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TheFirstSupernumerariesofOpusDei.The1948WorkshopLUISCANOArticlefromStudiaetDocumenta2018

Abstract

TheFirstSupernumerariesofOpusDei.The1948Workshop:In1947,JosemaríaEscriváwasabletobringaboutalong-awaitedaspectofthefoundingofOpusDei:theadmissionofmarriedmembersorthosewishingtoformafamily.ThecrucialstepoccurredinSeptember1948,when−afterhavingobtainedrecognitionfromtheHolySeeinthatregard−heorganizedagatheringinwhichfifteenpeopletookpart.That’swherethefirstSupernumerariescamefrom.Thisarticlefocusesontheeventsfromthesedays,duringwhichSt.JosemaríaexplainedmanydetailsofthelifeofSupernumeraries.Thisreconstructionwasmadepossiblethankstothenotesandtestimoniesofsomeoftheparticipants.

OneofthemostimportantmilestonesinthehistoryoftheworkofStGabrielinOpusDei,whichledtoitsdefinitivelaunch,wastheweekofstudyandformationthattookplaceinMolinoviejo(Segovia)from25Septemberto1October1948.StJosemaríaexplainedindepthtothefifteenpeopletherewhatitmeanttobeaSupernumeraryinOpusDei.

Myaimistoreconstructthemessagethatthefoundertransmittedtothemduringthatweek,makinguseofthedocumentswehave,mainlythewrittendiarythatwaskeptduringthosedaysandthepersonalmemoriesofthosewhoattended.WehavelimitedourselvestothesourcesintheGeneralArchiveofthePrelatureofOpusDei,whichincludenotes,lettersandpersonalaccountsofseveraloftheprotagonistsinthisarticlethatwereputintowritingafter1975forthecauseofcanonisationofEscrivá.StJosemaríaspoketothemontwentytwooccasions,andalthoughwedonothavethecompletetranscriptofhispreaching,therearesomenoteswrittenatthetimebythosewhowerethere,especiallybyAmadeodeFuenmayorandTomásAlvira,whichenableustograspthegeneralgistofwhathesaid.

Beforestartingonthemaintheme,wewilltalkabouttheimmediatebackgroundtothatweek,especiallyaboutthefounder’sworktodefinewhataSupernumerarywas,fromaspiritualandjuridicalpointofview.ThenwewilllookathowtheworkshopitselfunfoldedandStJosemaría’spreachingthere.

Attheend,intheappendix,weincludebiographicalsketchesoftheattendees.Fortheseshortbiographicalnotes,wehaveusedthepersonalwitnessaccounts,alreadyreferredtoabove,andtheobituariesofdeceasedmembersthatarekeptintheGeneralArchiveofthePrelatureofOpusDei,aswellasotheritemsofpublicknowledge,excludingotherprivateorpublicfilesthatwouldrequiregoingbeyondthescopeofthisarticle.

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THEVOCATIONTOOPUSDEIASASUPERNUMERARY:THEITEROFANEWPHENOMENONFrom1928onthefounderhadtalkedtoallsortsofpeopleaboutholinessinthemiddleoftheworld,butitwouldbeanothertwentyyearsbeforehecouldsetoutaspecificvocationalpath,recognizedbytheChurch,formarriedpeopleorothersthinkingaboutmarryingandformingafamily.Thiswaspossiblethankstotheecclesiasticalapprovalin1947,bywhichmarriedpeoplecouldjoinOpusDeiinpractice,trying“tolivethespiritandapostolateoftheinstitution,withoutbeinglegallyboundtoit.”ThismeantagreatstepforwardbecauseitrecognisedthatmarriedpeoplecouldbecomeholyintheirownstatefollowingthespiritofOpusDei,butitwasnotenoughforStJosemaría;hewantedtheHolySeetoapprovethepossibilityoffullmembershipformarriedpeopleinthefuture,somethingthatwasnotpossibleatthetime.

Meanwhile,thefirstSupernumeraries(TomásAlvira,VíctorGarcíaHozandMarianoNavarroRubio)begantoreceiveformationinthespiritofOpusDei.AnotedatedNovember5,1947wassenttoallthedirectorsofthecentresoftheWorkaskingfordetailsaboutotherpossiblecandidates.Peoplewereaskedtopraywithdueintensityforthesecandidates,withoutyetsayinganythingtothem,“since,asyouknow,”thenotesaid,“thisisatruevocation.”

InDecember1947,EscriváwastryingtodelineateindetailwhatexactlyaSupernumerarywasandthespiritualattentiontheywouldreceive.AmadeodeFuenmayor,whoatthetimewasinMadridworkingintheGeneralCounciloftheWork,helpedhiminthistask.Inaletterthissamemonth,StJosemaríawrote:

TheseSupernumeraries!WhatgreathopeIhave!Amadeo:withalltheworkyouhavebeendoing,youcouldmakeadraftdirectoryforSupernumeraries–whichfornowwouldhavetobequiterudimentary.Andthesamefortheirplansofformation–ofsixmonthsandofoneyearwouldbefinefornow–inthesamestyleastheonesforNumerariesIaskedforsometimeback.Itwouldbeagoodideatothinkaboutpreparingtheregulations,startingwithwhattheSacredCongregationhasapproved,sothatwecanmeetthelegalcivilrequirementswhenIcomeback.ItwouldalsobegoodifyoupreparedthreeorfourtalksandwenttoValencia,Zaragoza,andBilbao,etc,tostartformingcoregroupsthere.Clearly,oncetheworkhasstarted,wecan’tletitstop;whereitstarts,aNumeraryshouldstaythereasdirector,withaSupernumeraryasSecretary(we’lltalklateraboutthis:takenote),whotakesonthematerialburdenoftheDelegation.

Aswecanseehere,thetaskentrustedtoAmadeowastodescribethefigureofaSupernumeraryandtoexplainittopeopleintheWorkwholivedinvariouscitiesinSpain.Althoughuptonowtheapostolicworkhadinvolvedmainlystudentsandyoungpeople,therewerealreadyanumberofpeopletheyknewwhomettheconditionsneededtobeSupernumeraries.

Aweeklater,AmadeorepliedwithadraftofwhatJosemaríahadaskedfor.Escrivárespondedon18December1947:

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ToAmadeo:IreadyournotesonSupernumeraries.Theydon’tseemaudaciousenoughtomeasregardstheirobligations.I’llgiveyournotesbacktoyounextweekwithsomespecificcomments.Anyway,I’llsaynowthatwecannotlosesightofthefactthatwearenottalkingabouttheinscriptionofsomegentlemeninaparticularassociation,butratherasupernaturalvocationtothelifeofperfectionandapostolate.TobeaSupernumeraryisagreatgracefromGod!

Letuspausebrieflytoconsiderthisparagraph.Thekeywordthatthefounderunderlineshereisvocation.TheSupernumerariesarecalledtothelifeofperfection(todaywewouldsay,usingcurrentterminology,toholiness)andtoapostolatelikeotherlaypeopleandpriests.ThisclarificationbyStJosemaría’swasimportant.SincethemajorityofSupernumerariescamefromCatholicActionorotherpiousassociations,thedangerexistedthattheywouldthinkjoiningOpusDeiwaslikejoiningoneofthesegroups.Aswehaveseen,thisisexactlywhatStJosemaríawishedtoavoidwhenheemphasisedthattobelongtoOpusDeiwasa“supernaturalvocation,”not“theinscriptionofsomegentlemeninaparticularassociation.”

Thecanonicalteachingandtheologyofthetimetendedtoidentifycompleteself-givingwiththereligiouslifeorsomethingequivalent,openonlytocelibatepeople.However,forStJosemaríaitwasclearthatinOpusDeitherewas“oneandonlyonevocation.”Withoutgettingintocomparisons,OpusDeiofferedanovelrealityinthissense,althoughduringthoseyearstherewasnoshortageofinitiativesintheChurchthatsoughttore-energisetheCatholiclaityandeventoofferthemaspecificspiritualityformarriage.Forexample,wecanmentiontheCursillosmovement(ShortCoursesinChristianity),whichtookshapebetweentheendofAugust1948andthebeginningof1949;ortheFocolarimovement(foundedbyChiaraLubichandapprovedonadiocesanlevelin1947),whichthememberofParliamentIginoGiordanijoined.Hewasthefatheroffourchildren,thefirstmarriedmemberoftheFocolariandconsideredthecofounderofthemovement.AlsotheEquipesNotre-Dame(TeamsofOurLady),whichbegantowardstheendofthethirtiesundertheimpulseofFatherHenriCaffarel,andwhichpublishedin1947theirLettersettingouttheirconjugalspirituality.

Returningtoourstory,onChristmasDay1947StJosemaríawroteagaintoMadrid:“Amadeo,gobackovertheproject–thedraftproject–onSupernumeraries.Stresstheimportanceofobedience(onecannotbelongtoanassociationwithoutexplicitoralpermission,noteddowninwritinginthatperson’sfile),etc...”

Aswecansee,thefounderwantedtoemphasisethatthevocationtoOpusDeiwasoneofcompleteself-givingandentailedarealactofobedience.Hedoesn’texplainthereasonbehindtherulehementionshere,butwecanguesshewantedtopreventpeoplefromspreadingthemselvestoothinlyorperhapsgettingcaughtupinsillycomparisonsandenvies,orperhapstootheconfusionthatOpusDeiwasjustonemoreassociation,towhichonecoulddedicateonlypartofone’stimeinbetweenotherpiousactivities,andnotatruecallingfromGodthatrequiresatotaldedication.SoitwouldbeprudenttoseekthepermissionStJosemaríatalksabout.

OnJanuary1,1948hewrotetothethreepeoplewhohadaskedtojoinOpusDeiasSupernumeraries:

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ToTomás,VíctorandMariano.MayJesuslookaftermychildren!

Mydearthree:itisimpossiblenowtowritetoyouindividually,butmyfirstletterof1948isforyou.Iamprayinghardforyou.Youaretheseedofthousandsandthousandsofbrothersofyours,whowillcomesoonerthanwethink.HowhardandhowwellwewillhavetoworkfortheKingdomofJesusChrist!

Afewdayslater,thefounderwouldglimpseatlastasolutionfortheproblemweareconsideringhere.IthappenedonatriptoMilan,fromJanuary11to16,accompaniedbyAlvarodelPortilloandIgnacioSallent.OnthereturnlegtoRome,heexclaimed“Theyfit!”ItwasakindofeurekamomentbecausehesuddenlysayhowtopresenttotheHolySeethewayinwhichtheSupernumerarieswould“fit”intoOpusDeiasfullyincorporatedmembers.AssoonashegotbacktoRomehewrotetoMadrid:“IamworkingonthewholeissueoftheSupernumeraries:therewillbemanygreatandbeautifulsurprises!HowgoodOurLordis!Amadeo,tellthosethreetoentrustmyworktoOurLady.Ipromisethemagreatjoy.”

