May 31st, 1925: St. Josemaria returns to Saragossa, from Perdiguera

St. Josemaria returned to his family home, on Rufas street. A few days before he had started working at the St. Peter Nolasco Church (better known as the 'Church of The Sacred Heart', run by jesuit priests) to provide financial help to his family, who was in financial strife. He was there until March 1927, as assistant chaplain. At the same time he was pursuing his law degree with the University of Saragossa. On Sundays, he used to go with university classmates to catechize children of the (very poor) suburb of Casablanca, and he would also give private classes to make some money on the side.

May 30th, 1971: First Consecration to the Holy Spirit

The consecration of Opus Dei to the Holy Spirit took place in the Pentecost chapel in Villa Tevere.

This was the only time when st. Josemaria asked don Alvaro to read the formula of the consecration: Bl. Alvaro had insisted for the founder to be mentioned in the formula, therefore, even though he was present, St. Josemaria asked for Bl. Alvaro to be the one to read the formula of the consecration.

Altarpiece at sanctuary of Torreciudad

May 29th, 1933: Do you know the story behind point 382 on "The Way"?

Don Ricardo Fernandez Vallespin met the founder on May 14th, 1933. a couple of weeks later, on this date, St. Josemaria gave him a copy of the book "The Passion" by with the inscription: "May you seek Christ, may you find Christ, may you love Christ". This was the first time they had a conversation, and don Ricardo would remember years after: "He spoke to me about things in relation to my soul, he gave me advice, he encouraged me to be better".

Don Ricardo is directly related to the custom of Opus Dei members to do Marian pilgrimages especially in May, he was involved in the setup of the DYA residence and in the beginnings of the apostolic work in Argentina and Uruguay.

Left to right: Don Ricardo, St. Josemaria, Bl. Alvaro

More about don Ricardo Fernandez Vallespin:

 http://turningthewaterwheel.blogspot.com.au/2015/05/may-14th-1933-don-ricardo-fernandez.html

May 28th, 1944: Opus Dei's first three sub-deacons

It was a Sunday, 8am. In the chapel of Diego de Leon (an Opus Dei center in Madrid) Bp. Marcelino Olaechea, then bishop of Pamplona, conferred the sub-diaconate to the first three (soon-to-be) priests.

The chapel was beautifully decorated with numerous red flowers. In order to increase the chapel's capacity, the doors of the chapel's foyer were open, as well as those of the sacristy. 

Attendees included Opus Dei members from Madrid and some residents of Moncloa (another center) of which many had been at Ferraz (one of the first centers). After the Mass, Bp. Marcelino Olaechea turned to the attendees and, leaning on his staff, addressed congratulatory comments to the three and to everybody: "This is truly God's Work (literally - This is truly the Work of God). He who is given more, more will be demanded of him: we have to respond with total self-giving". He then made reference to the contradiction that was going on in those years and finished with congratulating everybody again. At the end, Psalm 2 was sung.

St Josemaria went back to bed after the ceremony - he had been unwell from some days - and for this reason the evening get-together was in his bedroom. Everybody sat down on the floor, next to St. Josemaria's bed and he was very happy, despite his physical symptoms. Among other things, he said that special garments were needed for laypeople to help during solemn liturgical celebrations, given that some of the present had been helping out while the bishop was reading.

In the days that followed, there were several sung Masses so that the sub-deacons could exercise the received orders.

May 25th, 1947: St. Josemaria's appointment as Monsignor

May 24th is the date on the letter from Msgr. Montini, appointing St Josemaria as His Holiness’ domestic prelate. Bl. Alvaro had made the petition to the Holy See. 

Andres Vazquez de Prada makes mention of this in his well-known book as a way to explain how the founder was so serious about the secularity of Opus Dei:

"The case for secularity must have been very powerful in his eyes, since the year before it had even won out over his own humility in the matter of his appointment as a monsignor.

It all began when Don Alvaro, now the Procurator General of Opus Dei, after having consulted the other members of the General Council, requested that the founder be made a Domestic Prelate. Monsignor Montini readily picked up on the idea. The certificate of appointment was dated April 22,1947. Monsignor Montini, who had paid the fees involved in its issuance out of his own pocket, sent it with a handwritten note calling it "a new and solemn proof of the esteem and affection that the Holy Father has for the founder of Opus Dei".

