On April 24, 2025, José Luis Illanes Maestre, priest and theologian, passed away in Pamplona at the age of 91. He was professor emeritus at the University of Navarra and a key figure in promoting historical studies on Saint Josemaría Escrivá and Opus Dei. His life was marked by an intense dedication to contemporary Christian thought, both academically and pastorally.
José Luis Illanes was born in Seville on December 26, 1933, into a Christian family. He began studying Law at the University of Seville, following his father’s professional tradition. In 1955 he asked for admission to Opus Dei, a decision that represented a turning point in his life. As he himself recalled, he found in the spirit of Opus Dei a harmonious synthesis between Christian faith and professional life.
In 1956 he moved to Rome, where he obtained both a licentiate and a doctorate in Theology at the Pontifical Lateran University. His dissertation, focused on the thought of Jacques Maritain, reflected his lasting interest in Christian humanism. He was ordained a priest in 1960 and began teaching at the Roman College of the Holy Cross, specializing in Fundamental and Dogmatic Theology.
During the years of the Second Vatican Council, which he followed closely, Illanes perceived in its teachings a consolidation of a theology closely connected to the life of the Church. This insight marked all his work, aimed at integrating faith and ordinary life. In 1966 he participated in the Vatican II Theology Congress, engaging in dialogue with prominent contemporary theologians.
In 1970 he joined the Faculty of Theology at the University of Navarra, where he developed a fruitful teaching activity for more than three decades. He served as dean of the faculty from 1980 to 1992, a period in which he consolidated a rigorous, approachable, and deeply ecclesial style of work. He authored nearly 400 publications on fundamental theology, spiritual theology, and Christian life, with special emphasis on topics such as the sanctification of work and the mission of the laity in the world.
Among his best-known books are La santificación del trabajo and Cristo, esperanza del mundo. His students remember his personal dedication, his ability to engage in dialogue, and his encouragement to open new formative horizons.
He was a member of the Presbyteral Council of the Archdiocese of Pamplona, collaborated with commissions of the Spanish Episcopal Conference and the Vatican, and gave courses and lectures throughout Europe and Latin America.
Promoter of the CEJE and the Istituto Storico San Josemaría
A central dimension of José Luis Illanes’s life was his dedication to the study of the figure and message of Saint Josemaría Escrivá and the charism of Opus Dei. In 1995, he promoted the creation of the Centro de Estudios Josemaría Escrivá (CEJE) in Pamplona, aimed at fostering scholarly research on Opus Dei, its founder, and its members.
Those who worked with him highlight his ability to listen, his quickness in organizing projects, his skill in bringing together diverse talents, and his constant good humor. At the CEJE he created a relaxed working environment, leading to multiple research projects and fruitful international collaborations.
As a result of this experience, in 2001 he proposed to the Prelate of Opus Dei, Javier Echevarría, the creation of the Istituto Storico San Josemaría Escrivá (ISJE), which was established that same year in Rome. On this occasion, he returned to Rome to direct the Institute and consolidate its activities. From the ISJE he promoted numerous research projects and publications aimed at deepening the historical knowledge of Opus Dei and its founder.
One of the main fruits of this stage was the creation of a journal to give structure to the Institute’s work: Studia et Documenta, designed as a leading academic space for historical research on Opus Dei. Under his leadership —he directed it until 2012— the journal gathered contributions from specialists across various disciplines, strengthening scientific rigor in the study of the recent history of the Church.
Illanes remained in Rome until 2017, when he returned to Pamplona, where he continued collaborating in academic initiatives until shortly before his death.
A Legacy of Faith and Thought
Throughout his life, José Luis Illanes not only reflected and wrote extensively on the Christian vocation in the midst of the world: he also lived it deeply, with discretion and perseverance. His ability to unite faith, reason, and ordinary life left an indelible mark on his students, colleagues, and collaborators.
