishes at the request of the local bishops. Escrivá may have had this in mind when he wrote, "The only ambition, the only desire of Opus Dei and each of its members is to serve the Church as the Church wants to be served, within the specific vocation God has given us." Membership in the prelature does not exempt a Catholic from the authority of the local diocesan bishop. 1713:(a well-known Spanish architect who was one of the earliest members of Opus Dei and remained an associate of Escrivá for nearly twenty years), Vladimir Felzmann (a Czech-born engineer and Catholic priest from the UK, who was Escrivá's personal assistant), María del Carmen Tapia (who worked with Escrivá in Opus Dei's central offices in Rome and directed its printing press), Carlos Albás (a Spanish lawyer who was also Escrivá's first cousin once removed), María Angustias Moreno (who was an official of the women's part of Opus Dei, during Escrivá's lifetime), and John Roche (an Irish physicist and historian of science who was a member of Opus Dei from 1959 to 1973, and managed one of its schools in Kenya). Several groups critical of Escrivá and of Opus Dei emerged both before and after the canonization of Escrivá, including the Opus Dei Awareness Network (ODAN), and "OpusLibros", both collaborations of former members who now oppose Opus Dei and its practices. 689:) commented: "I have always been impressed by Josemaría Escrivá's explanation of the name 'Opus Dei': an explanation ... gives us an idea of the founder's spiritual profile. Escrivá knew he had to found something, but he was also conscious that what he was founding was not his own work, that he himself did not invent anything and that the Lord was merely making use of him. So it was not his work, but Opus Dei (God's Work). gives us to understand that he was in a permanent dialogue, a real contact with the One who created us and works for us and with us... If therefore St Josemaría speaks of the common vocation to holiness, it seems to me that he is basically drawing on his own personal experience, not of having done incredible things himself, but of having let God work. Therefore a renewal, a force for good was born in the world even if human weaknesses will always remain." 279: 919:, that Escrivá often became angry, and that as secretary in charge of recording his words and actions, she was not allowed to record anything negative that she witnessed. She stated she was subjected to abusive words from Escrivá, who called her filthy names, and then screamed during this meeting with both men and women present, upbraiding a member who helped Tapia send letters. She was kept prisoner in the headquarters of Opus Dei in Rome from November 1965 until March 1966. "I was held completely deprived of any outside contact with the absolute prohibition to go out for any reason or receive or make telephone calls or to write or receive letters. Nor could I go out for the so-called weekly walk or the monthly excursion. I was a prisoner." 1815:(the Dehonians), reproduced, in May 1992, the confidential vote of one of the judges in Escrivá's cause of beatification, in which the judge asked that the process be suspended. The document questioned the haste of the proceedings, the near absence of testimony from critics in the documentation gathered by the postulators, the failure of the documentation to properly address issues about Escrivá's relations with the Franco regime and with other Catholic organizations, and suggestions from the official testimonies themselves that Escrivá lacked proper spiritual humility. This document does not identify the judge by name, but its author indicates that he met Escrivá only once, briefly, in 1966, while serving as a notary for the 627:

notes of his character are his energy and his capacity for organization and government; with an ability to pass unnoticed. He has shown himself most obedient to the Church hierarchy -- one very special hallmark of his priestly work is the way he fosters, in speech and in writing, in public and in private, love for Holy Mother Church and for the Roman Pontiff." Bishop Eijo y Garay wrote to the Jesuit Provincial of Toledo, Carlos Gomez Martinho, S.J. in 1941: "Fr. Escrivá is an exemplary priest, chosen by God for apostolic enterprises; humble, prudent, self-sacrificing in work, docile to his bishop, of outstanding intelligence and with a very solid spiritual and doctrinal formation." Eijo y Garay told an officer of the

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time in his busy schedule to chat and take a walk with his younger brother, acting like a father towards him. When the family transferred to Madrid, he obeyed the instructions of their father that he obtain a doctorate in Law. "Thanks to his docility to this advice", says Santiago, "he was able to support the family by giving classes in Law, and with this he acquired a juridical mentality ... which would later be so necessary to do Opus Dei." Escrivá also modified his first name. From José María, he changed it to the original Josemaría. Biographers state, that around 1935 , "he joined his first two names because his single love for the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph were equally inseparable".

697:, he refers to the five brief prayers or aspirations of Escrivá through which "one can trace the entire life story of Blessed Josemaría Escrivá. He was barely sixteen when he began to recite the first two aspirations , as soon as he had the first inklings of God's call. They expressed the burning desire of his heart: to see what God was asking of him, so that he might do it without delay, lovingly fulfilling the Lord's will. The third aspiration appears frequently in his writings as a young priest and shows how his zeal to win souls for God went hand in hand with both a firm determination to be faithful to the Church and an ardent devotion to Mary, the Virgin Mother of God. 1497:

preached about fulfilling civil duties and exercising rights. His brother Santiago said: "The decision was heroic because he knew that he will be vilified as a result... Josemaría did what is best for me. After the right amount of time has passed, without making use of the title (in fact he never had the intention of using it), he passed the title on to me." On the other hand, according to de la Cierva, "Monsignor Escrivá's desire for a marquisate is not to my liking but seems to me, given his idiosyncrasies, comprehensible and even forgivable. That the title should have been based on a falsification seems to me extremely sad and even extremely grave."

1294:, that "because of my lack of concrete information, I am not able to give an informed opinion about Opus Dei today. On the other hand, one thing strikes me as obvious: many of the criticisms levelled against the movement, including those of your own journal concerning the religious instruction given by Opus Dei members, seem to me to be false and anti-clerical." Von Balthasar maintained his unfavourable judgment of Escrivá's spirituality and repeated it in a television interview in 1984, but he did not renew his criticism of Opus Dei as an organization. In 1988, von Balthasar was named as a 713:, said: "In the Founder of Opus Dei, there is an extraordinary love for the will of God. There exists a sure criterion of holiness: fidelity in accomplishing the divine will down to the last consequences. For each one of us the Lord has a plan, to each he entrusts a mission on earth. The saint could not even conceive of himself outside of God's plan. He lived only to achieve it. St Josemaría was chosen by the Lord to announce the universal call to holiness and to point out that daily life and ordinary activities are a path to holiness. One could say that he was the saint of ordinary life." 965:

that, when Escrivá was a chaplain at the Foundation of Santa Isabel in Madrid, he would often meet aristocratic visitors who would ask, upon learning that his name was Escrivá, whether he belonged to the noble Escrivá de Romaní family, only to ignore him when they learned that he did not. According to Vásquez de Prada, a writer, Opus Dei member, and official biographer who produced a three-volume biography of Escrivá, the act had nothing to do with ambition but was motivated rather by fairness and loyalty to his family. The main problem is that in Spanish the letters

44: 547:(as "Our Lady of the Angels"), thought to date from the 11th century. Escrivá recovered and, as the director of Opus Dei during the 1960s and 1970s, promoted and oversaw the design and construction of a major shrine at Torreciudad. The new shrine was inaugurated on 7 July 1975, soon after Escrivá's death, and to this day remains the spiritual center of Opus Dei, as well as an important destination for pilgrimage. By the time of Escrivá's death in 1975, the members of Opus Dei numbered some 60,000 in 80 countries. As an adult, Escrivá suffered from 787:. Escrivá strove to obey whatever was indicated by the competent authority regarding the celebration of Mass and "e took all necessary steps to ensure that the prescriptions of Vatican II, notably in the area of the liturgy, were applied within Opus Dei." As his prayer was much integrated with traditional liturgy, Escrivá found the transition difficult and asked Echevarría to help him with respect to the new rites. Although he missed the practices of the old rites, especially some gestures such as the kissing of the 1271:

Church, inseparable faith of the national conscience which will inspire its legislation." It is in fidelity to our people’s Catholic tradition that the best guarantee of success in acts of government, the certainty of a just and lasting peace within the national community, as well as the divine blessing for those holding positions of authority, will always be found. I ask God our Lord to bestow upon your Excellency with every sort felicity and impart abundant grace to carry out the grave mission entrusted to you.