Whatwasthesolutionthatledhimtoexclaim“theyfit!”?ItinvolvedexplainingthattheSupernumeraries“spendpartoftheirtimeintheserviceoftheinstitutionitself,andfindthemeansfortheirsanctificationandapostolateintheirownfamilyduties,andtheirprofessionalorwork-relatedtasks;(….)theylivethesamespiritand,insofaraspossible,thesamecustomsastheNumerarymembers;althoughtheywillonlybeentrustedwithtasksthatarecompatiblewiththeirownfamilyobligationsandcivicduties.

Inotherwords,thedifferencewithrespecttoNumerarieslayinthedegreeofdedicationtotheinternalworkofOpusDei.Also,forSupernumerariesthesanctificationofordinarylifeincluded“theirownfamilyduties,”inadditiontotheprofessionalandsocialdutiesthatNumerariesaswellsanctified.Inotherwords,tobeaSupernumerarymeanthavingthesamespiritandvocation,butspendingadifferentamountoftime“intheserviceoftheinstitution.”

Thiswasnotmerelyacleverexplanationtogetthroughtheapprovalprocedure.Inouropinion,thefounderhimselfhadreceivedanewlightonanessentialpointofthecharism:theunityofvocation.Hewasoverjoyedatthisdiscovery,ashewroteon29January1948tothoseinMadrid.“YouwillseethiswhenItalktoyouonmyreturn.IwilljustsaynowthatanimmenseapostolicpanoramaisopeningupfortheWork,justasIsawin1928;andallwithinthestrictestcanonicalrules,somethingthatseemedimpossibleuntilnow.WhatajoyitistobeabletodoallthisintheserviceoftheChurchandsouls!”

RightawayhebeganpreparingthestatutesthatwouldhavetobeaddedtotheConstitutionof1947,topresentittotheHolySee“withtheaimthat,aswellasNumeraries,othersingleormarriedmembersofwhateverconditionorprofessioncouldjoinandbelegallyboundtotheinstitution.”Intheletterofpetittion,MonsignorEscriváemphasisedthatthismeantincludingsomethingthathadbeenforeseensincethebeginningoftheWork:“iamaprimaipsiusInstitutidelinatione.”On2Februarythepetitionwassubmitted,andamonthandahalflater,on18March1948,theSacredCongregation,withthesignatureofthesecretaryMonsignorLucaPasetto,andtheseal

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oftheunder-secretaryArcadioLarraona,approvedthestatutesthathadbeenpresented.

Meanwhile,StJosemaríakeptonworking.On4FebruaryhewrotetoMadrid:“IamgoingtousethistimeinRometoworkoneverythingconcerningSupernumeraries:howwideanddeepisthechannelthatisopeningup!Weneedtobesaints,andprepareourpeoplebetterintellectuallyeachday.Andweneedtohaveenoughpriests.”

Inthefollowingmonths,thefoundertookfurthersteps.HearrangedthatduringthesummereverythingaboutSupernumerariesandcooperatorswouldbeexplainedtotheNumerarymembersandhealsofixedatimeinthesummerfortheformalbeginningofthisnewphase.“DuringthesummerwewillpreparetheworkwiththeSupernumeraries,andeverythingwillnodoubtbeachievedthatourLordwantsfromthesepeople–fromthesesons!LausDeo.”

Amongotherpreparations,aworkshopwasorganisedforanumberofpeoplewhocouldbeaskedtobeSupernumeraries,aswellasforthesixwhohadalreadysaidyes.

THOSEPRESENTATTHEFIRSTACTIVITYFORSUPERNUMERARIESThefifteenpeoplewhotookpartintheactivityatMolinoviejocamefromavarietyofplaces.AmongthosewhowerelivinginMadridwerefourpeoplefromCantabria(ManuelPeréz,ManuelSainzdelosTerreros,ÁngelSantosandPedroZarandona);threefromAragón(TomásAlvira,RafaelGalbeandMarianoNavarroRubio);onefromGalicia(JesúsFontán);onefromCastilla(VíctorGarcíaHoz);onefromAndalusia(HermenegildoAltozano)andonefromMallorca(JuanCaldés).ThreemorecamefromValencia(AntonioIvars,CarlosVerdúandSilverioPalafox),andonefromBilbao(EmilianoAmann).Theyalsohadavarietyofprofessionalbackgrounds.ThereweretwoNavyofficialsandtwootherswithamartiallawbackground;threelawyersandajudge;twocivilengineers,ateacher,adoctor,apharmacist,achemistandanarchitect.Lookingattheirlatercareers,onecansaythattheywereoutstandingprofessionalswholefttheirmarkasChristiansontheirfamiliesandfriends.Someofthemworkedhardtobeginsocialworksforhumanadvancement.Asmentionedabove,intheAppendixwehaveincludedabriefbiographyofeachone.

MostofthemhadbelongedtoCatholicActionorpiousassociations(aswasthecasewithsomanyyoungCatholicsatthetime)beforecomingintocontactwithOpusDei,andhadevenheldpositionsofresponsibilitywithinthem.FiveofthemhadknownStJosemaríabeforetheCivilWarandhadattendedactivitiesattheResidence-AcademyDYA.AmongthemweretwowhohadlivedasNumerariesforsomeyearsandwhohadlostcontactduetothedifficultwartimesituation.Oftheotherthree,twohadattendedactivitiesinFerraz–oneasaresident–andathird,TómasAlvira,hadmetStJosemaríainMadridduringthewar.

ThreeotheryoungprofessionalshadenteredintocontactwiththeWorkthroughtheapostolictripstovariouscitiesduringthepost-warperiodtovariouscitiesandhadevenaskedtojoinasNumeraries,onlytorealizequicklythatthiswasnottheirpath.Encouragedbythefounder,theyhadwaitedseveralyearsforittobepossibletolivethe

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samevocationtoOpusDeiinanewway.TherewasalsoagroupwhohadreceivedspiritualdirectionfromStJosemaríaafterthewar.SomewerealreadymarriedorStJosemaríahadhelpedthemdiscerntheirvocationtomarriage.Ofallthosethere,onlythreedidnotknowhimpersonally.

AmadeodeFuenmayorwaspresentthereandwewillmakefrequentuseofhisdiarywritings.Introducingthosetakingpartinthepagesofthisdiary,hewrote“Everyonewhosaidtheywouldcomehascome.Theyarematuremen,mostaremarried,andafewarealready50.SeveralhaveformalisedtheiradmissionasSupernumeraries,andtheyallknowandlovetheWork,havingknowntheFatherpersonallyforsometimeorhavingbeentoStRaphaelcircles,etc.”

Yearslater,Fuenmayorwouldreflectonhismemories.

WithwhatgreatdetaildidtheFatherplaneverythingsothattheworkshopwouldprovefruitful!Fromthetiniestmaterialdetails,toawholehostofpracticalhintshegavethosewithhimatthetime,onhowtoexplainthemorestraightforwardasceticalthemes;forhehimselfhadtakenonthetaskofexplainingthemoredelicateandimportanttopics.

TwootherNumerarieswerewithAmadeodeFuenmayor:OdónMolesandIgnacioOrbegozo.Alsopresent,atleastforpartofthetime,weresomeoftheoldermembersoftheWork:thepriestsAlvarodelPortillo,PedroCasciaro(whogaveoneofthetalks),andJoséLuisMúzquiz.

Thefounderreceivedthosewhoattendedandwasliketheirhostinthehouse,whichwasstillbeingsetup.Someofthebedroomshadbunkbedsandtherewerenosheetsorblankets,soeachhadtobringtheirown.

HOWTHEWORKSHOPUNFOLDEDSTJOSEMARÍA’SPREACHINGThetimetableincludedameditationandatalkinthemorning,agettogetherafterlunch,atimeforthe“catechism”oftheWorktogettoknowitsparticularLawanditsspirit,andatimeforprayerinthelateafternoon.Afteralateafternoonsnacktherewasanother“catechism”session,theprayingoftheRosaryandatimeforspiritualreading.Afterdinnerandagettogether,thedayendedwithabriefcommentaryontheGospelandanexaminationofconscience.

Onthedayofarrival,intheevening,StJosemaríagaveapreparatorytalkintheoratory.DeFuenmayornoteddownsomeideasinthediary:

Attheend,hetellsthemthatonthefollowingdayshewillnotbetalkingtotheirheartsashehasdonetoday,butcoldly,becausetheyaremenoffaith,andtheyshouldconsiderrationallytheultimateconsequencesofthetruthshewillsetbeforethem.TheFathertoldthem:1)theyhavecomeherefordivinereasons,asotherwiseitwouldmakenosensetohaveabandonedsomanyprofessionalandfamilyetc.concerns;2)ThosewhogivethemselvestoGodintheworld,intheirprofessionandfamily,arealsochosenbyHim;itis

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a“divinevocation,”asthePopesays;3)TheyhavecometobewithGodduringthesedaysinordertogrowinloveforHim;4)Apath:theBlessedVirgin,OurLady.

Thosepresentkeptsilenceonlyforthefirstday,followingthepatternofadayofrecollection;theotherdayswereaworkshop,combiningmeansofChristianformationwithfreetime,sports,get-togethers,etc.

Sunday,26September1948

Thedayaftertheirarrival,StJosemaríapreachedonthetopicofvocation.Hesaid“ourmissiononearthistospreadthekingdomofGod;wehavebeenchosenfromalleternityforthispurpose.”Alviraadds:“Godhascalledmefromalleternity.”Escriváalsoemphasisedthattheawarenessofthisvocationshouldnotleadtoarrogancebecause“Godhasdeignedtomakeuseofhismostwretchedservants.”“HowgratefulIamforthiscalling!”writesAlvira.“Somanycleanandgoodsouls,andyetheiscallingme,adirtyrag.”

Thefounderwentontoconsideranothertopic,closelyrelatedtothesereflections:divinefiliation.“Always,averyspecialconsiderationthatwearesonsofGod.Aschildren,weshoulddrawclosetoHimandloveHimandreturntoHimafterfalls,andalwayscountonhisfatherlylove,onhisunderstanding.The´AbbaPater´ofJesusistheexpressionyoungchildrenusetocallupontheirfather:sothatishowwecalluponHim,withthesecuritythatHelovesusexceedingly.”

“WeshoulddrawclosetoGodasFatherwiththesamenaturalness,thesamefranknessthatachilddoeswithitsfather,”writesAlvira.

