Beatification and legalisation

Numerous favours and healings are obtained through Josemaría Escrivá's intercession. Thousands of people of varying backgrounds (of which more than a third of the episcopal world) asked the Holy See to open the process of his beatification and canonisation.

The gathered testimonies highlight Josemaría's cordiality, his love of God, his piety, his care towards other souls, and his exemplary observance of both theological and human virtues, such as sincerity, loyalty, diligence at work, temperance, etc.

Paul VI once said that he considered the founder of the Opus Dei - with whom he had been well acquainted since 1946 - as someone who had been blessed with some of "the more divine graces - charismas - and who used them with the most generosity." After an exhaustive examination of the life and work of Josemaría Escrivá, and the attribution of a miracle to him, John-Paul II beatified him on the 17th of May 1992 on Saint Peter's Square, before an audience of 300,000 people. 

After a second miracle was attributed to Josemaría , his canonisation was officiated by John-Paul II at the same location, on October 6, 2002. The body of the saint rests in the headquarters of Opus Dei, the Santa Maria delle Pace prelatic Church, 73 viale Burno Buozzi, Rome. 

The Opus Dei today

In 1982 Opus Dei was designed by John-Paul II as a personal prelature (an ecclesiastic institution of people presided and governed by a "prelate", a bishop or other appointed by the Pope). Its members still belong to local Churches or dioceses near their homes. They only receive from the Opus Dei spiritual support and encouragement to specific apostolates, such as missions to spread the message of holiness in the ordinary life.

This apostolate is not "specialised" in specific social backgrounds or "devoted" to particular tasks, but its effect is to encourage everywhere Catholics to contribute to the resolution of society's problems and to manifest their faith. Some members have created professional training schools, middle and high schools, universities, halls of residence, health centres and hospitals, etc. The prelature of the Opus Dei generally takes in charge the spiritual training offered in this institutions.

Today, the charity counts 90,000 members, men and women, of which 2,015 diocesan priests, settled in 38 countries. Cooperators, who are not members of the prelature, support the apostolic initiatives by praying and helping financially or by other means. Moreover, almost 2,000 diocesan priests belong to priest societies deeply linked to the Opus Dei, the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross.

The Church celebrates Saint Josemaría Escrivá's feast day on the 26th of June, the day of his death.

Texts from Saint Josemaría Escrivá

The matrimonial life, "an occasion for God's presence on earth" (n. 22-23)

For Josemaría, who supported many couples and prepared young people for matrimonial life, marriage is truly a calling, an authentic path of holiness.

22. When I think of Christian homes, I like to imagine them as being full of the light and joy that were in the home of the holy family. The message of Christmas is heard in all its forcefulness: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will." "And may the peace of Christ triumph in your hearts," writes the Apostle. It is a peace that comes from knowing that our Father God loves us, and that we are made one with Christ. It results from being under the protection of the Virgin, our Lady, and assisted by St Joseph. This is the great light that illuminates our lives. In the midsts of difficulties and of our own personal failings, it encourages us to keep up our effort. Every Christian home should be a place of peace and serenity. In spite of the small frustrations of daily life, an atmosphere of profound and sincere affection should reign there together with a deep-rooted calm, which is the result of authentic faith that is put into practice.

23. For a Christian marriage is not just a social institution , much less a mere remedy for human weakness. It is a real supernatural calling. A great sacrament, in Christ and in the Church, says St. Paul. At the same time,  it is a permanent contract between a man and a woman. Whether we like it or not, the sacrament of matrimony, instituted by Christ, cannot be dissolved. It is a permanent contract that sanctifies in cooperation with Jesus Christ. He fills the souls of husband and wife and invites them to follow him. He transforms their whole married life into an occasion for God's presence on earth."