The Istituto Storico San Josemaría Escrivá has just published vol. 20 (2026) of the journal Studia et Documenta. This new issue focuses on an extensive monographic dossier entitled University Residences and Opus Dei (1939–1962), which examines the development of these educational initiatives in the immediate Spanish post-war period and in the early years of the institution’s international expansion.
The volume opens with an In memoriam dedicated to José Luis Illanes Maestre (1933–2025), the first director of the Institute and of the journal itself. The article, written by Carlo Pioppi, traces his intellectual and academic career, his decisive contribution to historical studies on Josemaría Escrivá, and his role in the creation and consolidation of the Historical Institute and Studia et Documenta.
The monographic section, coordinated by Onésimo Díaz, brings together six studies that analyse the origin, development, and legal and cultural context of various university residences promoted by members of Opus Dei between 1939 and 1962.
Carlos Veci Lavín and Manuel Martínez Neira examine the transition “from residence to college hall” that took place in post-war Spain, situating these initiatives within the framework of state interventionism and debates on so-called educational “statism.” Manuel Tarrío Rovira analyses the move from the residences on Ferraz and Jenner streets to La Moncloa, the first apostolic initiative promoted by Opus Dei. Enrique Gudín de la Lama addresses the history of La Estila in Santiago de Compostela, from its beginnings to its consolidation as a college hall. Mercedes Montero studies the trajectory of the women’s college hall Zurbarán during the 1950s, considering both daily life and legal changes.
The monograph is further expanded by a study by Flavia De Lucia on the beginnings of the Residenza Universitaria Internazionale (RUI) in Rome, and by a contribution from Federico M. Requena on Randall House, a residence at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, which makes it possible to analyse the inculturation of these initiatives in a United States university context.
The section Studies and Notes includes four contributions. Carlos Sotz examines the context of evangelisation in Kenya and the beginnings of Strathmore College. Alfredo Méndiz offers a microhistory of the Via Ticino centre in Rome (1952–1962). Beatriz Comella analyses the situation of women in Spain between 1930 and 1946 as a framework for understanding the beginnings of the women’s section of Opus Dei. Fidel Sebastián Mediavilla, for his part, presents the background to his recent critical edition of The Way.
In the Documents section, two documents of particular interest are published. The Instruction by Saint Josemaría Escrivá on the supernatural spirit of the Work, from 1934, offers key insights for understanding its origins and mission. The edition has been prepared by Pedro Rodríguez, Constantino Ánchel, and Luis Cano. The second document is an autobiographical account by Luigi Tirelli (1971), edited by Flavia De Lucia.
The News section includes an interview conducted by Alfredo Méndiz with Francesc Castells, director of the General Archive of the Prelature of Opus Dei, on the forthcoming opening of the archive on the occasion of the centenary of Opus Dei, as well as some recollections by Constantino Ánchel on the origin and development of the so-called “Historical Office.”
The volume concludes with the Bibliographical Section, which includes reviews and notices of recent publications, as well as a bibliographical list on Opus Dei and on life paths and apostolic initiatives related to it, covering the period 2018–2021.
With this twentieth volume, Studia et Documenta consolidates two decades of uninterrupted publication, offering new sources and studies that enrich historical knowledge about Opus Dei and its founder, and contribute to the analysis of the contemporary history of the Church.