WeknowfromthenotesinthediarythatEscriváfilledoutthepanoramahewastryingtoportraybytalkingaboutholinessinthemiddleoftheworld:“DrawclosetoGodandgettoknowHim,scorningeverythingelse.Honoursandrichesaremeremeans.Tobehappyhereonearthandinheaventhereisonlyonesolution:beingholy;andtheholieroneis,thehappieronewillbe.”

Thesecondmeditationthatdaywasondeath:“Hesaysheisgoingtodohisprayeroutloud,”wroteFuenmayor.Thefounder’spreachingwasdirect,notbeatingaroundthebush:“howwouldmysoullooktoGodifIdiednow?AndwhatwouldIdoaboutthethingsthatworrymetodayifIknewIwasabouttodie?”Amongotherthings,Alviranoteddownthefollowing:

Weallhavetodie.AnoldbishoptoldtheFatherthateverymonthhemeditatedonhimselfbecomingacorpse,imaginingthattheyweregivinghimthelastrites,thathisarmsandlegswerelosingwarmth.Andthenhewouldthinkaboutwhatworriedhim,hisprojects,thepeoplewhodidn’tlikehim,etc.Ayoungworkmanwithoutfaithfinallyobtaineddivinegrace.Hebecameillanddiedshortlyafterwards.Addressingthisyoungman,theFathersaid:Ienvyyou,myson.ButoursoulentersGod’spresencewithonlyourgoodworks,oursacrifices,ourgoodintentions….

Thatday,StJosemaríaheldtwosessionstoexplainaspectsofthespiritofOpusDei,includingthenormsandcustoms,andvarioushumanvirtues.DeFuemayorwrotethat

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thesetalkswereverypleasantbecausetheywere“interspersedwithnumerousanecdotesandreferencestomanyaspectsofthespiritoftheWork,sothattheycouldgettoknowitfully.”

ThedayfinishedwithStJosemaríagivingameditationonfaith,inwhichhecommentedonpassagesfromScripture:

TheFathertalkedabouthowweneedtobemenoffaith.ExamplesfromtheGospel:(1)Theblindman,whenheknewChristwaspassingby,droppedeverythingandwenttofindhim.That’showweshouldbe:weshouldbreakenergeticallynotourchains–fortunatelytherearen’tany–butthemanysilkthreadsthattieusdownandstopusfromgivingourselvestoourLord,askinghim,liketheblindmandid,“utvideam”,thatwemightseethosethreads.(2)Themanwiththecrippledhand.HetooapproachesJesusaskinghimtocurehim.AndChristinturnaskshimtomovehishand:that’sourcooperation,ouraction.AndthehandiscuredatourLord’sword,restored.(3)Thehunched-backwoman:shecouldonlylookatthemudandmanure.Somanyarelikethathereonearth.ButthemerepresenceofourLordenableshertostandupstraightandlookatthesunandstars.Wetooneedtolookup.(4)Thecursedfigtree.OurLord,sohuman,wasthirsty,andthefigtreeappearedbeautiful,withgreenleaves,suckinglifefromtheearth,butitborenofruit;andalthoughitwasnottheseasonforfigs,hecursesitanditwithersinstantly,becauseweshouldalwaysbeproducingfruit.(5)Theapostles’faithintheGuardianAngels.StPaulwasfreedfromheavychains,andwhentheservantwentintotelltheapostles,whowerealltogether,thatPeterwasatthedoor,theysay“itmustbehisAngel.”TheWorkwasfoundedonthefeastoftheGuardianAngels.Theyhavebeen“accomplices”inallthathasbeendone.

Monday,27September1948

ThenextdayStJosemaríapreachedameditationonthekingdomofGod.Takingmilitarybannersashisstartingpoint,perhapsinspiredbythistraditionalIgnatiantheme,hereferredtovariousattitudesregardingChrist’slovinglordship:

TheFather,inthemorningprayer,commentedonthewordsofJesus:“Hewhoisnotwithmeisagainstme.”Therearetwoclearlydefinedfronts.Thevisionofabattlebetweenthreearmies;onewithblackandredbanners,enemiesofChristwhocontinuetoshout“Crucifyhim,”whoareattackingEurope(Germany,Poland,Austria,Hungary);anotherofCatholicswhoarenotreallysuch,andwhowavegreyflags;andthentrueChristians,withawhiteflagandtheCrossastheirstandard,whowanttoremedythesituationandbringaboutwhatPsalmIIrefersto,the“volumusregnareChristum.”Itisfrighteningtolookatthemapoftheworldtoday;buttheRedemptionisalsotakingplacetoday.Theevercloserinvasionofbarbariansishorrifying.Women,innocentsoulsofchildren,property,allwillbebrutallytroddenon,ifCatholicsdonotlearnhowtobeco-redeemerswithChristintheirprofessionalwork,intheirofficialpositionsandintheheartoftheirfamilies.

Escriváusedthispanoramatospuronhisaudiencetotakeresponsibility,remindingthemthattheywerecalledtoputChristatthesummitofallhumanactivities;moreover,tobeco-redeemerswithHiminthemidstoftheirprofessional,social,andfamilyduties.

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Heremindedthemofhisfoundationalexperienceon7August1931:“AndIunderstoodthatitwouldbethemenandwomenofGodwhowouldliftuptheCrosswiththeteachingsofChristatthesummitofallhumanactivities.AndIsawourLordtriumph,drawingallthingstoHimself.”

ThenotesthatAlviracompiledonthismeditationaremoreexplicitabouttheconsequencesoftheabsenceofCatholicsinpubliclife:“TheRedemptionhasnotfinished.Menarefreetoact;wehavetoact.Gotothehighestplaces,topositionsofinfluence,ifwedonotwanttoexperiencewhathasalreadyhappenedinothercountries:withwomen,withchildren,withproperty.”Andheaddsananecdotefromthepreacher:“Anoldpriestandayoungpriestmeet,andtheoldpriestasks:‘howdoyouspendyourtime?’Theyoungonereplies:‘Igetuplate,Igotobedearly,Idon’tdomuchwork…’‘That’sawful,’theoldpriesttellshim.That’showyouwillbeifyoubecomebourgeois,ifyoudon’twork,ifyoudon’ttakeuppostsofresponsibilityoutoffear,afraidoftiringyourselfout,orwhatever.”

ThesecondmeditationwasonthehiddenlifeofOurLord.HestartedbyconsideringhowJesuscameintotheworld:“withoutshow,withoutnoiseorfuss.”Thenhetalkedabout“thethirtyyearsofhiddenlifeandonlythreeofpubliclife.”“TheWorktakesasitsmodelthethirtyyearsofhiddenlife.ContemplativelifebecauseGodisinourhearts.”Alviraadds:“Activeorcontemplativelife?Oursiscontemplative.Ourcellisthewholeworld.Christinthecentreofoursoul.ToconquertheworldforChrist.Oursisahardlife,filledwithsacrifice,andconstantadoration.”

Thatafternoon,StJosemaríacontinuedtotalkaboutbeinginstrumentsofGod,whoneedsallkindsoftools.“Soawaywithfalsehumility(I’mnouse,Ican’tdoit,etc.),”wereadinthediary.“Forasurgicaloperation,finescalpels;tolevelthepath,asteamroller,”hesaid,explaininghoweachthinghasitsuse.Andheconcluded:“Awaywithcowardice.LookhowOurLordsoughtoutthetwelveapostles:intheirprofessions,whichsomecarriedonwith,evenlateron.Jesuscallsyouintheplacewhereyouare,intheworkyouaredoing.”

Thatsameday,Escriváalsotookpartinanothersession,onsomepointsfromtheDecretumLaudisof1947,explainingindetailvariousaspectsofthespiritofOpusDei.TwowholedayshadgonebyandDeFuenmayorrecords:“Thejoyofeachandeverypersonthereisimmense,unbelievable.”Andhecitestheremarkofoneofthosepresent,PedroZarandona:“IhadneverheardtheFathertalkbefore,andattheendofeachofhistalksIammoved.AndthesamehappenstomeatMass.”Thediaristwantedtomakeclearthathewasnotbeingcarriedawaybyenthusiasm:“NothingIamwritingisintheleastbitexaggerated.Itseemsincrediblebutthat’sthewayitis.OurLordispamperingusallwithhisgrace.AndwhatishappeningthisweekisanotherexampleofhislovefortheWork,andhisevidenthelpinitslabours.”

Tuesday,28September1948

OnTuesdaythe28th,StJosemaríagavethreemeditations.Inthefirstone,hecommentedonthesceneofthewashingoftheApostles´feetduringtheLastSupper.

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“JesustriestowashPeter’sfeet,butPeterdoesn’tlethimbecauseoffalsehumility.Butthen,whenOurLordsayshecannothaveanythingtodowithhim,hereactswithhischaracteristicspirit:notonlymyfeetbutmyhandsandmyheadtoo.Thatishowourself-givingshouldbe:total.Itistruewearefullofwretchedness,butOurLord,withhisgrace,willhelpuswithgreatpower.”

HecontinuedcommentingonthepassagesaboutChrist’sPassion.“Jesus,fromonetribunaltoanother,issilent.Incontrasttothis,somanywaggingtongues–evenfromofficialCatholics–somuchgossip.Theterriblemomentofthecrowningofthorns.Hebuckles.Itismywretchednessthatoverwhelmshim.Ourlackoflove.Finally,ontheCross,alone,nailedlikeananimal.Hisinnerandoutersensesfeelthepain.Let’sseekhimouttotakehimdownfromthereandnailourselvestotheCross.”

Thesecondmeditationwasonmentalprayer.TheFathertalkedabouttopicstobringupinpersonalconversationwithGodandofferedsomebitsofadvicetopraywell:“Worries,joys,desires,hopes,everything,talkaboutitwithGod.15minutes,andifpossible30.LeaveoutCommunionratherthenleavingouttheprayer.Inaquietplace:itcouldbeachurch,oroftenbetterathome.Adivineandlogicalformulatostartitwith:MyLordandmyGod(StThomasonputtinghishandinOurLord’swound),Ifirmlybelievethatyouarehere,etc.”

Hewentontospeakaboutwhatthecharacteristicsofprayershouldbe:“Inthefirstplace,prayerhastobehumble:betweenthepublicanandthePharisee,wemustbeliketheformer.Secondly,itshouldbesimple,withthesimplicityofchildren,fromwhomwecanlearnsomuchaboutprayer.Persevering:StTheresewouldmakeuseofaspirationswhenshecoulddonothingelse.Let’sbemenofprayer,ofinteriorlife.

