Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) - Sunday 26 June is the 30th anniversary of the death of the founder of Opus Dei, Josemaria Escrivà, born in Barbastro (Spain) 9 January 1902 and died in Rome on 26 June 1975, canonised 6 October 2002. Today the Opus Dei Prelature is present in 61 countries with 84,000 members and 1,900 priests. Solemn masses will be celebrated in all these countries for the anniversary. In Rome. Mgr. Javier Echevarría Prelate of Opus Dei will celebrate Mass in memoria of Saint Josemaría a Roma on Saturday June 25 at 11am in the church of St. Eugenio.
For the occasion Leonardo International publishers has completed the publication of St Josemaria’s Biography “El Fundador del Opus Dei” in three volumes (2,219 pages) by historian Andrés Vazquez de Prada. Information on the activities of the Personal Prelature of Opus Dei can be seen at the web site www.opusdei.org in fifty languages. See also www.josemariaescriva.info and www.escrivaworks.org, www.romana.org.
St Josemaría’s most well known book “Camino” has been printed in 4,500,000 copies in 43 different languages. As St Josemaría once said: “The essential character of the spirit of Opus Dei is that it does not take anyone from their place; indeed it asks each to fulfil the tasks and duties proper to his or her state of life, mission in the Church and in civil society with the maximum of perfection possible”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 21/6/2005 - Righe 18; Parole 240)
