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: 

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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.