Alvira’snotesonthispointreflectbetterthetenorofEscriva’spreaching:

Simplicityinprayer.Achildthatsays:longliveJesus,longliveMary,longlivemyAunty.Achildthatknocksathisfather’sdoorwithhishand,withhisfoot,withhiswholebody.Andthefathercomesoutwiththeideaoftellinghimoff,butonseeinghim,giveshimahug.ThatishowweshouldbeinourprayerwithJesus.WeshouldinvokeMary,JosephandourAngelsothattheycometoouraid.Weshouldneverleaveouttheprayerfromourday.Aheadofstatehasthoseonguardduty,andsomeconsiderittobeanhonourwhileothersspendtheirtimethinkingabouttheirgirlfriend.Weshouldconsiderthistimespentbeingonguard,inprayer,asanhonour,andbetheretheexacttimeasplanned,althoughduringthehalfhourwemayhavelookedatourwatchfortytimes.Ifwehavehadtheintentionofpraying,wewillhavegainedalot.

Thefinalmeditationthatdaywasonmortification.Aswashiscustom,StJosemaríacommentedonvariousbiblicaltexts:“ifagrainofwheatfallstothegroundanddoesn’tdie,itfailstoyieldfruit;ifitdies,ityieldsanabundantharvest.Soweneedmortificationtobefruitful.”

Hewentontotalkabouttheself-conquestsweneedinordertobeholy:“Smallmortifications.Prayeroftheflesh,ofthesenses.Ifanangelcamedowntotellusthatholinessispossiblewithoutmortification,itwouldnotbeanangeloflight,butofdarkness.”HethenmentionedStPaul,whospokeabouthisdifficultiesinovercominghis

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bodilyweaknesses,andheusedthemetaphorofsportstoexplaintheeffortrequiredinChristianlife:

Insportspeopledosomanythingstowinaprize.Whataboutus?Runtowinthetrophy,saysStPaul.Manytakepartbutonlyonewinstheprize.Mortification,ameanstomakethepeoplearoundushappy(ourgreatobligation).OurLadyknowsalotaboutmortification.Let’strytotakeawayoneoftheswordsthatpiercedherheartsoastoputitinourown.

ThatdaythefoundercontinuedtoexplaintheparticularLawofOpusDei;hefocusedonthe“theobligationsandprivilegesofSupernumerarymembers;thenatureandscopeoftheirbondwiththeWork.”

Wednesday,29September1948

OnWednesdaythe29th,StJosemaríacontinuedspeakingaboutthetopicsonChristianlifethathehabituallyreferredtoinhispreaching:charity,meanstoachieveholiness,littlethings,andspiritualdirection.InthefirstmeditationhecommentedontheMandatumnovum,explainingthatthedeedsofcharityhavetobedonewithoutdrawingattentiontooneselfandwithoutlookingforhumanrecognition.“ThecommandisasnewtodayaswhenOurLordgaveit,becausenobodyfollowsit.Christiancharity,soforgottenbyofficialCatholics.Insteadofostentatiousalmsgiving(foundationswiththegoalofpreservingthememoryofthefounder),goodworksthatnobodynotices.”

Thenhetalkedaboutaspecificwayofpractisingcharity:livingfraternitywiththoseinOpusDei.Heaskedthatthismanifestationoflovebe“trueaffection;theloveofabrother,whopraiseshimbehindhisbackandcorrectshimfacetofacewhennecessary.ThelivingexampleofChrist,whoweepsforhisfriendLazarusandwho,movedbycompassion,raisesthewidow’ssonbacktolife.Charitywithouthypocrisy:withloveandsacrifice.”Alvira’snotes,whichbecomeshorterasthedayspassby,add:“Jesusdidnotsaythathisdiscipleswouldbeknownfortheirhumilityorpurity,butratherforthelovetheyhaveforoneanother.Carefulwithyourtongue.Therearepeoplewhogotocommunioneverydaybutthencastaspersionsonthegoodnameofothers.”

Inthediarywereadthatthesecondmeditationthatdaywasonthemeansneededtoachieveholiness:

Facedwithachallenge,peopletendtoformthreegroups:foolishoneswhocannotbebotheredwiththemeans(someoneforexamplewhowantstodescendfromthetopofthepostofficetowerwithoutusingtheliftorthestaircase);otherswhoonlyusethemeansthattheypersonallylike,thatareagreeabletotheirwill;andfinallythose,whobecausetheyfeelsick,donotrejectanymedicine.Moreover,thislastattitudeisalogicalconsequenceofourself-giving.Ifwearetoservefaithfully,wemustmakeuseoftheonlyeffectivemeansavailable:prayer,mortificationandwork.Nottodosowouldbeaformofcowardicethatwouldweighonusourwholelife.OurLady,towhomweshouldaskforhelp,makesthesemeanspleasantandsweetforus.Ageneral,wide-rangingresolution:Love.Moreover,smallandspecificdailyresolutions.

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Intheevening,thefoundertalkedabouttheimportanceoflittlethings,particularlyinwhatreferstotheplanofspirituallife,thatis,theactsofpietythatmarkoutthedayforamemberofOpusDei:

Fulfilmentoftheplanoflife,faithfulnessinsmallthings.OurLordsaysaboutthewidowwhoputsafewsmallcoinsinthebasket:Iassureyoushehasputinmorethananyoneelse.Perseverance,withhumility,placingourselvesinourMother’sarmslikechildrensothatshepicksusupandcarriesus.Holinessinvolvesthecarefulfulfilmentofourobligations,becausesaintsaremadeoffleshandblood,notcardboard.TheexampleofIsidoro(Zorzano);heattainedholinessinordinarywork,withextraordinaryhumility.

Inthelastmeditationthatdayheconsidered“theweeklychatandthedirectionthattheWorkoffersitsmembersthroughthedirectorsandpriests;”inotherwords,everythingrequiredtomakefruitfuluseofthespiritualaccompanimentthatthefaithfulofOpusDeibenefitfromontheirpathtoholiness.

Thursday,30September1948

ThelastmeditationsgivenbyJosemaríawereonThursdaythe30th.Inthefirstone,hecommentedontheparableofthegoodseedandthethorns:“Thegoodsower,whosowswheat.Thentheenemiescomeandsowtaresinacowardlyway.That’sthewaythingsareonearth!Howmanysowweeds!Theyarecowards,becausethentheyrunaway.Andallbecausethose,towhomtheLordhadentrustedthefield,didnotlookafterit.Let’snotbehominesdormientes,menwhoareasleep.”

Hesaidthatweneedtobevigilantlikethisinourpersonallife,todetectsubtletemptationsfromthedevil:“Hewon´tcometouscrudelyofferingusapieceofrawmeat,butwellprepared,seasoned,andinlittlethings:wehavetobestrong.Wealreadyknowwhatthemeansare:prayer,mortificationandwork.Don’tbeafraidofpenance;thisissomethingyoushouldtalktoyourdirectorabout.”Takingthisparablefurther,hewentontotalkabouthowmembersofOpusDeishouldtrytobeaChristianinfluenceintheplaceswheretheyliveandwork.Heexplainedthecharacteristicsthatpersonalapostolateshouldhaveinprofessionalenvironments:“Prestigeintheworkplace;holdyourheaduphighinfrontofyourcolleagues,withhumility;andgivethemcriteriawithout‘preaching’tothem(wearen’tDominicans).Andmoreover,acquiringanewsenseofeverything,whichfillsuswithpeaceandjoy.”

Intheeveningthatsameday,hereflectedonthehistoryoftheWork,andspecificallyonthepersecutionsithadsuffered,sometimesfromwithinecclesiasticalcircles.Now,afteritsapprovalasaninstitutionofpontificallaw,theChurchhadblesseditandputitforwardasanexample.Hefinishedbysayingthatthisalsohappensinpeople’slivesaswell:“illnesses,bereavements,setbacks,economicdifficulties,professionalbetrayals,trials...andthenthesunshines.”ReferringtoJesusandthemiraculouscatchoffish,inrelationtothevocationtoOpusDei,hepointedout:

Youshouldn’tthinkthatthisdedicationwillharmyourfamilylifeoreconomicinterestsinanywayatall.WhenPeterwasdoingeverythinghecouldtofishbutwithoutsuccess,Jesus

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showedhimtherightplaceandhebroughtinanabundantcatchoffishwithoutbreakingthenets.

Althoughourworkintheworldwillincrease,ournets(work,home,etc.)willnotbreak.

TheirtimetherewascomingtoanendandStJosemaríausedthelastmeditationtotalkaboutperseverance.Hewantedtogiveitlateintheeveningsothatthenextdaytheycouldleaveearly.Amongotherthings,hetoldthem:

Manybeginbutfewreachthesummit.Inourcase,fewbeginbutIamsuremanywillfinish.God’sgracewillnotfailus.IntheActsoftheApostles,wereadthatthefirstChristianswereperseveringinprayer,thewordandthebreakingofbread.Stubbornness.Let’sbeobstinateinthismatter,andifonedoorcloses,anotherwillopen.Fromnowon,letusbechildrenofourgoodandfairmother,theWork,“corunumatanimauna.”

THEDAYSINMOLINOVIEJOASSEENBYTHOSEPRESENTWehavealreadycitedimpressionsofAmadeodeFuenmayor,thepersonwhokeptthediary,regardingthejoyfulsatisfactionthattookholdofthosepresent,asthefounderrevealedbeforetheireyesthepanoramaofgivingoneselftoGodasSupernumeraries.Wewillnowlookatsomeoftheirimpressionsregardingdifferentaspectsoftheworkshop,whichmanyofthemwouldneverforget.

ThefamilyatmosphereandStJosemaría’spreaching

OneoftheformationchallengesinthisnewstageinthehistoryoftheWorkwastotransmittotheSupernumerariesthespiritoffiliationandfraternitythatarecharacteristicoftheWork,andthatthefounderconsideredtobeessential.Untilthattime,therehadonlybeenNumerarymembers,whohadalreadyabsorbedtheseaspects,toagreaterorlesserextent.Itremainedtobeseenhowthosewhospentlesstimewithoneanotherandwhowouldseethefounderlessoften,wouldincorporatethesespiritualfeaturesintotheirlives.

OnecanunderstandthereforethesatisfactionthatshinesoutinanotewrittenbyFuenmayor:“IcannotfailtorecordthefactthatthethreewhohavemettheFatherthisweek–Hermenegildo(Altozano),JuanC.(Caldés),andPedro(Zarandona)–haveindependentlyandspontaneouslycommentedonthegreataffectiontheyfeeltowardshim.It’smarvelloustoseehowdeeplythisspiritoffiliationhastakenholdinthem.”Henoteselsewhere:“It’swonderfultoseehowthosewhodidnotknoweachotherthreedaysago,nowtreatoneanotherasoldfriends,liketruebrotherswholoveoneanotherdearly.Theythemselvesnoticeitandsayhowwonderfulitis.”

