St. Josemaria 

FOUNDER OF OPUS DEI

Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer was born in Barbastro (Huesca, Spain) on January 9, 1902.  His parents were named José y Dolores. He had five brothers and sisters: Carmen (1899-1957), Santiago (1919-1994) and three younger sisters, who died when they were children.  His parents gave St. Josemaría and his siblings a profound Christian education.

On October 2, 1928, during spiritual exercises in Madrid, he saw what it was that God was asking of him, and he founded Opus Dei. From that time on, he began to work on the newly founded association, while he continued to work as a priest, especially among the poor and sick.  In addition, he studied at the University of Madrid, and taught classes in order to maintain his family.

In 1946 he made his residence in Rome.  He obtained a doctorate in Theology from the Lateran University.  He was named consultant to two Vatican Congregations, an honorary member of the Pontifical Academy of Theology, and Honorary Prelate of His Holiness.  From Rome he visited various European countries on numerous occasions, and in 1970 went to Mexico, in order to promote the establishment and consolidation of Opus Dei in those places.  With the same purpose, in 1974 and 1975 he took two long journeys to Central and South America, where he also held catechesis meetings with large groups of people.  St. Josemaría died in Rome on June 26, 1975.  He was beatified on May 17, 1992, and was canonized on October 6, 2002.

The University of Navarra hosts the Center for the Documentation and Study of St. Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer, which is the Spanish section of the Josemaría Escrivá Historical Institute, whose headquarters is in Rome.  It is an interdisciplinary center dedicated to promoting research concerning the Founder of Opus Dei.