A Double Thanksgiving, Close to the Pope and Saint Josemaría

After his pastoral trips in August to various European countries, Monsignor Fernando Ocáriz celebrated two Masses in the prelatic church of Our Lady of Peace to give thanks for two special anniversaries. Pope Francis sent him a letter on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of his ordination as a priest.

The Prelate of Opus Dei celebrated two Masses to give thanks to God for his fifty years of priesthood (he was ordained a priest on 15 August 1971), and for the sixtieth anniversary of his joining Opus Dei, on 7 September 1961. The first Mass took place on September 7, and the second on September 8, feast of the birth of our Lady.

At the beginning of both celebrations, Monsignor Mariano Fazio, Auxiliary Vicar of the Prelature, read the letter that Pope Francis had sent to Monsignor Ocáriz.

Letter from Pope Francis

A translation of the Holy Father’s letter (sent in Latin) is provided below:

To my dear son Monsignor Fernando Ocáriz, who on the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary will joyfully celebrate the golden anniversary of your priestly ordination. We are accompanying you with Our prayer, and we give thanks for your strong missionary spirit, your deep learning and your intense pastoral activity to spread the Catholic faith. And through the intercession of the Most Sweet Queen of Heaven and Saint Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer, We bestow, with deep affection for you and for all the faithful of the Prelature, Our Apostolic Blessing and ask for your prayers that we may carry out with the joy of the Gospel the Petrine ministry. Given in Rome, the Lateran, on 30 July 2021. Francis.

In both celebrations special prayers were offered for the intentions of the Holy Father, for the Church and for the holiness of all priests.