Thisatmospherewasdueabovealltothepresenceandexampleofthefounder.YearslaterAlvirareminisced:

TheFatherwasattentivetoeveryoneandencouragedus,withthegoodhumourthatwashabitualinhim.EverythingtheFathersaidsunkindeeplyandagreatspiritoffriendshiparose.Sonow,aftermanyyears,thistruefriendshipremindsus,whenweseeoneanother,

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ofthosedayswespentwiththeFather,receivingdoctrineandseeingnewpathsforourspirituallifethathavedoneussomuchgood.

JuanCaldésrememberedhimas“alwaysoverflowingwithjoy,readilybreakingintoasmileandsometimesaheartyburstoflaughter.”Intheirfreetimetheyplayedsoccerorwentforaswiminthepool,sangorlistenedtomusic,andintheget-togethersafterlunchanddinnertheysharedpersonalstoriesandmemories.“Everyonetalkedasthoughinafamilywhosememberslovedoneanotherdearly,”Ivarsrecalled.“Ididn´tknowmostofthemuntilthenbutitseemedlikeIhadbeenlivingwiththemforever.Theget-togetherwaslikeagoodparty.”

JuanCaldésrememberedthefounderclearly:

Fromthemomenthereceivedus(inthesittingroombytheoratory)withfriendlywords(“thisisyourhome;welcome;it’spoorbutit’smadeoflove”),Ifeltastrongattractiontosomethingspecial.Later,asthecoursecontinued,thatattractiongrewstrongerbecauseineachMass,ineachmeditation,youfeltasthoughGod’sgracewasflowingfromhimandpouringoutinhiswords.

Thisimpressionwasnoexception.Yearslater,otherswhowerethererecalledStJosemaría’spreaching:“HewouldnormallycommentonapassagefromtheGospel,”remarksAntonioIvars.“Itwasimpossibletogettheleastbitdistracted.Heseemedtobespeakingdirectlytoeachone.Hespokeinthesingular,andoftensaid‘youandI,’ratherthanaddressingthegroupasawhole.”

Thepanoramaofthevocation

StJosemaríacountedontheexperienceoftheweeksofformationthattheNumerarieshadalreadybeendoingforyears.ButthisworkshoprequiredquiteafewtweaksandacomprehensivegraspofthecharacteristicsofaSupernumerarythatonlythefoundercouldhave.Judgingbythetestimoniesofthosethere,themessagewasreceivedloudandclear.Forexample,ÁngelSantoskeptnotesoftheideasheheardduringthatweek.Readingthemtoday,theycanbeagoodsummaryoftheessentialfeaturesofaSupernumerary:

Sanctifyingourordinarywork,seekingthefullnessofChristianlife.SanctifyingtheworldfromwithinthroughourinteriorlifeandthefulfilmentoftheordinarydutiesofaChristian;beingcontemplatives,withnaturalness,inthemidstofourdailytasks;carryingoutanapostolateoffriendshipandconfidencethatencompassesourwholeexistenceandthatraisesfriendshiptotheheightsofcharity;beingsowersofpeaceandturningwhereweliveintobrightandcheerfulhomes.Andallthiswithstrictlyindividualresponsibility–withoutambitionstorepresentanyone,withoutanyclericaltendencies–characteristicofamaturelaity.FarfromareligiousvocationbutattheserviceoftheChurch.Forthiswewouldcounton,goingforward,asuitabledoctrinalformation,spiritualdirection,thewarmthofourbrothersandencouragementforpersonalinitiatives.

Forsome,thispanoramawasanovelty.Theyhadallknown,foragreaterorlesseramountoftime,thefounder´sideas,eventhosewhohadnotknownhimpersonally,but

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perhapsnoneofthemhaduntilthensuchacompleteandclearvisionofwhatthelifeofaSupernumeraryinvolved.

Aswehavesaid,thosepresenthadlivedtheirfaithintenselyforyearsandseveralhadbeenactiveinlayapostolates.Nevertheless,whatMarianoNavarroRubiowroteaboutthosedaysinMolinoviejoissignificant:

Myusualwayofthinking,forgedfromanearlyageinCatholicAction,wasexposedtotheseideas,whichseemedaggressivenoveltiestomegiventhewayIhadofunderstandingreligionuptillthen.TheFathertalkedconstantlyaboutsanctifyingordinarywork,withaninsistencethatundoubtedlypointedtoakeyidea;abouttheapostolate“adfidem”–aboutfriendshipwithProtestantsandJews–whichseemedabitstrangeatthattime;aboutasmilingasceticismtogetherwiththatotherwonderfulideaofcontemplativelifeinthemiddleoftheworld.Allthissoundedlikeareligiousrenaissance,likealivingglory.Atasinglestroke,onesaweverythingthesameasbefore,butwithadifferentcolour.Avisionwascreated,bothdemandingandoptimistic,thatspokeaboutthevocationtoholinessoflaypeople,whereaseverywhereelsewewereconsideredassecond-classCatholics.Marriedlifeespeciallywasseen,inthelightoffaith,withanewrichness,unknowntomeandIthinktoalltheothersuntilthen.

Sayingyestoone’svocation

Accordingtothetestimoniesthatwehave,theyallsawclearlythatOpusDeiwasnotanassociationbasedontemporarycircumstances.Fromthefounder’sexplanationstheyunderstoodverywellthatitwassomethingquitedifferent.AntonioIvarswrote:

TheWorkwasveryyounganditwasgrowingrapidly.Thephrase“thewaterswillpassthrough”waswrittenonaplaqueinthepantry,andalittlefountaininoneofthecorridorsborethewords“intermediummontiumpertransibuntaquae,”thewaterswillpassrightthroughthemountains.TheWorkaspiredtobeanintravenousinjectioninthebloodstreamofsociety.Thewholekeywasinthe“unumneccesarium”:personalholiness,eachinhisownplaceandjob,strivingforperfection,forthegloryofGod,forgettingaboutoneself,andwithoutmakingnoise.

JuanCaldéswrotedownEscrivá´swords:“‘Youwillseewonderfulthings.’Butalways,alwaysasa‘giftfromGod,’asaproofofhislovingprovidence.”“Throughhiscommentaries,”recalledCarlosVerdú,“hespoketouswithgreatfaithabouteventsandthefuturedevelopmentoftheWork.TheFatherspokeaboutthesethingswithsuchassurancethathegavetheimpressionhealreadysawthemallmadeareality.”

“Thatweek,”Ivarsadds,“wasdecisiveforeveryone.Itwasallclearandsimple.Moreoveritwaslogicalandsensible.Wewouldcontinuebeingthesame,doingthesamethings,butalwaysaimingtowardsagoal:personalholiness.Weheardtheselight-filledwords:‘Yourlifewillbeabeautifulnovelofloveandadventure.’Andyearslater,manyyearslater,wehaveseenitallcometrue.”

ÁngelSantosremembersthatduringthelastdays“theFathertookastrollwitheachofusindividually,alongthelittlestreamthatranthroughtheproperty.Myconversation

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wasmainlyoneofexpressinggratitudeforthemarvellousgifthewasgivingme,tobeabletobelongtotheWorkanddedicatemylifetoGod,withinmycivilstateasacitizenandordinaryChristian.”

ManuelPérezSánchezalsoremembersaconversationinwhichStJosemaríasaidtohim,amongotherthings:“withcompletefreedomletmeknowyourdispositions;Iamnotcoercingyouintheleast.Ifyouarenotready,tellmefrankly;don´tdoitforme.WhetherornotyouarewillingtobeaSupernumerary,I’llalwaysloveyoujustthesame.”SilverioPalfox,thedoctorfromValencia,rememberedhischatwiththefounder:

Hetookmefirmlybutgentlybythearm.Iwasliterallyastonishedbythethingsheknew,notonlyaboutmyself,butalsoabout“quiteunusual”thingsthatinterestedmealotandthatmostpeopleknewnothingabout,ormisunderstoodorfearedeventolookinto:thefirstoriginsoflife,evolution,biologicalfoundationsofsexualityandthought,hygiene,nature-basedmedicine,etc.

Twothingsstayedstronglyinmymemory:one:“ThankGodforthisvocationthathehasgivenyouasarewardforhelpingyourbrotherfollowhisownone.”Andanother:“Itgivesmealotofjoythatwithgreatpiety,prudenceandformation,youareilluminatingwithdoctrineallthesetopicsthatareinthehandsofMarxists,masons,materialists....”Andhegaveahumorousexample:“BecauseitwillalsogivemegreatjoywhenIhaveabullfighterson;butIcan´ttellsomeonetobecomeabullfighterjustsoIcanboastthattherearebullfightersintheWork.Eachhastodowhathewants.”

PedroZarandonaalsorememberedclearly“strollingalongthelittlestreamthatranacrosstheproperty,closetotheoldpinegrove.Inanaturalandintimateconversation,hetookmebythearmfromtimetotimeasagestureofconfidence,andhetalkedtomewithwordsfilledwithfaithandloveforGodaboutthemarvellousvocationofgivingoneselfinthemiddleoftheworld,sanctifyingworkandtheordinarythingsofeachday.ThosewordsconfirmedmeinthedecisionIhadtakenafewmonthspreviouslytoasktojointheWork.”

Thediaryfromthosedaysfinisheslikethis:“Theweekhascometoanend,anditstaysfirmlyinourmindslikeadream,atruedream.OurLordhasmadeknowntousnewhorizonsthatfilluswithjoyandhappiness.Andtheywillreturntotheirhomesandtheirworktocontinuewiththeirsamelives,butwithaclearpurpose,divinedreamsandavocationtoholiness.”

CONCLUSIONSInlightofthedocumentsandtestimoniesthatwehavelookedat,wecandrawsomeconclusions.First,thefoundersucceededintransmittingtotheattendeesthefundamentalideaofwhataSupernumeraryinOpusDeiwas:thatitwasavocationtoattainholinessintheworld.Tosaythisin1948wassurprising,eventothosewhohadknownStJosemaríapreviouslyandwhowerefamiliarwiththespiritoftheWork.EveryoneknewthatthemaritalstatewasnotincompatiblewithadeepChristianlife,buttoconsideritintermsofvocation,withallthatthistermimpliedthenandnow,wassomethingnew.

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Thisdiscoveryproducedgreatjoyandsurpriseinthegroupthere.TheywerepeoplewhowantedtogivethemselvestoGodandseveralofthemhadtriedtodosoorhadconsidereditbefore,thinkingaboutbecomingpriestsorNumeraries,onlytorealisethatitwasnotforthem.Now,atlast,theyfoundtheirvocationalpath.