The appointee was disinclined to accept this unsought and unwanted honor, and was on the verge of courteously returning the certificate, when Don Alvaro managed to dissuade him. For him to be called monsignor would make the secularity of Opus Dei more obvious, he pointed out, since religious-order priests did not receive that title." 

Andres Vazquez de Prada, "The Founder of Opus Dei"

May 24th, 1975: Consecration of the main altar at the shrine of Torreciudad

It was a Saturday, and st. Josemaria consecrated the altar. The following day, he went to Barbastro to receive the 'gold medal' of the city. The day after that, 26th, he returned to Saragossa. That was the last time he was at Torreciudad.

Want to learn more about the shrine? go to www.torreciudad.org

Today: Beatification of a friend

Although Bishop Oscar Romero was not a member of Opus Dei, he was a dear friend of the Work and, in his words, "I bless Opus Dei in our archdiocese with the affection of a pastor and friend. Yours very affectionately, + O. Romero Archbishop 25-III-79"

From www.firstthings.com:
Few know that Romero received spiritual direction from an Opus Dei priest and personally knew the future saint and Opus Dei founder Josemaria Escriva. When the latter died in 1975, he wrote a letter to Paul VI asking the Pope to jumpstart his canonization process, writing: “Monsignor Escriva . . . was able to unite in his life a continuous dialogue with Our Lord and a great humanity; one could tell he was a man of God, and his manner was full of sensitivity, kindness, and good humor.” 

In fact, on the day he was murdered, he had attended a day or recollection that Opus Dei organised regularly for priests. Read this interview with bishop Fernando Saenz, Msgr. Romero's successor as Archbishop of El Salvador and also priest member of Opus Dei:

http://opusdei.us/en-us/article/archbishop-romeros-last-day-on-earth/

Bihop Javier Echevarria, prelate of Opus Dei, issued a brief statement on the occasion: 

http://opusdei.us/en-us/article/archbishop-oscar-romero-is-going-to-be-a-deeply-beloved-saint/

And if you have a bit more time, read this interview by Opus Dei priest don Joaquin Alonso, from when he met Msgr. Romero in Rome: http://opusdei.org/en-us/article/archbishop-oscar-romero-was-a-man-of-god/

May 23rd, 1944: the three first exorcists / acolytes

On this day, "the first three" received the minor orders of exorcist and acolyte, from Bishop Leopoldo Eijo y Garay.

May 22nd, 1974: Catechesis throughout South America

On this date, St. Josemaria started his catechesis through Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Venezuela. He was in South America until August 31st.

In Ecuador, he had Altitude sickness (due to Quito's level above the sea) and he was unable to carry out the series of get-togethers they had planned. Only a few of them actually happened as St. Josemaria was quite unwell. In those days in Ecuador, he wouldn't even be able to celebrate Holy Mass, and he would attend that of blessed Alvaro.

May 21st, 1944: The first three "porters and readers"

On this date, Bl. Alvaro del Portillo, Don Jose Luis Muzquiz and don Jose Maria Hernandez Garnica received the minor orders* of porter and reader.

From a note by one of those present: "At twelve o'clock, in the episcopal chapel, the first three received the orders of porter and reader. On this occasion we had an extraordinary get-together at Diego de Leon (a center of Opus Dei in Madrid) which we prepared with so much affection, and which was intended to be a homage to the father and our brothers. There was poetry, music, jokes... joy was overflowing; youngsters and not-so-youngsters participated, and it lasted until seven. One of us read some notes that expressed everybody's sentiments. Among other things, it was said that we had celebrated in union with [doña Dolores] (St. Josemaria's mother) and with those who, from the other home (heaven), so much have helped us in this yearning, cherished for so long, to come true. Our father was very excited, and so was everyone else. Afterwards, our father gave us the blessing with the Most Holy Sacrament. The day became a bit grim, as our father was not feeling well and had to go to bed earlier than usual: his face was swollen due to a series of small abscesses and was very tired. Once more, it would be accomplished that wich we have so many times heard him say: that on days of special joy, our Lord would always offer him to participate more of his Cross".

*(Minor orders used to be: porter, reader, exorcist, acolyte).

