María Iraburu: "Professor Javier Hervada's life is a source of inspiration".

"Javier Hervada's life is a source of inspiration for those of us who now work at the University of Navarra. Each one of us is called to be, in some way, a teacher". With these words, María Iraburu, president of the University, concluded the In Memoriam Ceremony of Professor Javier Hervada, held a few days before the second anniversary of his death, in March 2020. Full Professor of Canon Law and Dean of the School of Law between 1973-1984, Javier Hervada is considered one of the most prestigious jurists of the 20th century. 

In her words, María Iraburu highlighted some characteristics of Professor Hervada's academic work: he made "his own intellectual contribution", he knew how to share "with students and colleagues", and he worked "with a vision of the whole, with the healthy ambition born of knowing that he was part of the great common project which is the University of Navarra".

The event, organised by Schools of Law and Canon Law, was also attended by professors Carlos José Errázuriz, from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross (Rome), Javier Escrivá, from the University of Valencia, and professors Caridad Velarde and Juan Fornés, from the University of Navarra.

Professor Errázuriz focused his message on the profile canonist Javier Hervada, of whom he said he was "one of the most fruitful specialists of the 20th century" and of whom he highlighted "his great appreciation for the canonical tradition and his eagerness for renewal". He said that Professor Hervada was a disciple and friend of Professor Pedro Lombardía, and affirmed that "for Javier the rights of the faithful and those inherent to marriage were fundamental". He also described his work as "so profound that his figure will become a true classic". 

In his presentation, Professor Escrivá emphasised the scientific work of Professor Hervada. For him, he was above all "a faithful Christian and a firm jurist". He recalled that another grade that characterises his work is his ability to reconcile the classics with the present. And he wished to highlight especially "the clarity of exposition of his works", as well as his "know-how and knowledge of teaching".

A teacher of jurists who dedicated his life to the university

Caridad Velarde, lecturer at School de Derecho, highlighted Hervada's contribution to the Philosophy of Law and Natural Law. "Hervada was above all a teacher of jurists and influenced all the people who have passed through the classrooms of School de Derecho," she said. Velarde referred to Professor Hervada as a man of gratitude and integrity "in the sense of the coherence of his work", he specified. "The virtues of his research can be transferred to his person: he was a man of impressive precision and reasoned with spectacular clarity. A precision that is not a minor matter, but is typical of Hervada's character as a jurist". 

For his part, Professor Juan Fornés spoke about the work of Javier Hervada at the University of Navarra. "He was a great jurist who always knew how to cultivate and live the art of the good and the just, also through his work," he said. Fornés recalled Hervada's years of government as Dean of the School Law School, his collegiality in decision-making and his interest in new research and teaching projects. "He was always very clear that people come first, hence his attitude of gratitude to everyone and his willingness and submission to each and every student," he recalled. With the words that Hervada himself said on receiving the Cross of Honour of San Raimundo de Peñafort in 1998, Juan Fornés summed up the professor's spirit of service: "The University has been the life of my life, to which I have given my best professional efforts and the best of my heart".