Fromwhatweknow,hismessagetothatgroupofmen,marriedorplanningtoformafamily,didnotdifferfromwhathehadbeensayingtogroupsofmenandwomenwhowishedtolivethisvocationincelibacy.Theprimacyofthecontemplativelife,thesanctificationofworkandtherealitiesintheworld,theresponsibleparticipationintemporalchallenges,servingGodandsocietyfromone’sownplace,withadesiretoradiateasmuchaspossibleaChristianspirit,withoutbeingafraidtooccupyimportantorprestigiouspostsifGodcalledthemtodoso,arethemesthathealwayspreachedon.Thus,toputitinsomeway,hedidn’thaveaspecificmessagejustfortheSupernumeraries.

Thebiographiesoftheattendees,ascanbeseenintheappendix,showusagroupthatwasmixedintermsofbackgrounds,placesoforiginandpriorknowledgeoftheWork.Atthesametime,wecanseesomecommonfeatures:theyallhadauniversityeducationor,inthecaseoftwoofthem,wereofficersintheNavy.Theywereallprofessionals,andseveralhadevenmanagedtobecomehighprofilepeopleinthescientific,political,culturaloreconomiccirclesofSpain.Alsosomeofthemwoulddevelopaconcerntogetinvolvedinsocialinitiatives.Asfarastheirpoliticalleaningsoraffiliationswereconcerned,thedocumentswehaveseendon’tsayanythingaboutthis,dueinnosmallparttothefactthattheWorkavoidsaskingpeoplefortheiropinionsonthesematters,inordertorespecttheirfreedom.Weknowthatsomeofthem,forexampleFontán,wereveryclosetoFranciscoFranco,andthatNavarroRubiowouldbecomeaministerintheregime,althoughheisnormallyviewedasaCatholic“technocrat,”andthatAltozanowasamonarchist.WecanassumetherestheldmoreorlesstheideasthatwerecommonamongSpanishCatholicsofthattime,whohadlivedthroughtheCivilWarandwhohadsupportedtheNationalistside.

Twentyyearshadpassedsincethe2ndofOctober1928,andthefounderhadbeenabletothinkthrough,inthelightofthefoundationalcharismandhisownexperiencesovertheseyears,apracticallydefinitivevisionoftheSupernumeraries,whichwaslargelywhathetransmittedtothemduringthosedaysandwhichwouldbesetdowninwriting,afewmonthslater,intheInstructionfortheWorkofSanGabriel.Fromthattimeone,thispartoftheWorkwouldstartdevelopinginadefinitiveway:ofthe2404menmembersand550womenmembersinOpusDeiatthebeginningof1950,therewere519menSupernumerariesand163womenSupernumeraries.

APPENDIX.BRIEFBIOGRAPHICALINFORMATIONABOUTTHOSEATTENDING(INALPHABETICALORDER)Tocompilethesebriefbiographicalnotes,wehaveuseddocumentationavailableinthePrelature’sGeneralArchives.ThisincludestestimonieswrittenbyseveraloftheprotagonistsforthecauseofcanonizationofStJosemaría,aswellasbriefunsigned

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obituarieswrittenonthedeathofthepeoplethemselves.Giventheaimandlimitsofthisarticle,wehavenotsearchedforotherprimaryinformationinpublicorprivatearchives,buthaveusedonlyinformationinthepublicdomain,whichcanbefoundinvariouspublicationsandwebpages.

HemenegildoAltozano(1916-1981)

HewasborninBañosdelaEncina(Jaén)on23December1916.In1931,hestartedaLawdegreewhenhewasonly15,attheUniversityofGranada.IntheyearsoftheSecondSpanishRepublic,hewaspresidentoftheAssociationofCatholicStudentsofLawandPhilosophyinhisuniversity.Whenhecompletedhisdegree,stillveryyoung,heobtainedajobinthejuridicalbranchoftheArmy.HetookpossessionofthisjobwhentheSpanishCivilWarended.LaterhetaughtintheNavalAcademyinMarin.IntheNavyheachievedthegradeofAuditorGeneral.

From1949to1955hewassecretarygeneralofthegovernmentintheterritoriesoftheSpanishcolonythatisnowtheRepublicofEquatorialGuinea,duringverydifficulttimes.AsAntonioFontánwrote,Altozano“wasbothalawyerandaprestigiousarmyman,aswellasanindependentandunconventionalpolitician.”HesupportedthemonarchyandformedpartofthecounciloftheCountofBarcelona.Between1959and1962hewascivilgovernorofSeville.Whenheretiredfrompolitics,hewasdirectoroftheBancoHipotecariodeEspaña.Hewasknownasa“deeplyhumanperson,whoearnedtherespectandsympathyofeveryoneinthevariouspublicfunctionshecarriedout.”

HemetStJosemaríainMolinoviejo,attheworkshopdescribedinthisarticle.ThosewhoknewhiminOpusDeidescribehimasakindandrefinedman,smilingandbalanced,withmanyfriendswhohetriedtobringclosertoGod.Heandhiswifehadeightchildren.

HediedfromcancerinJerezdelaFrontera(Cadiz)on12September1981.

TomásAlvira(1906-1992)

HewasborninVillanuevadeGallego(Saragossa)on17January1906.Somebiographiesofhislifearealreadyavailable.HestudiedChemistryattheUniversityofSaragossa.Hisprofessionallifewasspentmostlyteachinginsecondaryschools.Heworkedinseveralschools,insomeofthemasHeadmaster.AttheendoftheSpanishCivilWarhestartedteachingattheInstitutoRamirodeMaeztuinMadrid,wherehesecuredapermanentpositionin1941.The“Ramiro”asitisknowninMadrid,wasacentreknownforitsexcellence,whereAlvirawaspartofaprestigiousfaculty.

HewasalsoheadteacherattheColegiodeHuerfanosoftheCivilGuard.HetookpartinthecreationofFomentodeCentrosdeEnseñanza,afoundationthathassetupmanyschoolsinSpaininspiredbyChristianprinciples,whichstartedin1963.VictorGarciaHozandAngelSantoswerealsoinvolvedinthiseffort.From1973to1976hewasassistantdirectoroftheExperimentalCentreoftheInstituteofEducationatthe

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UniversityofMadrid,andlaterdirectoroftheUniversitySchoolofFomentodeCentrosdeEnseñanza.

HisfirstcontactwiththefounderofOpusDeiwasinMadrid,inthemiddleoftheSpanishCivilWar,on31August1937.Afewdayslater,Alvirareceivedasurprisinginvitationinthosecircumstances:toattendathree-daylongspiritualretreat,preachedbythefounderofOpusDei,withfourotherpeople.Becauseofthereligiouspersecutionthenunderway,agreatriskwasinvolvedintakingpart,andtheyhadtomeetindifferenthousestohavethevariousmeditations,soasnottoraisesuspicions.WhenStJosemaríadecidedtoescapetothenationalistzoneinordertocarryouthispriestlyministryinfreedom,Alvirajoinedthegroupoffugitives.

AlviramarriedFranciscaDominguez(Paquita)soonaftertheendofthewar,inJune1939.HecontinuedtobeincontactwithStJosemaríaintheyearsthatfollowed.In1948heaskedtobeadmittedinOpusDeiasaSupernumerary.HiswifealsobecameoneofthefirstwomenSupernumeraries.Theyhadninechildren.

Hediedon7May1992.Theprocessofbeatificationforhimandhiswifehasbeenopened.

EmilianoAman(1918-1980)

HewasborninBilbaoin1918.Hewasthesonofawell-knownarchitect,CalixtoAmann(1918to1942).Whenhefinishedschoolattheyoungageof15,hewenttoMadridtoprepareforentryintoArchitectureschoolandhefoundlodginginDYA,aresidencethathadbeensetupin1934asaninitiativeofthefounderofOpusDei.Thelettersthathewrotetohisparentsfromtheresidence,andwhichhavebeenpublishedinthismagazine,reflectthedailylifeofthefirstmembersoftheworkandofitsfounder,whocarriedoutawiderangeofactivitiesofChristianformation.

Foratime,duetotheoutbreakofthecivilwar,hewasnotabletocontinuetoreceivetheformationandspiritualguidanceinDYA,butwhenJosemaríamanagedtoescapefromthereligiouspersecutionandsethimselfupinBurgos,hecontactedhimagainandexperiencedhisfatherlyconcern,bothinpersonandbyletter.OneofAmann’slettersisthebasisforpoints106and977ofTheWay.

Whenthewarcametoanend,AmannwentbacktoMadridwherehehelpedtosetupthenewresidenceinJennerStreet,wherehewouldlive.Fromtherehemovedtotheresidence,Moncloa,thathadstarteditsactivitiesin1943.HecontinuedtoseeStJosemaríabutlessoftenthanbefore.OnfinishinghisArchitecturedegreein1946hereturnedtoBilbao.Ofcourse,Escriváhadalreadytalkedwithhimabout‘vocationtomarriage’andStJosemaríaofficiatedathismarriagetoCarmenGaramendi,inAlgorta(Vizcaya,intheBasqueCountry)in1948.WhenheexplainedtohiminMolinoviejoaboutthepossibilityofbecomingasupernumerary,Emilianorecalls“IdidnotdoubtforaninstantbecauseItrustedtheFather”.

Asanarchitectinthosedevelopmentalyears,Emilianocarriedonhisfather´slineofwork,whichwastodesignsocialhousingthatwouldreducecostsandmakebetteruse

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ofspace.Healsoworkedasadiocesanarchitectbetween1956and1960,completingvariousprojectsforViviendasdeVizcaya,forObraSindicaldelHogar,fortheBancoPopularandforTelefónica.Inaddition,hewasalsoinvolvedinbuildingsthatwouldbeusedforapostolicactivitiesrelatedtoOpusDei,liketheretreathouseIsalabe.

HediedonDecember13,1980.

JuanCaldés(1921-2008)

HewasborninLluchmayor(Mallorca)onJanuary1,1921.ThefamilyhadtomovetoMadrid,whereJuanwenttosecondaryschool,obtaininganofficialprizefromthestateforhisoutstandingperformanceinpublicexaminations.

AfterthecivilwarhereadLawatSalamanca,finishinghisdegreein1944.AyearlaterheobtainedadoctorateinMadridandsuccessfullyappliedforthepostofLegalOfficerintheSocialInstituteoftheNavyin1946.Thatsameyear,hefoundedinMadridtheUniversityAcademy,SanRaimundodePeñafort,aimedatworkersfromvarioussectors,sothattheycouldstudyforalawdegreeintheevenings.TheacademycametobeamodelcenterofitskindanditinspiredthecreationofothersimilarcentersinSpain.By1956hundredsofworkershadfinishedtheirlawdegree.