May 20th, 1985: death of Eduardo Ortiz de Landazuri

For Eduardo's biography, see here: http://www.opusdei.org/en-us/article/biography-2/

May 20th, 1970 - A kiss to Our Lady of Guadalupe

May 20th, fifth day of the novena at "La Villa", Mexico. St. Josemaria was with Bl. Alvaro, don Javier (The current prelate), don Pedro Casciaro, Don Alberto and Adrian. St. Josemaria makes the promise to have the image of our Lady at the Sanctuary of Torreciudad (construction works hadn't even started then) and to go and give her a kiss personally - or in his absence, the oldest one of them who were with him in that very moment.

May 20th, 1944: The first three tonsures

On this date, Bishop Leopoldo Eijo y Garay conferred the tonsure to the first three (then soon to be) priests, blessed Alvaro, don Jose Maria Hernandez Garnica, and don Jose Luis Muzquiz. 

From notes of one of those present: "at 8 o'clock, in the episcopal chapel, which was presided by an image of Our Lady in a gothic altarpiece, took place the ceremony of the tonsure. While the bishop was cutting some hair locks in the shape of a cross he would say: 'Dominus pars hereditatis meae et calicis mei...' At the end of the ceremony, they were congratulated by the families, friends and classmates. Together with the other members of the Work, the chapel was packed."

The three priests have open causes of canonisation. Don Alvaro was beatified last September in Madrid.

 

May 18th, 1925: Last day of St. Josemaria's appointment at (the parish of) Perdiguera

St. Josemaria's first appointment after his ordination was at the parish of Perdiguera. He arrived there just under 2 months before, on March 31st, 1925 (He had been ordained 3 days before!).

The parish was in a village about 15 miles from Zaragoza. It was rather out of the way and in an area with poor roads. Its pastor, the only priest in the village, had been away for some time due to a serious illness.

This appointment was a heavy blow for the new priest, who had not expected an assignment away from his family, nor one announced so suddenly, since it was taken for granted in clerical circles that newly ordained priests would be sent to parishes where they could get pastoral experience under the eye of other priests -and Saragossa had no shortage of priests. But Father Josemaría obeyed promptly and without complaining, and on the very next day, Tuesday, March 31, he set out for his new post, in a mule-drawn carriage.

Church of the Assumption, Perdiguera

On May 18th, Saint Josemaría came to the end of his ministry in the parish of Perdiguera. Years later, he recalled: “I lodged in the home of a very good countryman. He had a son who took the goats out every morning, and I felt sorry for him, seeing him spend all day out there with the herd. I did my best to give him a few catechism lessons, so that he could make his First Holy Communion.

One day, to see how much he was learning, it occurred to me to ask him: “What would you like to do if you were rich, very rich?” “What does being rich mean?” he answered. “To be rich is to have a lot of money, to have a bank…” “And what is a bank?” I explained it in a simple way and continued: “To be rich is to have a lot of land, and instead of goats, very big cows. And to go to meetings, change suits three times a day… What would you do if you were rich?” His eyes opened wide, and then at last he said: “I would like to eat lots of bowls of soup and wine!” All our ambitions come down to that; nothing is worth while. Funnily enough I have never forgotten that story. It struck me and it made me think: “Josemaría, it is the Holy Spirit speaking.” The Wisdom of God did this to teach me that the things of the earth, all of them, come to that: very, very little.”

May 17th, 1992: Beatification of St. Josemaria

St. John Paul II beatified the founder on this date, in Rome. The cause of canonization was submitted on 19/2/981. Almost 6,000 postulation letters had reached the Holy See. The postulation, presented to the Congregation for the cause of the Saints 1,500 accounts of favours, chosen from more than 40 countries. 

Two processes were carried out: One in Rome and the other one in Madrid, in May 1981. 92 witnesses “de visu” were interrogated (more than 50% were not members of the Work) distributed in 980 sessions. Each one was asked 260 obligatory questions (thos was as per don Alvaro’s wish, as in many causes, not even a third part is asked). Among the summoned witnesses were even some people who knew st. Josemaria and that were totally against the beatification of our father. Everything they wanted to say and all their opinions against the founder were heard. The tribunal (no member of it belonged to Opus Dei) dismissed all those opinions, considering that none of these contributed in any as faithful proof of what they affirmed, and at the same time, declaring that all objections presented by those people had been totally resolved. 

