An estimated 300,000 people filled St. Peter's Square on October
6, 2002, for the canonization of Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer, the founder of
Opus Dei. His canonization came only 27 years after his death, one of the
shortest waiting periods in Church history.
Opus Dei, which means Work of God, emphasizes that men and women
can become holy by performing their daily duties with a Christian spirit. In
his homily, Pope John Paul II emphasized the importance of every believer
following God's will, as had the newly sainted founder of Opus Dei. “The Lord
has a plan for each one of us. Saints cannot even conceive of themselves
outside of God's plan: They live only to fulfill it.”
Born in Barbastro, Spain, Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer sensed
early in life that he had a vocation to the priesthood. Following his
ordination in 1925, he briefly ministered in a rural parish. He moved to
Madrid, where he obtained a doctorate in law. At the same time Father Escriva
was beginning to envision a movement that would offer ordinary people help in
seeking holiness through their everyday activities. It was officially founded
in 1928.
As Opus Dei grew, Father Escriva continued his studies and his
priestly work among the poor and sick. During the Civil War in Spain he had to
exercise his ministry secretly and move from place to place. Only after the war
did he return to Madrid and complete his doctoral studies. He later moved to
Rome and obtained a doctorate in theology. Pope Pius XII named him an honorary
prelate and a consultor to two Vatican congregations. All the while, Opus Dei
grew in size and influence.
When Msgr. Escriva died in 1975, Opus Dei could be found in dozens
of places around the globe. Today its membership includes approximately 83,000
laypersons and 1,800 priests in 60 countries. It is a “personal prelature,” a
special jurisdictional entity within the Church.
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