5759: 641:", and a Nazi concentration camp survivor, met Escrivá in Rome in 1970 and later wrote of "the refreshing serenity which emanated from him and warmed the whole conversation", and "the unbelievable rhythm" with which his thought flowed, and finally "his amazing capacity" for getting into "immediate contact" with those with whom he was speaking. Frankl went on: "Escrivá evidently lived totally in the present moment, he opened out to it completely, and gave himself entirely to it." 854:

invited him to preach retreats to their clergy, thereby greatly contributing to the renewal of Christian life in Spain. Many religious orders and congregations also requested his pastoral services. At the same time, God allowed him to suffer public attacks. He responded invariably with pardon, to the point of considering his detractors as benefactors. But this Cross was such a source of blessings from heaven that the Servant of God's apostolate spread with astonishing speed.

1149:. Carandell holds that this episode was part of a larger pattern in Escrivá's life of ambition for social prestige and the trappings of wealth. Sympathetic biographers, however, insist that Escrivá taught that material things are good, but that people should not get attached to them and should serve only God. It is reported that he declared that "he has most who needs least" and that it took only 10 minutes to gather his possessions after his death. 864: 112: 7435: 6034: 1860: 7462: 668:, who was one of the earliest members of Opus Dei and who associated with Escrivá for nearly twenty years before ending his relation with Escrivá and Opus Dei, have given a very different description of Escrivá as a pious but vain, secretive, and ambitious man, given to private displays of violent temper, and who demonstrated little charity towards others or genuine concern for the poor. According to British journalist 3257:"To be 'Catholic' means to love your country and to be second to no one in that love. And at the same time, to hold as your own the noble aspirations of other lands. — So many glories of France are glories of mine! And in the same way, much that makes Germans proud, and the peoples of Italy and of England..., and Americans and Asians and Africans, is a source of pride to me also. Catholic: big heart, broad mind." 1706:) was "very quick, complete, lasting and scientifically inexplicable." After six months, the theological consultants, according to the Vatican, also unanimously attributed this cure to Escrivá. On the year of his canonization, the Opus Dei prelate reported that the Postulation has gathered 48 reports of unexplained medical favors attributed to Escriva's intercession, as well as 100,000 ordinary favours. 908:"Escrivá de Balaguer was a very human saint", preached John Paul II. "All those who met him, whatever their culture or social status, felt he was a father, totally devoted to serving others, for he was convinced that every soul is a marvellous treasure; indeed, every person is worth all of Christ's Blood. This attitude of service is obvious in his dedication to his priestly ministry and in the 1923:"The magnetic force of Opus Dei probably comes from its profoundly lay spirituality. At the very beginning, in 1928, Msgr. Escrivá anticipated the return to the Patrimony of the Church brought by the Second Vatican Council ... e was able to anticipate the great themes of the Church's pastoral action in the dawn of the third millennium of her history." 1387:, a German historian and member of Opus Dei, has written that connecting Opus Dei with fascist regimes is a "gross slander". Journalist Noam Friedlander states that allegations about Opus Dei involvement with the Pinochet regime are "unproven tales." Several of Escrivá's collaborators stated that he actually despised dictatorships. 1462:(1847–1930). On that occasion, the documents ordering the rehabilitation stated that the original title had been granted in 1738 (not 1718) to Juan Tomás de Peralta y Franco de Medina, by Charles of Austria in his capacity as Holy Roman Emperor, not as pretender to the Spanish throne. Ambassador Peralta, who in 1884 had married a 1553:. De Magistris then alluded to Escrivá distancing himself from the Jesuit priest Valentino Sánchez, who had previously been Escrivá's confessor, over the Jesuits' opposition to the proposed constitutions of Opus Dei. Journalist Luis Carandell says that, during his years in Rome, Escrivá kept his distance from the Jesuit 1875:, a professor at the Sorbonne and president of the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences, said that "the work of Escrivá de Balaguer will undoubtedly mark the 21st century. This is a prudent and reasonable wager. Do not pass close to this contemporary without paying him close attention". The Catholic theologian 791:(a small plate, usually made of silver or gold, used to hold Eucharistic bread), he prohibited his devotees to ask for any dispensation for him "out of a spirit of obedience to ecclesiastical norms... He has decided to show his love for the liturgy through the new rite", commented Echevarría. However, when 816:, denies that Escrivá ever contemplated quitting the Catholic Church. This was also denied by the information office of Opus Dei, which stated that Escrivá's visit to Greece in 1966 was done in order to analyze the convenience of organizing Opus Dei in that country, and that Escrivá even brought back 4956:

On December 20, 2001, Pope John Paul II approved the decree issued by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on a miraculous cure attributed to the intercession of Blessed Josemaría Escrivá. The miracle was the cure of Dr. Manuel Nevado from cancerous chronic radiodermatitis, an incurable disease,

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As regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary, at the time of the vote De Magistris's work was largely concerned with issues arising from confession and penance. According to church law, a confessor has an absolute duty not to disclose anything that he might have learned from a penitent in the course of a

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Although a stranger to any political activity, I cannot help but rejoice as a priest and Spaniard that the Chief of State’s authoritative voice should proclaim that, "The Spanish nation considers it a badge of honour to accept the law of God according to the one and true doctrine of the Holy Catholic

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In addition to the questions raised about the depth of Escrivá's spirituality and theological thinking, his purported habits of secretiveness and elitism (although for the most part, Opus Dei faithful belong to the middle-to-low levels of society, in terms of education, income and social status), his

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Critics of Opus Dei have often argued that the importance and originality of Escrivá's intellectual contributions to theology, history, and law, at least as measured by his published writings, has been grossly exaggerated by his devotees. However, various officials of the Catholic Church have spoken

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John Allen Jr. comments that, according to some observers within the Catholic Church, De Magistris was punished for his opposition to Escrivá's canonization. De Magistris was promoted in 2001 to the head of the Apostolic Penitentiary, an important position in the Vatican bureaucracy usually occupied

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termed Escrivá's sainthood "the most blatant example of a politicized in modern times." According to Catholic writer and biographer John Allen such views are countered by many other ex-members, the present members, and the estimated 900,000 people who attend activities of Opus Dei. He says that the

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was by Alberto Moncada, a Spanish sociologist who had been a member of Opus Dei and whose testimony might have been easier for the church authorities to dismiss because he had had little personal contact with Escrivá and had left the Catholic Church altogether. This critical testimony covered a mere