The witness declarations add up to 11,000 pages written in single-space paragraphs. Also, all writings of the founder were handed in: 13,000 pages in 71 volumes to be reviewed by censor theologians. One of them said: “Escriva possesses the strength of the classics: the temper of a ‘Father of the Church’.”. Gathering the unanimous feeling of the Cardinals and Bishops that formed the work commission of the founder's cause, Saint John Paul II promulgated on April 9th, 1990 the decree of heroic virtues. On July 6th, 1991 the miracle attributed to st. Josemaria was read (also, a volume of more than 1,200 pages with the documentation of another 20 healings attributed to st. Josemaria was handed in. In the postulation there were also 75,000 signed submissions of favours attributed to him, from all around the world). 

When the founder died, during those hours that the members of the Work kept vigil of st. Josemaria’s remains in Saint Mary of Peace, don Alvaro had asked God that He let him live until St. Josemaria was raised to the altars. The date the the Pope had chosen for the beatification -among those proposed to him- was made public on September 25th, 1991.

May 16th, 1970: St Josemaría celebrates Mass in Mexico for the firsttime, and first day of the novena

On this date, St. Josemaria celebrated Holy Mass for the first time in Mexico in the Chapel of the regional commission, and started a Novena in la Villa (until the 24th). 

Once in “La Villa”, he entered through the door that leads to the presbytery, and as soon as sighting the image of Our Lady, he fell on his knees “on the marble floor, with nothing to recline on, straight”, without moving, almost for two hours, praying with much piety, until don Pedro Casciaro had to approach him to tell him that there were many people, members of the work, and that he was drawing attention. Don Alvaro mentioned at some later time , answering a question about what st. Josemaria had told Our Lady in that occasion: “The first day, he knelt in the presbytery, and remained immobile, looking constantly at Our Lady’s image; what he said, only God knows and Our Lady. And if I know it is because he said it to me in our private conversation, and therefore I must not tell you...”. 

In another get-together, don Alvaro said: “It is evident that something happened during our father’s Novena. The first day, an hour and a half kneeling and without blinking. Don’t think of extraordinary things, but something happened...”. During his Novena, even though those in the commission had planned to take turns to accompany our father, due to his request every day he was escorted by don Pedro, Dr. Pacheco and Adrian Galvan. 

In a get-together in Rome on the 28th of March 1995, don Alvaro would remember the Novena at La Villa: “[St. Josemaria] went to Guadalupe to lay before our lady the thorns he saw tangled around the Church... thorns that had many manifestations: In the liturgy, in discipline, in piety, in devotion, in family life... and he asked [our Lady] to take those thorns before our Lord, because with His grace they would turn into roses. How much did our father feel a son of the Church, that anything that would hurt her made him suffer a lot”. 

In a letter of May 1st, 1995 don Alvaro wrote: “I would dare to assure -I heard it from him on several occasions- that Our Lady made him carry out that pilgrimage of penance, wishing that there, at the feet of that beautiful image, he would ask for her intercession in favour of the world, of the Church, and of this small portion of the Church that is Opus Dei. He went to Guadalupe to pray for the Pope, for the Bishops, for the Priests, for all the faithful. In this context of universal prayer, open to all needs of men, he prayed with perseverance for Opus Dei: That the Lord, in his infinite Goodness and Power, protect his Work and keep upright and intact -also through the juridical sanction from the ecclesiastical authority’s side- the spirit, nature and apostolic means proper of Opus Dei”.

May 15th, 1970: st Josemaria's trip to Mexico

St Josemaría arrives in Mexico at 3am. He is received by don Pedro Casciaro, Dr. Pacheco and Jose Ines Peiro (who didn’t recognize the father [don Javier] as he was wearing a suit and tie. He then asked him to leave, until don Javier clarified who he was!). St. Josemaria asked whether it was possible to go to La Villa (de Guadalupe) at that very moment, but they explained him that at that time it was closed.

The following day, not even allowing himself to get used to the time change, they went early to La Villa and started the novena which continued until the 24th. On the first day, he remained kneeling for almost one and a half hours. The following days, he was able to use a side platform from where he could pray closely but without being noticed.

