Saint of the Day: JOSEMARÍA ESCRIVÁ DE BALAGUER, FOUNDER OF OPUS DEI



Highlights Of His Life

January 9, 1902. Born to José Escrivá and María Dolores Albás, in Barbastro, Spain, the second of six children.

January 13, 1902. Josemaría was baptized.

1910-1913. His three younger sisters died, a year later his family suffered financial ruin, and in 1915 the Escrivás moved to Logroño, where their father found work.

Winter 1917-18. After seeing footprints in the snow left by a discalced (shoeless) Carmelite, Josemaría decided to become a priest.

1924. His father died leaving him to support his family while studying.

March 28, 1925. Ordained to the priesthood in Saragossa.

April 1927. Moved to Madrid to study for his doctorate in civil law.

October 2, 1928. On retreat in Madrid, he "saw" the mission entrusted to him—to open a new path to holiness through sanctification of work in the midst of the world. This was the beginning of Opus Dei.

February 14, 1930. He opened Opus Dei to women.

1934. The first edition of The Way was published.

1936-39. He was forced into hiding by religious persecution during Spanish Civil War.

February 14, 1943. He founded the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross, which he united to Opus Dei.

1946. Moved to Rome. Obtained doctorate in theology from Lateran University.

1948. Married men and women admitted to full membership in Opus Dei.

June 16, 1950. Opus Dei was approved by the Holy See. (It was erected to a personal Prelature 28 November 1982, after his death.)

June 26, 1975. Josemaría yielded up his soul to God. His body was laid to rest in the Church of Our Lady of Peace at Viale Bruno Buozzi 75, Rome.

February 19, 1981. Introduction of the Cause for Canonization of Josemaría Escrivá.

April 9, 1990. Decree on the Heroic Virtues of the Servant of God Josemaría Escrivá approved by Pope John Paul, thereby declaring him Venerable.

July 6, 1991. Pope John Paul affirmed by decree the miraculous nature of a cure attributed to the intercession of the Venerable Servant of God Josemaría Escrivá.

May 17, 1992. Pope John Paul II beatified the Venerable Servant of God, declaring him Blessed Josemaría.

December 20, 2001. A second miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Josemaría affirmed by decree.

October 6, 2002. Josemaría Escrivá is canonized and declared a Saint.

His complete biography via the Vatican can be found here. His website also provides a wealth of biographical information.
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