TogetherwithLeonardoPrietoCastro,universityprofessorofprocedurallaw,healsofoundedtheSchoolofLegalPracticeinMadridUniversity.Almostfiftyyearslater,therewouldbeseventy-fourschoolsofthiskindinSpain.

DuringhisstudiesinValencia,hehadgotincontactwiththeworkthankstoAmadeodeFuenmayorandtoJoséMontañés.HeaskedtojoinasasupernumeraryonJuly15,1948,afewweeksbeforegoingtoMolinoviejo.WhenJosemaríatalkedtohim,hedidnothavetoraisetheideaofapossiblevocation,ashedidwithothers:“ashetookmebythearmandwalked”,recalledJuan,“hejustmadeone,veryspecificrecommendation:nextyearhewantedtoseemetherewithtwofriends.Hisapostolicdesirewaswithoutmeasure.”

HemarriedConsueloLlopis,alsoasupernumerary.Theyhadtenchildren.

Throughouthisprofessionalcareerheheldvariouspositionsofresponsibilityrelatedtoeconomicsandlaw:intheGeneralCouncilofLawyers,theSpanishLawSociety,theConfederationofOrganizationsforSocialProvisioninSpain,etc.From1958healsoworkedinbanking,firstintheBancoPopularandthenasdirectoroftheInstituteofCreditoftheBuildingSocieties(CajasdeAhorro),whereherememberedspendinghisfourhappiestprofessionalyears.Traditionallythebuildingsocietiessupportedsocialandculturalworks,andCaldéspromotedthiswiththecreationofhomesforolderpeople,schoolsetc.In1972theCreditInstitutewasabsorbedbytheBankofSpain,whereCaldésbecametheGeneralDirector,aposthewouldholduntil1984.Afterthathereturnedtolawpractice.

HediedonMay30,2008.

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JesúsFontán(1901-1980)

HewasbornonApril26,1901,inVilagarcíadeArousa(Galicia,inthenorthwestofSpain).HewasintheNavy,wherehereachedtherankofViceAdmiral.AsaboylivinginFerrol,hemetafriendofhisbrother’s.Hisbrother’snamewasJohn.Hisbrother´sfriendwasolderthanhewas.Thisfriendusedtocomeandstudyattheirhome;hisnamewasFranciscoFranco.TheybecameclosefriendsandthiswasthereasonthattheSpanishdictatorandGeneralnamedhimashisassistant,inFebruary1939.

Fontánstartednavyschoolin1917andlaterobtainedthequalificationsofairshippilotandofnavalobserver,aswellasthediplomaofMilitaryStaffOfficer.DuringthecivilwarhewasarrestedinMadridinSeptember1936,andspenttwomonthsintheModeloprison.OnreleasehewentovertothenationalistzoneinJune,1937.HewasthenpostedtoseveralshipsandworkedintheGeneralArmyBarracksinSalamanca.

In1942hemetJoséMaríaGonzálezBarredo,oneofthefirstmembersofOpusDei,aprofessorattheUniversityofZaragoza,whotalkedtohimaboutStJosemaría.ThenextdayJesúsandStJosemaríawereintroduced.JesúswasbowledoverbyStJosemaría’skindness.Atlatermeetings,JesúswitnessedtheconfidencewithwhichthefoundertalkedaboutthefuturedevelopmentoftheWork.DuringthoseyeasJesúsFontánalsohadcontactwithÁlvarodelPortillo.

AtthebeginningofApril1946,hestooddownfromhispositionasFranco’sassistanttotakechargeofthevesselGalatea.Inthesummerof1947,hereceivedthepleasant,surprisevisitofStJosemaríaandÁlvarodelPortilloinhishomeinPontedeume.Withhiswife,BlancaSuances,alsoasupernumerary,theyhadsixdaughtersandtwosons.Jesúsrecalls“withthataffectionthattheFatheralwaysputintoeverything,helookedatmychildrenandsaid“Ihavetobeabletohaveoneorotherofthese”andtheLordgrantedhimthevocationsoftwoofthem…Ashewasleavinghesaidtome“YoucanbeoftheWorknow”.”

Afterholdingpositionsofgreatresponsibility,heresignedfromtheNavyin1967,butnotfromhiscontactwiththesea.ThatyearhewasappointedpresidentoftheInstitutoSocialdelaMarina,anorganizationthatoffershealthassistanceandsocialprovisionforthosewhoworkatsea,aswellasothertypesofhelpforpeopleinthistoughlineofworkandtheirfamilies.Hestooddownfromthispostin1976attheageof75.

HediedAugust26,1980,athishomeinCabañas(LaCoruña,alsoinGalicia).Manyofhisnavycolleagues,whomhehadtriedtobringclosertoGodduringhislifeasaSupernumerary,werepresentathisfuneral.

RafaelGalbe(1919-2012)

HewasborninZaragozain1919.TherehereadLawatuniversity.In1937,duringthecivilwar,sailingonthecruiselinerCanarias,hereachedMallorca,wherehemetJoséOrlandis,withwhomhewouldalwaysmaintainaclosefriendship.HewasLieutenantAuditoroftheReserveListoftheJudicialCorpseoftheNavy.

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HiscontactwithOpusDeiwasinZaragoza,duringregulartripsthatmembersofOpusDeimadetothatcity.Intheacademicyear1942-43hemovedtoMadrid,toprepareforexaminationsforentryintothejudiciary.ThereheusedtovisitSanJosemaríaandJoséLuisMúzquizatthehouseinLagascaStreet.

Galbebeganhiscareerinthejudiciaryin1947andwassenttoworkatthelocallawcourtinJaca.In1948SanJosemaríathoughtthathecouldbeasupernumerary.Rafaelwasexcitedbythisidea,asweretheothersonthatworkshop.Laterhebecameanumerary.In1949hewaspostedbytheSpanishgovernmenttowhatwasthenknownastheGulfofGuinea.

InthisSpanishcolonyhewasknownforhisapostolicactivitywiththeyoungerEuropeans,whofoundithardtoliveaChristianlifeinthatenvironment,morallylooserthanSpainatthetime.InApril1953,hewasappointedjudgeinthefirsthearingandappealcourtsofSantaIsabelandpresidentofthecolonialcourtandhighindigenouscourt.InMay1960,hewaspromotedtomagistrate,continuingasheadoftheJusticeServicesofGuinea,asitwasthencalled.

In1966hewaspresidentoftheEquatorialGuineanLawCourts.OnOctober9,1968,hesteppeddownfromthepostofDeputyGeneralCommissionerofEquatorialGuinea,thedayonwhichSpaingrantedindependencetothenewcountry.Thosewhohaddealingswithhimthereknewhimasanhonestmanofgreatfaith,withhighmoralprinciplesandastrongcharacter.

Inthemid-fiftiesheformallyleftOpusDei;healwaysmaintainedareputationasabeliever,athoughtfulpersonandaboveall,asamanofservice.Heremainedsinglehisentirelife.

AfterreturningtoSpain,hebecamepresidentofthecourtofadministrativedisputesinZaragoza.HediedinZaragozain2012.

VíctorGarcíaHoz(1911-1998)

HewasborninCampillodeAranda(Burgos)in1911.In1940heobtainedadoctorateinPedagogyandin1944hebecameaprofessorofexperimentalanddifferentiationalpedagogyinthefacultyofPhilosophyandArtsatMadridUniversity.

HemarriedinAugust1939,shortlyafterthenendofthecivilwar.Togetherwithhiswife,NievesRosalesyLasodelaVega,hewaslookingforaspiritualdirectorwhenhemetthefounderofOpusDei.CasimiroMorcillo,theVicarGeneralofthedioceseofMadrid,wasthepersonwhoputthemintouch.Theysaweachotherregularlyuntil1946.Fromthesetalksofspiritualdirection,Víctorrememberedasentencethatatthetime‘astonishedhim’:“Godcallsyoutowaysofcontemplation”.Inthoseyearsitwasnoteasilyunderstoodthatyoucouldsaythistoamarriedman,withadaughterandexpectingmorechildren(whichinfactcame),workingtosupporthisfamily,asthoughitwassomethinghehadtopractice.Heandhiswife,whowouldalsobecomeaSupernumerary,hadeightchildren.

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Around1942StJosemaríatalkedtohimaboutthepossibilityofrespondingto“aspecial,divinevocationtoseekholinessinthemiddleoftheworld…HesuggestedthatI,togetherwithanotherperson,TomásAlvira,begantolivethecustomsandnormsoftheWorkwithoutformallybelongingtoit.Iwasoverjoyedbythisidea.Withapatiencethatneverceasedtoamazeme,StJosemaríagaveacircletosupernumeraries,eventhoughtheydidnotreallyexistyet,whichTomásandIattended.

TheacademicandprofessionalbiographyofVíctorisverybroad.HewasdirectoroftheInstituteofPedagogyoftheHighCouncilofScientificResearch,until1981;apermanentmemberoftheRoyalAcademyofMoralandPoliticalSciences,andofscientificsocieties;pedagogicconsultant-commissionedbyUnesco–ofvariouscountries;Heobtainedseveralhonorarydoctorates,andnumerousnationalandinternationalprizes.Withhundredsofpublications,perhapshismostimportantworkisthemonumentaltreatiseonpersonalisededucation,inthirty-threevolumes,withthecollaborationofEuropeanandAmericanteachers,thathefinishedin1997attheageof86.Uptojustafewdaysbeforehisdeath,hewouldarrivepunctuallyforworkatFomentoCentrosdeEnseñanza,thecompanybehindmanyschoolsofaChristianethos,inwhosecreationandpromotionTomásAlviraandÁngelSantosenthusiasticallyparticipated.

HediedinMadridonFebruary18,1998.

AntonioIvars(1918-1997)

HewasborninValenciain1918.HereadlawinhishometownanddidhisdoctorateinMadrid.HisknowledgeofStJosemaríawentbacktothefirsttripsofStJosemaría’stoValencia,aftertheSpanishCivilWar,in1939.Heremembersthataclosefriendspokeabouthim:“Hedescribedhimtomeasaholypriest,dedicatedtotheformationoftheyouth.Hetalkedtomeaboutsomecirclesthattookplaceinamodestmezzanineatnumber9,SamaniegoStreet,whichheinvitedmetoattend.”TherehemetStJosemaríaonadaywhenthefounderwas“lyingdownonasmallbedwithafever,illandthin.”Oncehefeltbetter,heheardhisconfessionandinvitedhimtoattendhisMass,whichhadaprofoundeffectonhim.Asaresultofthismeetingheremembers“Mylifechanged.IhadbeenanxiousoverthelastyearstofindsomethingthatwouldfillmecompletelyandthiswasjustwhatIhadbeenlookingforwithoutrealisingit”.