On the last day, Sunday 24th, after greeting the Most Holy Sacrament in the Tabernacle, he went again to pray to our Lady, resuming his "get-togethers" as he used to call his conversations with the Most Holy Virgin. Finally, they prayed the rosary, offering the 5 mysteries for Europe, Asia, Africa, America and Oceania, respectively.

Read more ; why did St. Josemaria want to go to Mexico?:

 http://turningthewaterwheel.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/may-1st-1970-st-josemaria-going-to.html

May 14th, 1933: Don Ricardo Fernandez Vallespin meets St. Josemaria for the first time

Don Ricardo Fernández Vallespín was 22 years old. He was studying architecture, at that time in his last year. He was an outstanding student. He was also giving classes to help with the difficult financial situation his family was going through.

On May 14th, 1933, he was with Pepe Romeo. While he was teaching, suddenly the door opened and St. Josemaria came in. The lesson was briefly interrupted and he was introduced to this priest who was a friend of the Romeo family. Don Ricardo was Immediately attracted to the priest's good humor and manners. He wrote on his diary: "Today I've met a priest, young and enthusiastic, whom I don't know why but I feel will have a great influence in my life".

Two weeks later, he would meet again with St. Josemaria and his life take a total shift. St. Josemaria spoke to him about interior life, and encouraged him to be a better man, to come closer to Christ's love. St. Josemaria grabbed a book - The Holy Passion, by Father Luis de la Palma - and writes on it:

+ Madrid 29-V-33
Que busques a Cristo Que encuentres a Cristo Que ames a Cristo.

("May you look for Christ, may you find Christ, may you love Christ").
This is now point 382 of The Way: http://www.escrivaworks.org/book/the_way-point-382.htm

MAY PILGRIMAGES

In September, don Ricardo had the ambition of finishing his career, get a job and start earning money asap. Unfortunately, just before his exams, he starts suffering from rheumatism. The doctors advise total rest and an intensive treatment to avoid complications. He had only one month to finish his last assignment, a building project. 

He remembered an excursion he made to our Lady of Sonsoles in the summer. He promised our Lady that he will walk from Madrid to pray again before her, if she grants him the cure on time to deliver his assignment. The illness was cured and he finished -with great effort- the course 1933-34. He was one of the youngest architects in Spain.

The following November, he went to see St. Josemaria who spoke to him about the Work - about giving himself fully to God, in the normal duties of his life, in the carrying out of his professional work, in the street, among his peers. Whilst listening to him, without prior contemplation of a life dedicated completely to God, he answered "I want to be that".

Ricardo kept putting the pilgrimage off but one day he mentioned it to St. Josemaria. They decided to go together and set the date: May 2nd (1935). See more: 

https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=47564179222618709#editor/target=post;postID=8203903574670899706;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=7;src=postname

Don Ricardo joined Opus Dei in 1933. He worked closely with St. Josemaria in the setup of the DYA Academy. He worked as an architect in Madrid until 1949 when he was ordained a priest. In 1950, St. Josemaria asked him to go to Argentina and Uruguay to start the apostolic work in those countries. From 1962 on he remained in Madrid and died on the 28th of July, 1988.

May 14th, 1951: Consecration to the Holy Family

On this date, St. Josemaria consecrated the families of all members of the Work to the Holy Family. This was in the Chapel of the Holy Family in Villa Tevere, which at that time was still in construction.

For more detail and to know why St. Josemaria chose to do so: 

http://www.josemariaescriva.info/article/josemaria-escriva-opus-dei-consecration-to-the-holy-family

May 13th, Our Lady of Fatima: St. Josemaria and Sister Lucia of Fatima

When St. Josemaría visited the ‘Capelinha de Fátima’ for the first time, the sanctuary was still under construction. He hadn’t yet been to greet Msgr. López Ortiz (at that time bishop of Tuy) who was a good friend of his. When the bishop told him he could meet Sr. Lucía, who back then was living in that city, st. Josemaría answered he would certainly love to. That encounter had a big impact in the expansion of the Work. st. Josemaría had planned to start in France, but understood, at Sr. Lucía’s request, that Opus Dei had to go first to Portugal. It was Sr. Lucía herself who resolved the immigration issue - st. Josemaría would recall on one occasion: 