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on Escrivá's virtues, which said that "by inviting Christians to be united to God through their daily work, which is something men will have to do and find their dignity in as long as the world lasts, the timeliness of this message is destined to endure as an inexhaustible source of spiritual light,

1287:, that that is the 'law within which it has been formed'". In another essay, published the following year, von Balthasar characterized Opus Dei as "an integrist concentration of power within the Church", explaining that the main objective of integrism is "imposing the spiritual with worldly means". 935:

Opus Dei's founder modified his name in several ways over the course of his life. In the church records of the cathedral at Barbastro, he appears as having been baptized four days after birth with the name José María Julián Mariano, and his surname was spelled Escriba. As early as his school days,

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In his canonization homily, Pope John Paul II described Escrivá as "a master in the practice of prayer, which he considered to be an extraordinary 'weapon' to redeem the world...It is not a paradox but a perennial truth; the fruitfulness of the apostolate lies above all in prayer and in intense and

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was able to interview six other men and women who had lived and/or worked closely with Escrivá. The examples they gave of vanity, venality, temper tantrums, harshness toward subordinates, and criticism of popes and other churchmen were hardly the characteristics one expects to find in a Christian

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Critics of the process also questioned the fact that some of the physicians involved in the authentication of the two "scientifically inexplicable cures" achieved through the posthumous intercession of Escrivá, such as Dr. Raffaello Cortesini (a heart surgeon), were themselves members of Opus Dei.

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After the death of Escrivá de Balaguer on 26 June 1975, the Postulation for the Cause of his beatification and canonization received many testimonies and postulatory letters from people all over the world. On the fifth anniversary of Escrivá's death, the Postulation solicited the initiation of the

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In response to the accusations of "integrism", Escrivá declared that, "Opus Dei is neither on the left nor on the right nor in the centre" and that "as regards religious liberty, from its foundation Opus Dei has never practised discrimination of any kind." Opus Dei officials state that individual

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According to journalist Luis Carandell, when Ullastres and Navarro Rubio were first appointed to the government in 1957, Escrivá gleefully exclaimed "They have made us ministers!" something which Opus Dei has officially denied. On 23 May 1958, Escrivá sent a letter to Franco, which said, in part:

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Escrivá's younger brother Santiago stated that his brother "loved the members of his family" and took good care of them. When their father died, he says, Escrivá told their mother that "she should stay calm, because he will always take care of us. And he fulfilled this promise." Escrivá would find

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When Escrivá was 10 or 11 years old, he already had the habit of carrying the rosary in his pocket. As a priest, he would ordinarily end his homilies and his personal prayer with a conversation with the Blessed Virgin. He instructed that all rooms in the offices of Opus Dei should have an image of

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During the Spanish Civil War he personally experienced the fury of anti-religious persecution and gave daily proof of heroism in a constant priestly activity seasoned with abundant prayer and penance. It did not take long before many came to consider him a saint. When the war was over many bishops

812:. Escrivá thought the church was a shambles and that the Orthodox might be the salvation of himself and of Opus Dei as the faithful remnant." Felzmann says that Escrivá soon abandoned those plans as impracticable. Flavio Capucci, a member of Opus Dei and the postulator of the cause for Escrivá's 585:

In 1948 Escrivá founded the Collegium Romanum Sanctae Crucis (Roman College of the Holy Cross), Opus Dei's educational center for men, in Rome. In 1953 he founded the Collegium Romanum Sanctae Mariae (Roman College of Saint Mary) to serve the women's section (these institutions are now joined into

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are pronounced in the same way and therefore bureaucrats and clerics had made mistakes in transcribing the Escrivá family name in some official documents throughout the generations. Defenders of Escrivá have also argued that the addition of "de Balaguer" corresponded to a practice adopted by many

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has attracted controversy, with critics quoting testimonies about Escrivá whipping himself furiously until the walls of his cubicle were speckled with blood. Both the practice of self-mortification as a form of penance, and the conviction that suffering can help a person to acquire sanctity, have

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One of the persons who knew Escrivá best was the Bishop of Madrid, where Opus Dei was initiated, Bishop Leopoldo Eijo y Garay, for Escrivá would visit and report to him quite frequently and the two established a very strong friendship. In a 1943 report to Rome, the bishop stated: "The distinctive

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Sociologist Alberto Moncada, a former member of Opus Dei, has collected and published various oral testimonies about Escrivá's strained relations with other officials of the Catholic Church. In particular, Moncada quotes Antonio Pérez-Tenessa, who at the time was secretary general of Opus Dei in

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One of the earliest members of Opus Dei, and a friend for many years, the architect Miguel Fisac, who later quit Opus Dei, said that Escrivá found it embarrassing to have his father's family name since his father's company became bankrupt, that he had a "great affection for the aristocracy", and

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Pope John Paul II stated on Sunday, 6 October 2002, after the Angelus greetings: "Love for our Lady is a constant characteristic of the life of Josemaría Escrivá and is an eminent part of the legacy that he left to his spiritual sons and daughters." The Pope also said that "St. Josemaría wrote a

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Several biographers say Escrivá prohibited his devotees from asking for the title of Marquess of Peralta. They state that Escrivá accepted it due to the advice of some cardinals who told him that he had the obligation to do so for the sake of his brother, Santiago, and so as to practice what he

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Some biographers have said that Escrivá did not seek these awards, that they were nevertheless granted to him, that he accepted them due to charity to those who were granting these, and that he did not give the slightest importance to these awards. Journalist Luis Carandell, however, recounts

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states: "By inviting Christians to seek union with God through their daily work — which confers dignity on human beings and is their lot as long as they exist on earth — his message is destined to endure as an inexhaustible source of spiritual light regardless of changing epochs and

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The "absolutely central" part of Escrivá's teaching, says American theologian William May, is that "sanctification is possible only because of the grace of God, freely given to his children through his only-begotten Son, and it consists essentially in an intimate, loving union with Jesus, our

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Escrivá did not use the title of Marquess of Peralta publicly and, in 1972, he ceded it to his brother Santiago. The argument by endorsers of Escrivá that he requested the rehabilitation of the title as a favor to his family, and that it was his intention from the beginning to cede it to his

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forces in the civil war, as well as a prologue by a pro-Franco bishop, Xavier Lauzurica, which ended with the admonition to the reader to "always stay vigilant and alert, because the enemy does not sleep. If you make these maxims your life, you will be a perfect imitator of Jesus Christ and a

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priest who presided over the tribunal in Madrid for Escrivá's cause, as "one of the best experts" on canonization. Pérez stated that the process was fast because Escrivá's figure is "of the universal importance," the Postulators "knew what they were doing", and, in 1983, the procedures were

795:, Secretary of the Consilium for the Implementation of the Constitution on the Liturgy, learned of Escrivá's difficulties, he granted Escrivá the possibility of celebrating the Mass using the old rite. Whenever Escrivá celebrated this rite, he did so only in the presence of one Mass server. 526:

in 1946. The decree declaring Escrivá "Venerable" states that "in 1947 and on Monday, 16 June 1950, he obtained approval of Opus Dei as an institution of pontifical right. With tireless charity and operative hope he guided the development of Opus Dei throughout the world, activating a vast

