Josemaría Escrivá
Saint Josemaría Escrivá | |
|---|---|
| Priest and Saint of Ordinary Life | |
| Born | Jose María Mariano Escribá y Albás 9 January 1902 Barbastro, Spain |
| Died | 26 June 1975 (aged 73) Rome, Italy |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church, Palmarian Church |
| Beatified | 17 May 1992, Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City by Pope John Paul II |
| Canonized | 6 October 2002, Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City by Pope John Paul II |
| Major shrine | Our Lady of Peace, Prelatic Church of Opus Dei, Rome, Italy |
| Feast | 26 June |
| Attributes | Priest attire Rosary |
| Patronage | Opus Dei People with diabetes |
Coat of arms of Saint Josemaria Escrivá | |
Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer y Albás (9 January 1902 – 26 June 1975) was a Spanish Catholic priest who founded Opus Dei, an organization of laypeople and priests dedicated to the principle of everyday holiness.[1] He was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2002.
Escrivá studied for the priesthood in Logroño and Zaragoza and was ordained in the latter in 1925. He then moved to Madrid, where he pursued doctoral studies in civil law at the Central University. After the start of the Spanish Civil War in 1936, Escrivá fled from Madrid, via Andorra and France, to the city of Burgos, which at the time served as the headquarters of the rebel Nationalist forces under General Francisco Franco. After the military triumph of the Nationalists, Escrivá returned to Madrid and completed his doctorate in 1939. His principal work was the initiation, government and expansion of Opus Dei. His best-known publication is The Way, which has been translated into 43 languages and has sold several million copies. Escrivá settled in Rome in 1946. In 1955 he received a doctorate in theology from the Lateran University.
Escrivá and Opus Dei have attracted attention and controversy within the Catholic Church and in the worldwide press, including allegations of secrecy, elitism, cult-like practices, collaboration with the dictatorship of General Franco in Spain (1936–1975) and other right-wing political causes, as well as financial malfeasance.[2][3][4][5] After his death, Escrivá's beatification and canonization also generated considerable comment and contention.[6] Several former members of Opus Dei and associates of Escrivá have publicly questioned his personal character and holiness.[7][8][9]
Sources close to Opus Dei, and some independent journalists such as the Vatican analyst John L. Allen Jr., have argued that many of those accusations are unproven and originate with Escrivá's personal enemies.[10][11][12] John Paul II and other Catholic leaders have endorsed Escrivá's teachings on the universal call to holiness, the role of the laity, and the sanctifying effect of ordinary work.[13] According to Allen, among Catholics, Escrivá is "reviled by some and venerated by millions more".[14]
- ^ "Opus Dei - Sanctifying Ordinary Life". Opus Dei. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
- ^ Estruch 1995
- ^ Walsh 2004
- ^ Tapia 2006
- ^ Gore 2024
- ^ Woodward 1996, pp. 384–387
- ^ Woodward, Kenneth L. (13 January 1992). "A Questionable Saint". Newsweek. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
- ^ Fisac, Miguel (1992). "Nunca le oí hablar bien de nadie". Escrivá de Balaguer - ¿Mito o Santo? (in Spanish). Madrid: Libertarias Prodhufi. pp. 55–67. ISBN 84-7954-063-X. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
- ^ Tapia 2006, pp. 301–316
- ^ Maggy Whitehouse (2006), Opus Dei: The Truth Behind the Myth, Hermes House
- ^ Noam Friedlander (8 October 2005). "What Is Opus Dei? Tales of God, Blood, Money and Faith". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 10 March 2007. Retrieved 10 February 2008.
- ^ Patrice de Plunkett. "Entretien avec l'auteur de L'Opus Dei – Enquête sur le "monstre"". Zenit News Agency. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 20 June 2007.
- ^ "Papal statements on Opus Dei". Opus Dei Official Site. 2 March 2006. Retrieved 27 November 2006.
- ^ Allen 2005