Opus Dei
Opus Dei is a personal prelature of the Catholic Church. It was founded in Madrid on October 2, 1928 by Saint Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer. Its mission is to spread the message of the universal call to holiness and apostolate in the world. Namely, that all Christians are called to live as children of God in ordinary life, turning their work and the ordinary circumstances of their life into occasions for growing closer to God, for serving others and for apostolate.
At the same time as Opus Dei urges its faithful to practice an intense life of prayer, it offers them appropriate means of Christian and spiritual formation (classes, retreats, priestly care etc.). The faithful are also encouraged to commit themselves to helping their contemporaries in the renewal and improvement of culture, civilization and the social realities, invigorating them with the love and truth that Christ brought to the earth.
At present, the faithful of the Prelature number more than 85,000 in the five continents. The headquarters is in Rome (Viale Bruno Buozzi 75). The prelatic church, Our Lady of Peace, is also to be found in Rome.
Further information may be obtained at www.opusdei.org.
1928-1946 | 1946-1975 | 1975-Today | Expansion of Opus Dei
1975. 7 July: Inauguration of the new shrine of Our Lady of Torreciudad in Huesca, Spain.
15 September: Alvaro del Portillo was elected to succeed the founder at a congress of Opus Dei members called for that purpose, as required by canon law.
1982. 28 November: John Paul II established Opus Dei as a personal prelature, a juridical structure more accurately reflecting Opus Dei’s theological and pastoral nature, and appointed Mgr. Álvaro del Portillo as prelate.
1983. 19 March: Formal execution of the apostolic constitution establishing Opus Dei as a personal prelature.
1985. Inauguration of the Roman Academic Centre of the Holy Cross, which in 1998 would become the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross.
1991. 6 January: John Paul II ordained Mgr. Álvaro del Portillo as bishop.
1992. 17 May: Beatification of Josemaría Escrivá in St. Peter’s Square in Rome.
1994. 23 March: Death of Bishop Alvaro del Portillo in Rome just hours after his return from a trip to the Holy Land.
1994. 20 April: Mgr. Javier Echevarría was appointed as prelate of Opus Dei by John Paul II, confirming the election carried out by the general elective congress held in Rome.
1995. 6 January: Mgr. Javier Echevarría was ordained bishop by John Paul II.
2002. 6 October: St. Josemaría's Canonization. St. Peter's Square. Rome.
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