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of Escrivá. John Paul II, who frequently expressed public endorsement of Opus Dei and its work, canonized Escrivá on 6 October 2002. The canonization Mass was attended by 42 cardinals and 470 bishops from around the world, general superiors of many orders and religious congregations, and

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José Escrivá had "adopted the rather more distinguished version spelled with a "v" rather than a "b." His name is spelled Escrivá in the memento of his first Mass. According to critics like Luis Carandell and Michael Walsh a former Jesuit priest, he also adopted the use of the conjunction

479:, which contains a condensed biography of Escrivá, "o this mission he gave himself totally. From the beginning his was a very wide-ranging apostolate in social environments of all kinds. He worked especially among the poor and the sick languishing in the slums and hospitals of Madrid." 1954:

With supernatural intuition, Blessed Josemaría untiringly preached the universal call to holiness and apostolate. Christ calls everyone to become holy in the realities of everyday life. Hence work too is a means of personal holiness and apostolate, when it is done in union with Jesus

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mobilization of lay people ... He gave life to numerous initiatives in the work of evangelization and human welfare; he fostered vocations to the priesthood and the religious life everywhere... Above all, he devoted himself tirelessly to the task of forming the members of Opus Dei."

1684:(the official document about the life and work of the candidate for sainthood prepared by the postulators) was declared confidential, but leaked to the press in 1992, after Escrivá's beatification. Woodward declared that, of 2,000 pages of testimonies, about 40% are by either 660:

writes after watching some movies on the founder of Opus Dei in 2005, "is his effervescence, his keen sense of humor. He cracks jokes, makes faces, roams the stage, and generally leaves his audience in stitches in off-the-cuff responses to questions from people in the crowd."

953:("Official State Bulletin") records that Escrivá requested of the government that he be permitted to change his "first surname so that it will be written Escrivá de Balaguer". He justified the petition on the grounds that "the name Escrivá is common in the east coast and in 957:, leading to harmful and annoying confusion". On 20 June 1943, when he was 41 years old, the registry book of the Barbastro cathedral and the baptismal certificate of José María were annotated to represent "that the surname Escriba was changed to Escrivá de Balaguer". 1225:, who succeeded Escrivá as the director of Opus Dei, declared that any claims that Escrivá endorsed Hitler were "a patent falsehood" and part of "a slanderous campaign". He and others have stated that Escrivá regarded Hitler as a "pagan", a "racist" and a "tyrant" (see 1903:

since he founded Opus Dei during 1928, Msgr. Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer, has been unanimously recognized as the precursor of precisely what constitutes the fundamental nucleus of the Church's magisterium, a message of such fruitfulness in the life of the Church."

1469:, Jehanne de Clérembault, died without children in 1930. None of his kinsmen in Costa Rica requested the transmission of the marquessate, but one of them has published an extensive genealogical study that would seem to contradict any claim by Escrivá to the title. 1702:

The Vatican has stated that the Medical Consultants for the Congregation affirmed unanimously that the miraculous cure of a cancerous state of chronic radiodermatitis in its third and irreversible stage in Dr. Manuel Nevado Rey (a country doctor in the village of

771:, a journalist who specializes in articles about the Catholic Church, "to judge by his writings alone, Escrivá's was an unexceptional spirit, derivative and often banal in his thoughts, personally inspiring, perhaps, but devoid of original insights", whose book 672:, "biographies of Escrivá have produced conflicting visions of the saint as either a loving, caring charismatic person or a mean-spirited, manipulative egoist". French historian Édouard de Blaye has referred to Escrivá as a "mixture of mysticism and ambition". 1634:, an incurable disease, which took place in November 1992. The reported miracle, apparently brought about by Escrivá's intervention, was ruled valid by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and approved by Pope John Paul II in December 2001, enabling the 701:

We want Christ to reign!: these words aptly express his constant pastoral concern to spread among all men and women the call to share, through Christ, in the dignity of God's children. God's sons and daughters should live for the purpose, to serve Him alone:

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movie, Escrivá had said to him, "Vlad, Hitler couldn't have been such a bad person. He couldn't have killed six million. It couldn't have been more than four million". Felzmann later explained that those remarks should be regarded in the context of Catholic

648:, who was Escrivá's closest collaborator for many years, there was one basic quality of Escrivá "that pervaded everything else: his dedication to God, and to all souls for God's sake; his constant readiness to correspond generously to the will of God." Pope 1084:(for which he was criticized for not being "pro-democracy"). According to Allen, there is no statement from Escrivá for or against Franco. Escrivá's devotees and some historians have emphasized his personal effort to avoid partiality in politics. Professor 3239:"Love your own country: it is a Christian virtue to be patriotic. But if patriotism becomes nationalism, which leads you to look at other people, at other countries, with indifference, with scorn, without Christian charity and justice, then it is a sin." 1372:, but in his letter to the members of the junta he added that he wished "to let you know how much I pray, have prayed, and have gotten others to pray, for this great nation, especially when it found itself menaced by the scourge of the Marxist heresy." 1445:

Escrivá's successful petition of a title of nobility has aroused controversy not only because it might seem at odds with the humility befitting a Catholic priest, but also because the same title of Marquess of Peralta had been rehabilitated in 1883 by

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interpretation of the facts "seems to depend upon one's basic approach to spirituality, family life, and the implications of a religious vocation." Allen's account of Opus Dei and its founder, however, was not accepted by all reviewers as impartial.

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suspected Escrivá of "internationalism, anti-Spainism and Freemasonry" and that during "the first decade of Franco's regime, Opus Dei and Escrivá were attacked with perseverance bordering on fanaticism, not by enemies, but by supporters of the new

1912:, wrote a month after Escrivá's death: "It is evident even today that the life, works, and message of the founder of Opus Dei constitutes a turning point, or more exactly a new original chapter in the history of Christian spirituality." A Vatican 1626:

declared that Escrivá possessed Christian virtues to a "heroic degree", and on 6 July 1991 the Board of Physicians for the Congregation of the Causes of Saints unanimously accepted the cure of Sister Rubio. He was beatified on 17 May 1992.

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who, though not a member of Opus Dei himself, was reportedly sympathetic to the organization and its values and who, as Franco grew older and more frail, increasingly came to exercise the day-to-day control of the Spanish government.

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gentleman without blemish. And with Christs like you Spain will return to the old grandeur of its saints, wise men, and heroes." Escrivá preached personally to General Franco and his family during a week-long spiritual retreat at the

1329:, have argued that the group has always sought "advancement not only of its message but also of its interests", and that it has consistently courted those with power and influence, without maintaining a coherent political ideology. 652:

summarized his opinion of what he termed the "extraordinariness" of Escrivá's sanctity in this way: "He is one of those men who has received the most charisms (supernatural gifts) and have corresponded most generously to them."

