Opus Dei

On September 29, the Church honors the Holy Archangels. A brief history of how Saint Josemaria chose them as patrons of Opus Dei.

July 25 is the feast of Saint James the Apostle. Here is the story of several trips Saint Josemaria made to Santiago de Compostela, where the Apostle's remains are preserved, including his first pilgrimage there in 1938 during the difficult days of the Spanish civil war.

Saint Josemaria's First Holy Communion took place on 23 April 1912, the feast of Saint George, patron saint of Aragon and Catalonia, and the traditional day for First Communion ceremonies.

On the Saturday before Passion Sunday, 28 March 1925, Bishop Miguel de los Santos Diaz Gómara conferred priestly ordination on Josemaria Escriva in the Church of the Royal Seminary of San Carlos, Saragossa

Saint Josemaria was canonized on October 6, 2002. Here is the address Pope John Paul II gave the next day, a powerful summary of the founder's life and message.

On August 23, 1932, Saint Josemaria wrote down in his ‘Intimate Notes’ that all the centers of Opus Dei should have a plaque with the words of Jesus' "new commandment": "that you love one another as I have loved you." The first place this was done was the DYA Residence in Madrid.

This was the motto that Saint Josemaria set for himself at the beginning of 1972, in the face of many challenges in the Church and the world. An extract from Andrés Vazquez de Prada​​'s biography of the founder of Opus Dei.

"Wanting Jesus Alone to Shine" is a biography of the founder of Opus Dei illustrated with over 300 photos, maps, infographics and autograph texts. Its authors, Jesús Gil y Enrique Muñiz, say they hope the book "will enable readers to enter more fully into the life of Saint Josemaria."

May 13th is the feast of Our Lady of Fatima. The message of Fatima contains a wake-up call for all Christians: to make reparation to our Lord for all the sins of mankind, including our own, to do penance, to pray the Rosary, to spread devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and to pray a lot for the Pope.

On his way to Mexico 50 years ago, Saint Josemaria landed at the Madrid airport on 14 May 1970. Some journalists were eager to interview him there. Javier Ayesta, who accompanied him that afternoon, tells us what happened during those hours.