“I was in a Galician city and Sr. Lucía, one of the seers of Fátima, came to see me. I was somewhat distant with her, as I knew she was a very holy person. She wasn’t bothered by that - moerover, she came back to tell me that Opus Dei had to go to Portugal. I answered that we didn’t have a passport, but she said: “I will take care of that immediately”. She called Lisbon and got a document for us to cross the border. We didn’t speak at all of Our Lady’s apparitions, never have I. Every time I see her, I remind her that she owns a big part of the beginnings of the Work in Portugal”.

St. Josemaria praying on the esplanade at Fatima

In that first encounter with Sr. Lucía, st. Josemaría, quite directly told her: “Sister Lucía, if you, who received so many graces from God, like me, who also receive so many graces from God, are not faithful, what a problem! We could not make it to heaven!” and Sr. Lucía answered “I have thought of that as well, many times”. St. Josemaría returned to Fátima twice more that year, in June and September. On February 5th, 1946 the first ones arrived in Coimbra to stay. There is where the first tabernacle was set.

May 12th, 2016: Feast day of Blessed Alvaro del Portillo

Don Alvaro's beatification was on September 27th, 2014. More than 200,000 people from around the world assisted the ceremonies. The date chosen for his memorial day is the same date of his first Communion. It is also the anniversary of the solemn opening of St. Josemaría’s cause of canonization.

May 12, 1981: Solemn opening in Rome of st. Josemaría’s process of Canonization

May 7th, 1955: St. Josemaria arrives in Vienna for the first time

St Josemaria commented that “Vienna is the only capital city where I have seen a monument to the Most Holy Trinity”. Don Alvaro found it in one of his walks. On the base of one of its columns, st Josemaria read an inscription addressed to the Three Divine Persons, and decided to write the same phrase on the altarpiece of the father’s chapel in Villa Tevere, which is dedicated to the Most Holy Trinity: "In the Chapel where I celebrate the Mass regularly, there is a sign that says: Deo Patri Creatori, Deo Filio Redemptori, Deo Spiritui Sancto Sanctificatori. I saw it in Vienna, in a square, and I was there contemplating God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.” St Josemaria and don Alvaro returned to Rome on the 12th of May.

May 2nd, 1986: Dedication of the prelatic Church, our Lady of Peace

02-05-1986: Solemn dedication of the prelatic Church Our Lady of Peace in Villa Tevere, by Bl. Alvaro. St. John Paul II, through the Apostolic Constitution Ut Sit (28/11/1982), raised the oratory of Our Lady of Peace to Prelatic Church of the Prelature. The solemn dedication was done until all the construction works for the chapel of the Blessed Sacrament were concluded. The document of the dedication of the Church, signed by don Alvaro, says, among other things: “While I was carrying out the dedication, I prayed to God with fervor, that this Church, entrusted by John Paul II to me and to my successors, because in its crypt is buried our most beloved father and founder, to be always the centre towards which the hearts of my sons and daughters converge...”. St Josemaria had considered that, when the juridical solution were to arrive, the Prelate of Opus Dei would need a Church of his own -according to canon law-, and had built the chapel of the Holy Cross in Cabavianca with that purpose: “If God wills [the juridical solution], [the chapel] will be very important in the history of the Work. However, don Alvaro, in agreement with the Pope, wanted that the prelatic Church to be Santa Maria de la Paz (Our Lady of Peace), because in the crypt is where our father is buried.

May 2nd, 1935: today, 80th anniversary of the first pilgrimage

St Josemaria makes the first Pilgrimage to Sonsoles, in Avila, with D. Ricardo Fernández Vallespín and D. José María Albareda. There he wrote “I saw the May pilgrimage as a custom that should be acquired -that has been acquired- in the Work”. “There in Avila, a Marian custom was born, that will be implanted forever in the Work (Ap. Int. 1270). As a reminder of that pilgrimage, st Josemaria saved in a small box a handful of wheat spikes they picked.

Why the pilgrimage? Read more here www.josemariaescriva.info/article/opus-dei-founder-st-josemaria-escriva-sonsoles-may-1935-why-the-pilgrimage