1383:(who did not occupy public office under Pinochet) has been unequivocally identified as a member of Opus Dei. Another member of Opus Dei, Jorge Sabag Villalobos, belongs to a centre-left party that opposed Pinochet's regime. 344:

After his death, his canonization attracted considerable attention and controversy among some Catholics and the worldwide press. Several journalists who have investigated the history of Opus Dei, among them Vatican analyst

1746:

of Escrivá's cause for sainthood, summarized the main accusations against Escrivá: that "he had a bad temper, that he was cruel, that he was vain, that he was close to Spanish dictator Francisco Franco, that he was

4313: 510:

forces. After the war ended in 1939 with Franco's victory, Escrivá was able to resume his studies in Madrid and complete a doctorate in law, for which he submitted a thesis on the historical jurisdiction of the

1534:

in 1963, and later expressing doubts in private about the salvation of the Pope's soul. According to María del Carmen Tapia, who worked with Escrivá in Rome, the founder of Opus Dei had "no respect" for Popes

922:

However, some of his devotees say that, through him, Opus Dei has been able to better the quality of life of many women, and refer to his respect for women and his interest in improving their lives. Historian

1843:. However, Pope John Paul II did not make De Magistris a cardinal and replaced him as head of the Apostolic Penitentiary after less than two years, effectively forcing him into retirement. The decision by 400:, the second of six children and the first of two sons. José Escrivá was a merchant and a partner in a textile company that eventually went bankrupt, forcing the family to relocate in 1915 to the city of 1692:

who, as successors of Escrivá at the head of Opus Dei, would have the most to gain from the Catholic Church recognizing that organization's founder as a saint. The only critical testimony quoted in the

1485:

in the Spanish government) and to architect Miguel Fisac (who knew Escrivá personally at the time), Escrivá's original request for the title might have been part of an unsuccessful attempt to join the

3391: 1290:

In 1979, von Balthasar distanced himself from a newspaper attack on Opus Dei which had cited his earlier accusations of integrism. He wrote in a personal letter to the Prelature, sent also to the

1145:

testimonies about how members of Opus Dei paid for the insignia of the Grand Cross of Charles III to be made from gold, only to have Escrivá angrily reject it and demand instead one encrusted with

940:("and") joining his father's and mother's surnames ("Escrivá y Albás"), a usage which he says is associated with aristocratic families, even though that has been the legal naming format in Spain 4708:

Collection of contributions to a theological symposium; contributors include Ratzinger, del Portillo, Cottier, dalla Torre, Ocariz, Illanes, Aranda, Burggraf and an address by Pope John Paul II.

1549:, wrote in a 1989 confidential vote asking for the suspension of the proceedings for Escrivá's beatification, that "it is not a mystery that there were serious tensions" between Escrivá and the 1662:, described it as "perhaps the most contentious beatification in modern times." Critics have argued that the process was plagued by irregularities. However, endorsers refer to Rafael Pérez, an 1639:

representatives of various Catholic groups. During the days of the canonization event, church officials commented on the validity of the message of the founder, repeating John Paul II's decree

1667:

simplified in order to present "models who lived in a world like ours." Flavio Capucci, the postulator, also reported that the 6,000 postulatory letters to the Vatican showed "earnestness".

1158:

alleged bad temper and ambition for social status and worldly luxuries, several other specific aspects of Escrivá's life and work have generated some criticism, particularly regarding his

1678:

was canonized even more quickly, having been beatified just 6 years after her death (Escrivá was beatified in 17 years). According to journalist Kenneth L. Woodward, the 6,000-page long

4275: 570:

in Rome. He was a consultor to two Vatican congregations (the Congregation for Seminaries and Universities and the Pontifical Commission for the Authentic Interpretation of the Code of

475:), a way by which Catholics might learn to sanctify themselves by their secular work. He founded it in 1928, and Pius XII gave it final approval in 1950. According to the decree of the 993:

Critics have alleged that Escrivá personally, as well as the organization of Opus Dei, were associated originally with the ideology of "National Catholicism", particularly during the

1194:, sent several letters to Flavio Capucci, the postulator (i.e., chief promoter) of Escrivá's cause. In his letters, Felzmann wrote that in 1967 or 1968, during the intermission to a 2936:"Other priests — such as Blessed Padre Pío and Blessed Josemaría Escrivá, the founder of Opus Dei — continued to use the old Mass privately in preference to the new rite." 1887:, as "a little Spanish manual for advanced Boy Scouts" and argued that it was quite insufficient to sustain a major religious organization. However, the monk and spiritual writer 408:, where he worked as a clerk in a clothing store. Young Josemaría first felt that "he had been chosen for something", it is reported, when he saw footprints left in the snow by a 836:

Escrivá taught that "joy has its roots in the form of a cross", and that "suffering is the touchstone of love", convictions which were represented in his own life. He practiced

1510: 927:, a Catholic convert, asserted that "Opus Dei has an enviable record of educating the poor and supporting women, whether single or married, in any occupation they choose." 1788:. According to Woodward, one of the dissenters wrote that the beatification of Escrivá could cause the church "grave public scandal." The same article quoted Cardinal 3908: 2430: 1237:

One of the most controversial accusations against Escrivá is that he and Opus Dei were active in bolstering far-right regimes, especially the dictatorship of General

1037:(reactionary) organization. If it is not, it is because it has evolved over time, just as the Catholic Church, the Franco regime, and Msgr. Escrivá himself evolved. 1526:). According to Rocca, in both instances the curial officials expressed concerns about the organization of Opus Dei and about the psychological profile of Escrivá. 1219:. Another phrase that has been attributed to Escrivá by some of his critics is "Hitler against the Jews, Hitler against the Slavs, means Hitler against Communism". 7587: 1653: 1283:", stating "despite the affirmations of the members of Opus Dei that they are free in their political options, it is undeniable that its foundation is marked by 6071: 5856: 5889: 4558: 1895:

well of Escrivá's influence and of the relevance of his teachings. In the decree introducing the cause of beatification and canonization of Escrivá, Cardinal

1630:

By way of a letter dated 15 March 1993, the Postulation for the Cause received news about the miraculous cure of Dr. Manuel Nevado Rey from cancerous chronic

1186:

During Escrivá's beatification process, Vladimir Felzmann, who had been Escrivá's personal assistant before Felzmann quit Opus Dei and became a priest of the

1709:

Former Opus Dei members critical of Escrivá's character who say that they were refused a hearing during the beatification and canonization processes include

915:

Former numerary María del Carmen Tapia (born 1925), who worked with Escrivá for 18 years inside the organization, seven as his secretary, wrote in her book,

7502: 3939: 1847:

to make De Magistris a cardinal at the consistory of 14 February 2015, when De Magistris was about to turn 89 and therefore could no longer participate in

3752: 1241:

in Spain. After 1957, several members of Opus Dei served as ministers in Franco's government. In particular, the "technocrats" most associated with the "

7532: 4897: 728:

provided an "insufficient spirituality" to sustain a religious organization and that the book was hardly more than "a little Spanish manual for advanced

4852: 3954:"Extracto del dictamen del abogado español don Carlos Amigó, del Colegio de Abogados de Barcelona, sobre el mayorazgo de don Manuel María de Peralta", 2942: 1572:

According to Alberto Moncada, Escrivá's years in Rome were dedicated in large part to his campaign to make Opus Dei independent from the authority of

7597: 3107: 1742:

Escrivá's canonization attracted an unusual amount of attention and criticism, both within the Catholic Church and by the press. Flavio Capucci, the

1419:

and titles of the realm"), the title of Marquess had originally been granted in 1718 to Tomás de Peralta, minister of state, justice and war for the

3867: 1379:" of the 1980s similar to that of the "technocrats" during the Spanish Miracle of the 1960s. However, among the major right-wing politicians, only 3827: 3534: 884:

the Virgin. He encouraged his spiritual children to greet these images when they entered a room. He encouraged a Marian apostolate, preaching that

4885:

Cause of canonization of the Servant of God Josemaría Escrivá, Priest, Founder of the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei (1902-1975)

1824: 376:, and the sanctifying effect of ordinary work. According to Allen, among Catholics, Escrivá is "reviled by some and venerated by millions more". 4099: 2261: 516: 6089: 2160: 2150: 1473:

brother, seems belied by the fact that, in 1968, Santiago had requested for himself the rehabilitation of a different title of nobility, the

7517: 5861: 4945: 1891:

declared that Escrivá's book "will certainly do a great deal of good by its simplicity, which is the true medium for the Gospel message".

