27/11/82: Saturday. On this date, it was made public the announcement to raise Opus Dei as a Personal Prelature, through the Apostolic Constitution Ut sit.
All Opus Dei centres around the world opened an envelope simultaneously, at 12:00am Rome time. In it there was a note from blessed Alvaro (then Prelate) communicating the news. Just like St. Josemaria did when he received the first approval from the bishop of Madrid, don Alvaro also gathered everyone in the house and prayed the Preces together, repeating three times "Oremus pro beatissimo Papa nostro Ioanne Paulo...". There was a triduum with solemn Mass, Benediction and Te Deum in every centre. Don Alvaro also asked that for the remaining of 1982 and all 1983, everyone should offer the Mass, Communion, Rosary, work and mortification as thanksgiving. Also that every member of the Work should do 3 pilgrimages to a Marian shrine: the first one when receiving the news, another one during bl. Alvaro's stay in Mexico, the third one at another time chosen by each. He also asked for everyone to write a letter or telegram to Bl. John Paul II thanking him.
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