Saint Josemaría Escrivá in 1946-1975

International expansion and pontifical approval

The end of the Second World War in 1945 would allow Opus Dei to expand internationally . However, during the conflict some young Opus Dei members had already begun to expand, albeit to a limited extent, in Portugal and Italy. This expansion required a change from diocesan to pontifical status. For this reason, Saint Josemaría moved to Rome in 1946, establishing his home there residency programuntil the end of his days. In 1947 and 1950 Pius XII granted Opus Dei the appropriate canonical approvals. This facilitated its universal spread. It also allowed married people to become members of Opus Dei and priests incardinated in dioceses to join the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross, while fully respecting their dependence on their own bishop. In 1982, after the death of the founder, but following a juridical path that he had prepared and desired for many years, Opus Dei was erected by John Paul II as a Prelature staff. The institution achieved a juridical configuration suited to the reality of its spirit and its activity.

Throughout his long Roman years, from 1946 to 1975, Saint Josemaría encouraged and guided the worldwide spread of Opus Dei. He worked to ensure that all the faithful of Opus Dei, men and women, received a solid doctrinal, ascetical and apostolic training, which would enable them to sanctify their various professions and spread the Christian message from within the most varied environments. The international expansion of Opus Dei was very rapid. In 1946 it spread to Great Britain, Ireland and France and, in subsequent years, to most of the countries of Western Europe. In 1948 work began in Mexico and the United States, and shortly afterwards in most of the rest of the American nations. At the end of the 1950s and the beginning of the 1960s, a stable presence was established in Asia, Oceania and Africa: Japan, Kenya and the Philippines. At the death of its founder, Opus Dei had more than 60,000 members of 80 nationalities and of the most varied professions and social conditions. Many people had come closer to the Catholic faith or matured in their Christian life, giving rise to a multitude of apostolic educational, charitable and welfare initiatives, including the University of Navarre (Spain), of which Saint Josemaría was the first Chancellor.

The trainingof the faithful of Opus Dei

The creation in Rome, in 1948 and 1953, of two centres training, one for men and the other for women (the Roman Colleges of the Holy Cross and of St. Mary) made it possible for faithful of the Prelature from all countries to come to Rome for more intense periods of training. Many faithful of Opus Dei were thus able to get to know Saint Josemaría directly, as were many others who came to Rome. Appointed Monsignor, Prelate of Honour of His Holiness, in 1947, Saint Josemaría was consultantof the Pontifical Commission for the authentic interpretation of the Code of Canon Lawand of the Sacred Congregation for Seminaries and Universities, as well as Academician ad honorem of the Pontifical Roman Academy of Theology.

The years of the Second Vatican Council

In 1959 John XXIII announced the convocation of the Second Vatican Council, which was held between 1962 and 1965. St. Josemaría accompanied with intensity, with enthusiasm in the flourishing moments and with concern in the moments of tension (which were not lacking), both the holding of the Council sessions and the subsequent posting on internshipof the various documents approved and the processes of renewal and change that accompanied them.

The spread of Opus Dei drew attention to its founder in Christian circles, in society and in some of the media on speech. From 1966 onwards, various journalists from France, the United States, Spain and Italy asked him for interviews. In all cases they were extensive interviews, which Saint Josemaría answered at length. These interviews and a homily given in 1967 were published in another of his works: Conversations with Bishop Escrivá de Balaguer (1968). During those same years, Saint Josemaría selected, revised and published the texts of some of the meditations and homilies he had preached. This is the origin of two new books: Christ Is Passing By, which appeared in 1973, and Friends of God , published posthumously (1977) but with texts already prepared by the author. Other works published shortly after his death have a similar origin: The Way of the Cross (1981), Furrow ( 1986) and Forge(1987).

The catechesisby various countries

Throughout his life, Saint Josemaría had conceived of his activity as a great catechesis. In this sense, closely united to the teaching of John XXIII and Paul VI, the Popes who occupied the Roman See during those years, and desiring that the recently celebrated Council would proclaim the vitality and richness of the Word of God, St Josemaría carried out an intense catechetical work during the last period of his life. catechesisHe received many visitors in Rome and made extensive trips to Europe and America (1970, 1972, 1974, 1975), where he met with thousands of people. In these meetings he transmitted vibrant words of love for God, Christ, Our Lady and the Church.

Death and canonisation

On 26 June 1975 he gave his soul to God. He collapsed as a result of a sudden attack, as he entered the room where he usually worked. He died with the same simplicity that had characterised his whole life. The fame of his heroic virtues soon spread throughout the world. Since then, countless people have turned to her intercession for material and spiritual favours. On 12 May 1981 his Cause of Beatification and Canonisation was opened in Rome. After a rigorous study of his life and writings, and the testof a miracle worked through his intercession, John Paul II beatified him on 17 May 1992 in Rome, in front of a crowd that filled St. Peter's place. After a further miracle at C, he was canonized by the Pope on October 6, 2002, before a crowd that surpassed the previous one, and which in itself was eloquent of the breadth and universality of devotion to St. Josemaría. And, above all, it showed the echo of his preaching of the universal call to holiness in all environments and at all latitudes.

Likewise, the canonisation processes of eight men and six women of Opus Dei have begun in various dioceses around the world (Coira (Switzerland), Valladolid, Washington, Pamplona, Guatemala City, Barcelona and Madrid). Álvaro del Portillo, who was his closest partnerand first successor, was beatified in September 2014.