THE SECRET OF A HAPPY MARRIAGE
Faithful to the spirit of Opus Dei, the couple passed on to their children and to many other people their example of Christian life and marriage, of a “bright and cheerful home,” as St. Josemaria used to say.
There can be no better gift for a father… than the grateful love of a son. That affection grows and matures with years and becomes even more deeply rooted when the father has gone, even though he is known to be nearer and more active than ever. Rafael Alvira, a son before a philosopher, considered at the death of his father the legacy he received.
A month ago the following story arrived, written by a school teacher, who tells how she drew close to Jesus and Mary thanks to the example of Christian life given by the Alvira couple.
The school’s energy is not produced in the directors’ offices, but in the classroom, in every classroom. But this will only be produced if it has life.
The first meeting between Tomás Alvira and the Founder of Opus Dei took place during a very difficult time, as the civil war had broken out little more than a year before. It occurred in Madrid, in the midst of a religious persecution that had already produced many martyrs. Tomás used to go to the house of an old friend from the Chemistry Faculty of Saragossa, Josémaría Albareda.
Some favors granted through the intercession of the Alviras.
On September 20, 2012, Cardinal Ruoco, Archbishop of Madrid, presided over the closing of the diocesan phase of the cause of canonization of the servants of God Tomás and Paquita Alvira.
Faithful to the spirit of Opus Dei, the couple passed on to their children and to many other people their example of Christian life and marriage, of a “bright and cheerful home,” as St. Josemaria used to say.
Photos from the married life of Tomas and Paquita Alvira