Massive celebration on the feast of St. Josemaría Escrivá, founder of the university

Hundreds of people attended the Mass on the feast of St. Josemaría Escrivá, founder of Opus Dei and of the University of Navarra, which was celebrated at sports center of the university campus . 

The vicar of the delegation of Opus Dei in Pamplona, Carlos García del Barrio, presided at the Eucharistic celebration and highlighted three important themes of the Christian life, "also central aspects of the spirit of Opus Dei": divine filiation (knowing oneself to be a child of God), the work and apostolate. "God has lovingly placed us on this earth, good in its origin, so that through work we can lovingly complete the work of creation.

The priest stressed the sanctifying value of work and encouraged those present to develop it with enthusiasm and a spirit of service to others, as St. Josemaría urged. "The founder of the Work understood that the secular activity of the Christian, family, professional and social life, is the path to redemption. Garcia del Barrio recalled some words of the Founder pronounced at a Mass celebrated on the esplanade of the Library Services on October 8, 1967: "My children, there where your brothers and sisters are, there where your aspirations, your work, your loves are, there is the place of your daily meeting with Christ. It is in the midst of the most material things of the earth that we must sanctify ourselves, serving God and all men".

The Vicar did not forget that, at times, this task of placing Christ at the summit of human activities is not easy business , but he encouraged those present to "overcome their fears and overcome their nostalgia", to be patient, daring and in a good mood; to strive to put Christ in first place, at the center of their hearts; and to set an example. "The apostolate is based on friendship. When there is friendship there is trust. And it is not forced or annoying to bring into the conversation the great themes and longings that we all carry in our hearts: the meaning of freedom, the meaning of suffering, family concerns, the guiding force of conscience, life after death, the hope that God is Love, the importance of grace and the sacraments, etc.".

Together with Carlos García del Barrio, concelebrating the Eucharist were priests Antonio Viana, Santiago Collado, Alejandro Pardo, and Juan Terrés, a young 28-year-old priest from Navarra who was ordained last Sunday, June 23, in the cathedral. programs of study Before doing his theological studies at seminar in Pamplona, he had studied engineering at the School of the University of Navarra in San Sebastian.

The voices of group Tempo d'Intermezzo provided the musical part of the celebration.