1871:

The significance of Escrivá's message and teachings has been a topic of debate, by Catholics and others. The Protestant French historian

975: 941: 7522: 6142: 4024: 1946:, continue to be read widely, and emphasize the laity's calling to daily sanctification (a message also to be found in the documents of 467:

A prayerful retreat helped him to discern more definitely what he considered to be God's will for him, and, on 2 October 1928, he "saw"

6064: 1816: 1776:

presiding over Escrivá's cause for beatification, two had requested a suspension of the proceedings. The dissenters were identified as

349:, have argued that many of these accusations are unproven or have grown from allegations by enemies of Escrivá and his organization. 4727:. A study of Opus Dei based on the life story and work of its founder written by a professor of history at the University of Cologne. 1187: 1257:, Juan José Espinosa, and Faustino García-Moncó. Most of these "technocrats" entered the government under the patronage of Admiral 1178:

title and allegations that he maintained bad relations with other Catholic officials, of whom he could be very critical in private.

880:

which presents spiritual childhood, a real disposition of spirit of those who wish to attain total abandonment to the divine will".

798:

Vladimir Felzmann, a priest who worked as Escrivá's personal assistant before quitting Opus Dei in 1981, stated in an interview for

5398:, Sinagtala. – collection of some testimonies given by ecclesiastical officials which were used for the beatification process. 1554: 752:"on good soil" (Matthew 13:8), that which constitutes the aim of the prayers of the saints, of the great founders, the prayer of a 5378: 2550:." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online Academic Edition. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2012. Web. 1 Feb. 2012. 783:

Escrivá conceived the Mass as the "Source and summit of the Christian's interior life," a terminology which was later used by the

7492: 5883: 5787: 2634: 1332:

The alleged involvement of Opus Dei in Latin American politics has also been a topic of controversy. According to US journalist

631:

that "o think that Fr. Josemaría Escrivá is capable of creating anything secret is absurd. He is as frank and open as a child!"

587: 522:

The Priestly Society of the Holy Cross, affiliated with Opus Dei, was founded on Sunday, 14 February 1943. Escrivá relocated to

507: 4909: 1792:

as declaring that many bishops were "very displeased" with the rush to canonize Escrivá so soon after his death. In interviews,

1325:

John Allen has written that Escrivá was neither anti-Franco nor pro-Franco. Some critics of Opus Dei, such as Miguel Fisac and

1310:

members are free to choose any political affiliation, emphasizing that among its members were also two important figures in the

7582: 7497: 5844: 5607: 4535: 1832: 1593: 1576:

and of the Vatican curia, something which was finally achieved, after Escrivá's death, with the establishment in 1982, by Pope

1058: 487: 7507: 6057: 5591: 5476: 5362: 5342: 5315: 5295: 5275: 5255: 5235: 5051: 4684: 4475: 4450: 4194: 3610: 3143: 2898: 2227: 2045: 1985: 1797: 1773: 1604: 476: 3905: 3438: 2438: 1203:

in Spain, emphasizing that in 1941 all of the male members of Opus Dei, who then numbered about fifty, offered to join the "

7537: 6003: 4735: 3108:"To the pilgrims who had come for the Canonization of Saint Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer (October 7, 2002) | John Paul II" 1827:). In his vote, which its own contents date to August 1989, De Magistris argued that the testimony from the main witness, 896:, he commented: "I would like to die that way." On 26 June 1975, after entering his work room, which had a painting of the 392:

was born to José Escriva y Corzán and his wife, María de los Dolores Albás y Blanc on 9 January 1902, in the small town of

4247: 3889: 3707: 3641: 2589: 997:

and the years immediately after it, and that they were therefore also closely associated with the authoritarian regime of

335:

in Rome. His principal work was the initiation, government and expansion of Opus Dei. Escrivá's best-known publication is

5671: 5652: 2292: 5666: 1489:(SMOM), a Catholic religious order which required its members to be of noble birth and of which his deputy in Opus Dei, 1459: 7577: 5906: 5743: 5708: 5526: 5508: 2617: 2547: 3206: 1573: 5571: 5553: 5493: 5456: 5438: 5217: 5199: 5154: 5136: 5118: 5098: 5029: 5007: 4984: 4832: 4814: 4793: 4775: 4745: 4721: 4702: 4626: 4354: 4000: 3887:"Biografía: Don Manuel María de Peralta y Alfaro (1847-1930), II Marqués de Peralta, Embajador Emérito de Costa Rica" 3602: 3340: 2708: 2125: 2105: 2085: 2065: 2025: 2005: 1523: 1486: 278: 79: 4807:

Immersed in God: Blessed Josemaría Escrivá, Founder of Opus Dei As Seen by His Successor, Bishop Álvaro Del Portillo

2853: 7102: 5818: 4731: 4344: 1689: 1396: 1395:

Another source of controversy about Escrivá was the fact that, in 1968, he requested and received from the Spanish

1365: 456: 444: 324: 4854:

Litterae Decretales — Domine, Ut — Quibus Iosephmariae Escrivá De Balaguer Sanctorum Honores Decernuntur

1916:

or consultor for the process of beatification said that "he is like a figure from the deepest spiritual sources".

1250: 974:

Spanish families that felt a need to distinguish themselves from others with the same surname but proceeding from

7562: 7557: 7127: 6390: 6108: 5731: 2940:

Latin Mass Society of Eire-Ireland. Member of Una Voce International, a lay organization approved by the Holy See

1279:

wrote a scathing critique of Escrivá's spirituality, characterizing Escrivá's approach to religion as a form of "

1076:

propagated against Escrivá and Opus Dei. Allen states that based on his research Escrivá could not be said to be

1021:. If Opus Dei had "never seen the need to bring itself up to date", as Escrivá maintained, Opus would today be a 990:

Many of his contemporaries recount the tendency of Escrivá to preach about patriotism as opposed to nationalism.

