D. Javier Echevarría
CHANCELLOR (1994-2016)
Javier Echevarría, second successor to St. Josemaría to lead Opus Dei, was born in Madrid on June 14, 1932
He began his primary schooling at the Marianist Priests school in San Sebastián. Later, he attended high school at the Marianist Brothers school in Madrid. On September 8, 1948, he requested admission to Opus Dei. Three months previously, he had met some members of Opus Dei at a student residence on Diego de León Street, where he went with some classmates who became interested in Opus Dei through a magazine article. Shortly thereafter, in November, he met the Founder on the occasion of his visit to Spain.
He began studying Law at the Universidad de Madrid and continued his studies in Rome. He received a Doctoral Degree in Canon Law from the Pontificia Universidad de Santo Tomás (1953), and a Doctoral Degree in Civil Law from the Pontifical Lateran University (1955). He was ordained a priest on August 7, 1955. He has been a professor of Moral Theology at the Collegio Romano della Santa Croce and the Collegio Romano di Santa Maria. He worked closely with St. Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer and was his secretary from 1953 until Escrivá's death in 1975. Member of the General Council of Opus Dei since 1966.
In 1975, when Álvaro del Portillo succeeded St. Josemaría Escrivá as the head of Opus Dei, he was named General Secretary, a position that had been held by Mons. Del Portillo until then. In 1982, when Opus Dei was elevated to the status of a personal prelature, he was named Vicar General of the prelature. Since 1981, he has been a consultant for the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, and since 1995 of the Congregation for the Clergy. After his selection and appointment by John Paul II as the prelate of Opus Dei on April 20, 1994, the Pope consecrated him as a bishop on January 6, 1995 in St. Peter's Basilica.
He is the author of the books 'Eucaristía y vida cristiana' (Rialp, 2005), 'Getsemaní. En oración con Jesucristo' (Planeta, 2005), 'Itinerarios de vida cristiana' (Planeta, 2001), 'Memoria del Beato Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer' (Ediciones Rialp, 2000) and 'Para servir a la Iglesia. Homilías sobre el sacerdocio' (Ediciones Rialp, 2001), as well as several articles in journals and contributions to other books.
He died in Rome on December 12, 2016, the feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe.
SPEECHES IN THE UNIVERSITY
- Academic ceremony in memory of Don Álvaro del Portillo (1995)
- The investiture of Honorary Doctors (Honoris Causa) (1998)
- Blessing of the sculpture of St Josemaría on campus (2001)
- 50th anniversary of the University of Navarra (2003)
- The investiture of Honorary Doctors (Honoris Causa) (2003)
- 50th anniversary of IESE (2008)
- 50th anniversary of the Friends of the University (2010)
- The investiture of Honorary Doctors (Honoris Causa) (2011)
PHOTO GALLERY
With Blessed Álvaro del Portillo
Don Javier Echevarría worked closely with St. Josemaría Escrivá, whose secretary he was from 1953 until his death in 1975. As such, he accompanied him on his visits to the campus. Since Alvaro del Portillo succeeded St. Josemaría Escrivá as head of Opus Dei, Don Javier Echevarría continued to be his principal collaborator. He frequently visited the university with him.
Chancellor
In January 1995, Mons. Echevarría performed his first ceremony as Chancellor. It was an academic ceremony in memory of his predecessor D. Álvaro del Portillo.
The investiture of Honorary Doctors (Honoris Causa)
Mons. Javier Echevarría presided over the investiture of three eminent figures internationally renowned in their respective fields: Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Julian Simon and Douwe Breimer.
The investiture of Honorary Doctors (Honoris Causa) (2003)
In the celebration of the 50th anniversary, the University awarded honorary degrees to three prestigious figures: Mary Ann Glendon, Anthony Kelly and Antonio Mª Rouco.
50th Anniversary of Friends of the University of Navarra
The 50th anniversary celebrations of the Association of Friends brought together more than 4,000 people on campus. The Chancellor presides at a Mass on the esplanade of the Libraries Building, recalling the Mass celebrated by St. Josemaría in 1967.
The Investiture of Honorary Doctors (Honoris Causa) (2011)
The painter Antonio López, Cardinal Péter Erdö and Full Professor Joseph Weiler were awarded honorary degrees by the University of Navarra. The Chancellor, Mons. Javier Echevarría, advocates, during the event, for an interdisciplinary dialogue which is essential for innovative research.
Final meeting in the University
After his operation in the Clinica, Mons. Javier Echevarría wanted to thank people for their affection and held a brief get together in the Sports Center, where the Novena to the Immaculate Conception was being held.