Opus Dei bishop Alvaro del Portillo on path to sainthood

Bishop Alvaro del Portillo

The Holy See has confirmed that Bishop Alvaro del Portillo, first successor of St Josemaría at the head of Opus Dei, will be beatified in Madrid on 27 September 2014. This follows the approval of a miracle by Pope Francis in July 2013. The cure accepted as a miracle through del Portillo’s intercession involved a Chilean newborn baby boy, Jose Ignacio Ureta Wilson, who recovered after being in cardiac arrest for 30 minutes and suffering a massive hemorrhage. Ten years on, he is now a perfectly normal and healthy child.

The ceremony will be presided by the Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints, Cardinal Angelo Amato, and faithful from all over the world are expected to participate. The next day, Bishop Javier Echevarría, Prelate of Opus Dei, will celebrate a Mass of thanksgiving.

"In this moment of profound joy,” said Bishop Javier Echevarría, “I wish to thank Pope Francis for his decision to proceed with the beatification of this bishop who loved and served the Church so much. From now on, let us entrust to the soon-to-be Blessed Alvaro the intentions of the Holy Father: the apostolic renewal and service to God of all Christians, the care and support of the needy, the upcoming synod on the family, the holiness of priests."

The future Blessed del Portillo was born on 11 March 1914 in Madrid and studied Civil Engineering. He joined Opus Dei in 1935, just seven years after it was founded, and in 1944 was ordained as one of Opus Dei’s first three priests. He moved to Rome in 1946 where he remained the rest of his life as St Josemaría Escrivá’s closest collaborator. He became a consultor to several Congregations of the Roman Curia and took an active role in the Second Vatican Council, in particular in the drafting of the Decree on the Life and Ministry of Priests, Presbyterorum Ordinis.

He was much loved and admired by many for his serenity, simplicity and kindness.

On the death of St Josemaría in 1975 Fr Alvaro succeeded him as head of Opus Dei and in 1982, when Opus Dei became a Personal Prelature, Pope John Paul II appointed him its first Prelate. He was ordained a bishop in 1991. During a pilgrimage to the Holy Land he celebrated his last Mass on 22 March 1994 in the Church of the Cenacle in Jerusalem, close to the place traditionally associated with the Last Supper. After travelling back to Rome he died early the following morning. On hearing of his death, Blessed John Paul II went to pray before his body.

Bishop Alvaro loved Britain having spent five consecutive summers in London with St Josemaría Escrivá between 1958 and 1962. After becoming head of Opus Dei he visited Britain again in the summer of 1980, as well as for briefer visits in 1985 and 1987.

Mgr Nicholas Morrish, Regional Vicar of Opus Dei in Britain, said: “Bishop Alvaro stands out above all as a model of fidelity. Both as collaborator and successor to St Josemaría his one desire was to serve the Church loyally and to be faithful to the charism God gave our founder. He can inspire and help men and women of all walks of life to be faithful to their vocation, whatever that may be.”

For more information on the beatification see: www.opusdei.org.uk/art.php?p=56848

Read more about Bishop del Portillo here: www.opusdei.org.uk/art.php?p=56605