825: 4071: 3936: 1851:, was interpreted by some commentators as consolation for how De Magistris had been treated under John Paul II. 1622:, suffered by Sister Concepción Boullón Rubio, whose family had prayed to Escrivá to help her. On 9 April 1990, 7552: 7052: 6103: 5964:

Opus Dei: An Objective Look Behind the Myths and Reality of the Most Controversial Force in the Catholic Church

5954: 4999:

Opus Dei: An Objective Look Behind the Myths and Reality of the Most Controversial Force in the Catholic Church

3749: 1424: 1344:, attended a spiritual retreat sponsored by Opus Dei. During his 1974 visit to Latin America, Escrivá visited 1120: 804:

that Escrivá was so distraught by the reforms introduced by the Second Vatican Council that he and his deputy,

740:

moves almost exclusively within the circle of the self, of a self that must be great and strong, equipped with

1349: 767:

Similar criticism of Escrivá's spirituality has been stated by other commentators: for instance, according to

606:), as secular institutions affiliated with Opus Dei. Escrivá died of cardiac arrest on 26 June 1975, aged 73. 7572: 7072: 6752: 6149: 1777: 1542: 1030: 716:

Not all Catholic commentators, however, were impressed equally by Escrivá's spirituality. For instance, the

567: 332: 7168: 4867:"Litterae Decretales — Domine, Ut — Honors of Sainthood are Decreed for Blessed Josemaría Escrivá" 3863: 949: 840:

personally and recommended it to others in Opus Dei. In particular, his enthusiasm for the practice of self-

7542: 6127: 5993: 5091:

El bullir de la sangre de Cristo": estudio sobre el cristocentrismo del beato Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer

4949: 4929: 4904:

The speech summarizes Escrivá and Opus Dei's mission, work, message, and the main features of his teachings

4672: 4222: 2939: 1674:

streamlined the procedures for canonization, and so it was processed more quickly than was typical before.

1216: 305: 7527: 7512: 7027: 5736: 4957:

which took place in November 1992. The decree opened the doors for the canonization of Blessed Josemaría.

1610:

His cause for beatification was introduced in Rome on 19 February 1981 on the strength of the apparently

1482: 871:: John Paul II stated: "Love for our Lady is a constant characteristic of the life of Josemaría Escrivá." 571: 5676: 5623: 5074: 4150: 3531: 2095: 775:

reveals "a remarkable narrowness of mind, weariness of human sexuality, and artlessness of expression."

7592: 7567: 7452: 7178: 7117: 6080: 5823: 1900: 1295: 837: 579: 369: 6941: 6921: 5681: 1162:

by the Catholic Church. The sources of criticism include his alleged private statements in defence of

912:

with which he started so many works of evangelization and human advancement for the poorest persons."

7547: 4042: 3038: 2075: 1607:. One-third of the world's bishops (an unprecedented number) petitioned for Escrivá's beatification. 1431: 5936: 5661: 3975: 3835: 2723: 2166: 1883:

by Pope John Paul II (but died in 1988 before his investiture), dismissed Escrivá's principal work,

1721:

saint. But their testimony was not allowed to be heard. At least two of them were vilified in the

337: 7092: 6285: 6177: 6120: 5988: 5949: 3189: 2534: 2269: 2140: 1950:). Pope John Paul II made the following observation in his homily at the beatification of Escrivá: 1909: 1656:. On the eve of Escrivá's beatification in 1992, journalist William D. Montalbano, writing for the 1515: 1254: 1166:, collaboration by members of Opus Dei with right-wing political causes (especially during General 1063: 548: 320: 293: 52: 1539:

or Paul VI and believed that his own organization of Opus Dei was "above the Church in holiness."

7203: 7147: 7067: 6463: 2576: 2145: 1760: 1522:, first in 1945, and later in 1950 (when he and his followers had lobbied for his appointment as 1375:

Critics have charged that Opus Dei members supported Pinochet's coup and then had a role in the "

452: 204: 183: 5758: 3906:"Manuel María de Peralta y Alfaro, Diplomático e historiador costarricense: Carrera diplomática" 1793: 845:

ample precedent in Catholic teaching and practice. Referring to Escrivá, John Paul II stated in

7288: 7087: 6706: 6207: 5918: 5701: 4502: 4004: 3017: 2055: 1880: 1876: 1840: 1781: 1752: 1671: 1546: 1276: 924: 784: 721: 575: 544: 431:, also in Zaragoza, on Saturday, 28 March 1925. After a brief appointment to a rural parish in 7122: 7082: 7042: 5851: 5813: 5305: 5285: 4802: 4618: 3675: 2035: 1828: 1685: 1490: 1427:. Until 1715, Archduke Charles had been, as "Charles III", a pretender to the Spanish throne ( 1341: 1222: 1013:: he is the product of a specific country, a specific epoch, a specific church. These are the 805: 645: 7213: 7132: 7001: 6996: 6946: 6423: 6266: 6115: 6008: 5900: 5877: 5411: 5402: 5371: 5265: 4465: 4059: 4036: 2523: 1831:, should have been entirely excluded from the proceedings, since Portillo had been Escrivá's 1226: 868: 809: 591: 170: 7258: 5644: 2193: 1080:(for which he was criticized for not joining other Catholics in openly praising Franco) nor 7487: 7482: 7389: 7359: 7308: 6986: 6871: 6801: 6591: 6566: 6546: 6526: 6488: 6483: 6448: 6330: 6224: 5792: 5748: 4443:

Making Saints: How the Catholic Church Determines Who Becomes a Saint, Who Doesn't, and Why

4187:

Making Saints: How the Catholic Church Determines Who Becomes a Saint, Who Doesn't, and Why

3519: 3131: 2891:

Making Saints: How the Catholic Church Determines Who Becomes a Saint, Who Doesn't, and Why

2220:

Making Saints: How the Catholic Church Determines Who Becomes a Saint, Who Doesn't, and Why

1478: 1451: 1337: 1127: 821: 749: 270: 7374: 6906: 5039: 4559:"'Feel the Consolation and the Love of God,' Cardinal Luigi De Magistris; Cagliari, Italy" 3807: 2326:

A. Luciani, "Cercando Dio nel lavoro quotidiano", in Il Gazzettino, Venice, July 25, 1978.

2015: 555: 8: 7364: 7328: 7298: 7062: 6966: 6806: 6767: 6747: 6675: 6561: 6370: 6213: 6200: 6189: 6013: 5912: 5564:

Opus Dei: an Investigation into the Powerful Secretive Society Within the Catholic Church

3646: 3396: 3259: 1505: 1408: 1258: 897: 889: 768: 753: 599: 7409: 6866: 5388: 5044:

Los Años Mentidos: Falsificaciones Y Mentiras Sobre La Historia De Espana En El Siglo XX

4487: 4467:

Lives of the Saints: From Mary and St. Francis of Assisi to John XXIII and Mother Teresa

3241: 1975: 1009:

More than "a classic of the spirituality of all time", Escrivá de Balaguer is at bottom

