Opus Dei

Encarnita Ortega was born in 1920 in Galicia, Spain. At the age of 20, she met St Josemaría Escrivá and discovered her vocation to Opus Dei. The Newsletters listed below are available for download

Encarnación Ortega was born on May 5, 1920, just over 100 years ago. Encarnita, as everyone called her, was one of the first women in Opus Dei; she met Saint Josemaría in 1941 and soon asked to be admitted as a numerary. The historian José Carlos Martín de la Hoz, vice-postulator of the cause for canonization, recounts in this podcast some events in Encarnita's life that help us to understand her human and spiritual worth.

Inma Alva, a historian investigating Opus Dei's beginnings, talks about the first women members: “What stands out is their capacity for great undertakings, their passion, and their enormous faith in the face of difficulties.”​

Who is Encarnita Ortega?

In 1941 she attended a retreat preached by St. Josemaria Escrivá in Alaquas (Valencia) and received from God the grace of a vocation to Opus Dei.

Seeking the intercession of men and women who have died with a reputation for holiness is a common practice in the Catholic Church. Examples of favors received through the intercession of Encarnita follow.

​In February 2014, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints granted the Decree of Validity for the Process and the Positio is now being drawn up.

Prayer for private devotion.

On March 14th, 1946, Dora del Hoyo became the first to join Opus Dei as an assistant numerary. She has inspired thousands of women all over the world to dedicate themselves to spreading the universal call to holiness through their professional work of caring for the home.