New book: "Las mil primeras" (The first thousand)

Julio Montero and María Luisa Galdón have just published "Las Mil Primeras. Supernumeraries of Opus Dei in Spain (1945-1963)". The book narrates the beginnings of Opus Dei's apostolate with married women and highlights how they understood the need to transform their lives internally to achieve an external impact. 

In a context of limitations and preparation for the modernization of Spain, the authors point out that these women became the protagonists of an "exciting and serene revolution". Their incorporation into the Work as supernumeraries, after the approval of the Holy See, made it possible to "fill in" the foundation of Opus Dei and revealed the universal call to holiness.

For this research, the authors used a varied set of historical sources such as interviews, correspondence staff of some of the protagonists, obituaries, and diaries of supernumeraries. The richness of this documentary material allows Montero and Galdón to create an original narrative that offers a profound and authentic vision of the experiences of these pioneering women. 

"Las Mil Primeras" emerges as an essential work for those interested in the history of Opus Dei and the participation of women in the Catholic Church during a period of social and cultural transformation in Spain. The well-documented narrative and the approach on the experience staff of these women make this book an enriching and revealing read.