316:, who declared Josemaría should be "counted among the great witnesses of Christianity." 7439: 7379: 6991: 6931: 6901: 6816: 6811: 6680: 6576: 6473: 6453: 6413: 6355: 6320: 6315: 6159: 6038: 5108: 5018: 4563: 3974:(Madrid: Editorial Deriva, 2nd ed., 1992). See transcription of the relevant passages 1995: 1581: 1435: 1380: 1315: 1146: 539:) so severe that the doctors expected him to die soon, but his mother had taken him to 239: 7173: 6831: 6732: 3518:(Madrid: Editorial Deriva, 2nd ed., 1992). See transcription of the relevant passages 3372: 2696: 7369: 7354: 7243: 7107: 7047: 6981: 6976: 6971: 6892: 6861: 6841: 6727: 6685: 6665: 6581: 6541: 6516: 6405: 6375: 6325: 6310: 6018: 5943: 5894: 5694: 5587: 5567: 5549: 5522: 5504: 5489: 5472: 5452: 5434: 5358: 5338: 5311: 5291: 5271: 5251: 5231: 5213: 5195: 5150: 5132: 5114: 5094: 5047: 5025: 5003: 4997: 4993: 4980: 4893: 4862: 4848: 4828: 4810: 4789: 4771: 4741: 4717: 4698: 4680: 4622: 4611: 4471: 4446: 4366: 4350: 4190: 4155: 3996: 3606: 3598: 3336: 3330: 3139: 2894: 2792: 2704: 2297: 2223: 2121: 2101: 2081: 2061: 2041: 2021: 2001: 1981: 1905: 1658: 1623: 1420: 1311: 1299: 1246: 994: 686: 657: 628: 483: 397: 357: 346: 313: 212: 191: 58: 7188: 7097: 6926: 6916: 1319: 7278: 7273: 7198: 7183: 7163: 6951: 6876: 6737: 6621: 6606: 6586: 6531: 6511: 6498: 6443: 6335: 6167: 5971: 4970: 4314:"Un sobrino de Escrivá de Balaguer cuestiona el proceso de beatificación de su tío" 2753: 2173: 1550: 1376: 1361: 1357: 1303: 1238: 1167: 1069: 998: 961:

is the name of the town in Catalonia from which Escrivá's paternal family derived.

792: 729: 610: 503: 427:, where he was ordained as deacon on Saturday, 20 December 1924. He was ordained a 405: 353: 341:, which has been translated into 43 languages and has sold several million copies. 7394: 7283: 7022: 6821: 5540: – first Russian biography by an Orthodox thinker, philosopher and journalist 3732: 1716:

According to journalist Kenneth L. Woodward, before the official beatification he

1322:, who became the first president of the Senate after the transition to democracy. 535:

According to some accounts, at the age of two he suffered from a disease (perhaps

368:, and many other Catholic leaders have endorsed Escrivá's teaching concerning the 7404: 7293: 7228: 7218: 7142: 7037: 7032: 6936: 6911: 6742: 6722: 6695: 6690: 6660: 6601: 6345: 6172: 5962: 5656: 5581: 5535: 5466: 5352: 5332: 5245: 4974: 4883: 4751: 3943: 3912: 3893: 3785:

En las afueras de Jericó: Recuerdos de los años con san Josemaría y Juan Pablo II

3756: 3711: 3637: 3538: 3442: 3387: 2946: 2858: 2805: 2757: 2621: 2496: 2115: 1730: 1631: 1536: 1326: 1242: 1050: 1014: 420: 249: 6836: 5672:

Josemaría Escrivá's Crusade for Holiness: The Life and Times of Opus Dei Founder

5650:

EWTN webpage, containing biography, spiritual writings, video-audio presentation

5519:

St Josemaría Escrivá and the Origins of Opus Dei: The Path Through the Mountains

3464: 365: 7233: 7208: 7137: 7077: 6851: 6846: 6826: 6781: 6616: 6611: 6556: 6478: 6458: 6395: 6271: 6132: 6049: 5998: 4251: 3886: 3704: 2719: 1848: 1562: 1439: 669: 301: 7318: 5649: 4951:

Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer — The Miracle Approved for the Canonization

4295:'"Escrivá amenazó con deshonrarme si hablaba mal del OPUS", dice Carmen Tapia' 2302: 1917: 7476: 7466: 7414: 7384: 7313: 7006: 6961: 6700: 6670: 6571: 6551: 6536: 6428: 6418: 6305: 6218: 4931:

Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer — Chronology of the Cause for Canonization

4695:

Holiness and the World: Studies in the Teachings of Blessed Josemariá Escrivá

3871:

Annuaire de la Noblesse de France et des Maisons Souveraines de l'Europe 1886

3719: 2671: 1888: 1872: 1675: 1600: 1447: 1384: 1333: 1204: 1200: 1094: 1085: 634: 177: 5639: 5501:

St Josemaría Escrivá and the Origins of Opus Dei: The Day The Bells Rang Out

4944: 4138: 3551: 2614: 613:) celebrated the originality of his contribution to Christian spirituality. 292:, born Jose María Escribá Albás, (9 January 1902 – 26 June 1975) was a 7399: 7338: 7248: 7057: 6717: 6521: 6360: 6300: 5633: 5147:

On the Theology of Work: Aspects of the Teaching of the Founder of Opus Dei

4272: 3434: 2728: 1844: 1710: 1703: 1663: 1635: 1577: 1558: 1531: 1454:

in favor of a man to whom Escrivá had no male-line family association: the

1195: 1163: 1159: 1073: 1022: 841: 813: 732:". Von Balthasar also questioned the attitudes towards prayer described by 710: 665: 361: 261: 208: 198: 187: 98: 20: 7323: 7112: 4100:"Faith and the City: Opus Dei Assumes Responsibility for St. Agnes Church" 3927:

Ricardo Fernández Peralta, "Genealogía de la Casa Peralta en Costa Rica",

2983: 2958: 1041:

Estruch cites, for instance, the fact that the first edition of Escrivá's

748:. That which is most necessary, which is the contemplative rooting of the 7333: 7303: 7268: 7263: 7238: 7223: 7193: 6791: 6786: 6763: 6655: 6650: 6631: 6596: 6506: 6295: 5782: 5183:

Vida cotidiana y santidad en la enseñanza de san Josemaría (Volume Three)

2912:

Francois Gondrand, At God's Pace, Scepter, London-Princeton, 1989, p. 287

1896: 1789: 1619: 1519: 1212: 1057:("Year of the Victory"), referring to Franco's military triumph over the 1018: 909: 717: 638: 540: 5110:

Msgr.Josemaría Escrivá De Balaguer: a profile of the Founder of Opus Dei

4825:

Footprints in the Snow. A pictorial biography of the founder of Opus Dei

3490: 2336: 685:

On the centennial of Escrivá's birthday, Cardinal Ratzinger (who became

609:

Three years after Escrivá died, the then Cardinal Albino Luciani (later

7419: 6796: 6712: 6380: 6240: 5404:

El santo fundador del Opus Dei. Biografía completa de Josemaría Escrivá

5174:

Vida cotidiana y santidad en la enseñanza de san Josemaría (Volume Two)

5165:

Vida cotidiana y santidad en la enseñanza de san Josemaría (Volume One)

4907: 4416: 3896:, Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Culto, República de Costa Rica. 3214: 2988: 1947: 1812: 1784:, and Justo Fernández Alonso, rector of the Spanish National Church in 1743: 1725:

by name, yet neither of them was permitted to defend their reputations.

1530:

Rome, as witnessing Escrivá's intense displeasure over the election of

1455: 1364:. Escrivá declined an invitation to visit personally with the Chilean 1302:, but he died before he could be elevated to that position at the next 1191: 1089: 893: 432: 4871:

Romana — Bulletin of the Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus dei

4866: 4318: 4299: 4280: 4056: