Opus Dei

Saint Josemaría teaches that marriage is a Christian vocation to which many people are called, as shown in the video series “Take a chance on happiness.”

With the presence of Benedict XVI, Pope Francis beatified Paul VI, who held fast "with farsightedness and wisdom – and at times alone – to the helm of the barque of Peter, while never losing his joy and his trust in the Lord."

The miracle that opened the way to his beatification was the cure of a Florida mother's child still in the womb. Saint Josemaria described him as a person "who loves so much, who is so concerned for the humblest."

For the beatification of Paul VI, the Prelate of Opus Dei has issued a brief statement.

"I still have a very vivid memory of the visit of Pope Paul VI to the Centro ELIS on its opening day," said Alvaro del Portillo. "The Pope stayed well beyond the time planned for the visit, he celebrated Mass, and attentively visited the various parts of the Centro."

Pope Francis will beatify Paul VI on Sunday October 19. On November 21, 1965, Paul VI officially opened Centro ELIS, a social initiative located in one of Rome's poorest districts. In his address Paul VI said that education and training were the most important way of improving the lives of young unemployed people from poor families.

A new article in the series on family education offers some ideas on how to help children manage their freedom.

In a get-together in Nairobi in 1989, Blessed Alvaro suggested that the best service we can render the poor is to give them the skills needed to find a job.

On October 4, Pope Francis presided over a prayer vigil for the Synod on the Family, and urged couples to be open to the gift of life.

The Prelate invites us to pray with Blessed Alvaro: "Thank you, forgive me, help me more." He suggests that we ask especially for peace in the world and for the upcoming Synod on the family.