In1940,whenauniversityresidenceinthesameSamaniegoStreetwasinoperation,AntonioIvarshadaconversationwithPedroCasciaroandAmadeodeFuenmayor.TheysaidtohimthatStJosemaríahadmentionedthathehada“vocationtomarriage”andthat“theyshouldnotworryhim.”FromthosefirstcontactswithOpusDei,healreadyfeltpartoftheWork:“Iwasasupernumerary,butIwasnotoneofficiallyuntiltenyearslater.Nevertheless,myvocationarosefromthatfirstmoment.”

ProfessionallyheworkedfortheTramandRailwayCompanyofValenciaasGeneralSecretary.In1957,motivatedbyhisconcernfortheimprovementoftheprofessionalworld,hefoundedaschoolfortheformationoftopexecutives,apioneeringinitiativeinValencia.Hewrotevariousbooksrelatedtotheformationofmanagersandtocompanymanagement.

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Heorganiseddiscussiongroupswithpeopleaswayofbroadeninghiscircleoffriends.AgoodnumberofsupernumerariesfromValenciasaytheyaresurethattheydiscoveredtheirvocationthankstohim.In1982hefoundedtheEscuelaTertulia(discussiongroupschool),wheresmallgroupsofbusinessmenwouldgoeveryweektotalkaboutprofessional,social,culturalandhumanistictopics.

InthelaststageofhislifehesufferedfromAlzheimerfortenyears.HediedonApril25,1997.

MarianoNavarroRubio(1913-2001)

HewasborninBurbáguena(Teruel)onNovember14,1913.HespenthischildhoodandearlyyouthinDaroca(Zaragoza).HestudiedLawintheUniversityofZaragoza.Asarepublicaninhisthinking,andopposedasmuchtotheleft-wingpartiesastothoseontheright,hefoundinCatholicActionagoodplaceforhisactivity.WhentheSpanishCivilWarcametoanend,hegraduatedfromthearmyasProvisionalCaptainoftheRegulars.

HepreparedforadoctorateinlawandjoinedtheAcademyoftheMilitaryJudicialCorpse.HewaslivinginMadridandwasamemberoftheHighCounciloftheyoungmeninCatholicAction,wheninMayorJune1940hemetStJosemaría,thankstoAlbertoUllastres,presidentoftheDiocesanCouncilofMadridandacolleagueofhis,alsodoingadoctorateinlaw.

Navarrowasintheprocessoflookingforaspiritualdirectorthatwouldresolvehisdoubtsaboutapossiblevocationtothepriesthood.Tobeginwith,StJosemaríaencouragedhiminthatdirection,butafewdayslaterheadvisedhimtowaitandtothinkwhetherGodwasnotcallinghimtomarriage.AseriesofeventsoverthefollowingdaysmadehimseethatthefounderoftheWorkwasright.HegotmarriedtoMaríaDoloresSerrésSena,withwhomhehadelevenchildren.

Somethingsimilarhappenedinrelationtohisprofessionalcareer.Whilerespectinghisfreedom,StJosemaríasuggestedthathecouldconsidergoingintopolitics,insteadoftryingtogainaprofessorshipinLaw,whichNavarroaspiredto.Initiallydisconcertedbythisunexpectedadvice,realityshowedhisqualitiesweresuitedtopolitics,asEscriváhadintuitivelyguessed.Indeed,asNavarrohimselfremembers,“In1947IwasnamedCourtAttorney.In1955IwasnamedUndersecretaryofPublicWorks.In1957MinisterofFinanceandin1965GovernoroftheBankofSpain.ThereisnodoubttheFatherwasright.”

NavarrocontinuedtotalkwithStJosemaría,ashisaffectionfortheWorkgrew.In1947,whilehewasinRome,hehadaninterviewwithStJosemaría,togetherwithVíctorGarcíaHoz.StJosemaríatoldhimthatthemomenthadarrivedinwhichmarriedpeoplecouldnowjointheworkassupernumeraries.Whentheyaskedhimifhewantedtobeone,herepliedresolutelythathedid.StJosemaríatoldhimtoaskGarcíaHoztoteachhimthePreces,andthatdaytheyprayedthePrecestogetherinthehotel.

Aswehaveseen,MarianoNavarroRubioheldimportantpostsinSpanishpubliclife.Hewonalotofrecognitionandawardsforhiswork;hewasalsoascholarineconomics

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andpolitics,andanacademicintheRoyalAcademyofMoralandPoliticalSciences.HewasoneofthemainpromotersoftheNationalPlanforEconomicStabilitywhichmodernisedtheSpanisheconomyandadministration,leadingtolargeeconomicgrowthduringtheyearswhenhewasMinisterofFinance.Hisbrilliantcareerwascutshortin1970,whilehewasGovernoroftheBankofSpain,whenhewasaccusedinthesocalled“MatesaCase”.

Illnesscausedhimtobehouseboundinhisfinalyears.HediedonNovember3,2001.

SilverioPalafox(1921-2015)

HewasborninGranadain1921.WhenhewasstudyingMedicineinValencia,hestartedtofrequenttheresidenceinSamaniegoStreet,encouragedtodosobyFatherEladioEspaña,apriestandagoodfriendofStJosemaría.In1940hemetthefounderinValencia.PedroCasciaroinvitedhimtogiveBiologyclassesintheresidencetothosewhowerepreparingforpublicexams.In1942hewasdoingaretreatinMadrid,whichStJosemaríawasgiving,whenhejoinedOpusDei,buthelostcontactstraightawayashevolunteeredfortheBlueDivision,agroupofyoungSpanishmenwhofoughtinRussia.Heretunedayearandahalflater,disappointedbywhathehadexperiencedandtransferredhisacademicstudiestoSalamancaUniversity.

HemaintainedsporadiccontactwithOpusDeiandStJosemaríauntiloneday,followingasuggestionfromhisbotherEmilio,heaskedPedroCasciaro“whatisallthisabout‘supernumeraries’”.Casciaroshowedsurprisebutherepliedwithasmile:“Nothingyet,buttherewillbe.Keepstrivingtobegoodandprayaboutit.”Afteratime,theyinvitedhimtogotoMolinoviejo,totheworkshopwe’vebeentalkingabout,wherehefoundoutwhathehadwantedtoknow,andhebecameamemberoftheWork.In1950hemarriedMaríaDoloresBogdanovitch:theyhadfivechildrenandfromtheverystarttheyhadwantedtocreateaChristianhomefortheirfamily.Hewasanactivescientist,exponentoftheneo-HippocraticcurrentofnaturalSpanishmedicine.Heobtaineddoctoratesinhydrology,psychiatry,endocrinology,andinthehistoryofmedicine,supervisedbyprestigiousacademics.HetaughtvariouscoursesattheComplutenseUniversityinMadrid.In1947hecreatedBinomialNotebooks,amagazinethataimedtopromotethestudyofnaturalmedicine,hygiene,diet,vegetarianism,naturalhealingmethodsandthetendencyoforganismstocurethemselves,inacontextofhumanisticmedicine.HewasacademicinresidenceoftheRoyalNationalAcademyofMedicine(1980)andfounderoftheSpanishAssociationofDoctorsofNaturalMedicine(1981),anditspresidentuntil1997.HediedonMarch23,2015,attheageof93.

ManuelPérezSánchez(1905-2002)

HewasborninHerreradeIbio(Cantabria)onNovember8,1905.AftersecondaryschoolinSantander,hemovedtoMadridin1924toprepareforentryintouniversitytostudyCivilEngineering.There,hisfriendManuelSainzdelosTerreros,alsofromCantabria,invitedhimtosomeactivitiesofChristianformationthatthefounderofOpusDeiwasorganising.

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HemetStJosemaríaonMarch18,1934,duringaretreatinaresidenceinManuelSilvelaStreetthatbelongedtotheRedemptorists.AlittlelaterheaskedtojoinOpusDei.ForsomeyearshehadbeenhelpingoutinactivitiesthattheStVincentdePaulSocietyorganisedintheparishofStRamón,intheareaofPuentedeVallecasinMadrid.Oneofthosetakingpartintheseactivitieswasafirst-yearCivilEngineeringstudent,ÁlvarodelPortillo.Oneday,wheneveryonewasanimatedlytalkingaboutJosemaríaEscrivá,PérezSánchezdecidedtointroducehimtoDelPortillo,andthisiswhathappenedafewdayslaterintheDYAresidence.BlessedÁlvarowasforeverespeciallygratefultoManuelPérezSánchezforhavingintroducedhimtoStJosemaría.

TheCivilWartookhimbysurpriseinSantander.WhenStJosemaríawasabletogettoBurgos,theymadecontactagain.Fromtimetotime,PérezSánchezwasabletomakeaverynecessaryloantohelpthefounderandthosewithhimgetoversomefinancialdifficulties.

ShortlybeforetheCivilWar,PérezSánchezhadstoppedbeinganumerary,butStJosemaríathoughtofhimstraightawayasapossiblesupernumerary,andthatiswhatcametopassduringthosedaysatMolinoviejo.In1962,stillsingle,hewentfrombeingasupernumerarytobeinganassociate.HelivedathishomeinMadriduntil1997.HeheldvariouspostsintheMinistryofWorks.In1965hewasappointeddirectoroftheAdministrativeCommissionofPorts.Afterhisretirementin1975,heworkedonthedistributionofspiritualbooksandonadministrativetasksinhiscentreoftheWork,untilhewasover90yearsold.HecarriedonhelpingintheStVincentdePaulSocietyhiswholelife,wherehewasabletodoapostolatewithhisfriends.HediedinHerreradeIbioonMarch29,2002,attheageof96.

ManuelSainzdelosTerreros(1907-1995)

HewasborninSolares(Cantabria,northcoastofSpain)in1907.HewasafriendofManuelPerezSanchez,asalreadymentioned,andalsostudiedCivilEngineering.HehadmetStJosemaríainJune1933.HehadoriginallyheardofthefounderwhileattendingtosomepoorfamiliesinMadrid,inacharitableenterprise.Intheirfirstmeeting,theyoungengineertalkedabouthisuncertaintyaboutapossiblecalltogivehimselftoGod.Afterprayingandthinkingaboutit,somedayslater,hedecidedtocollaboratewithhiswholesoulintheworkthatEscriváwascarryingout.

HehelpedinthesettingupoftheDYAAcademyandResidenceand,beingabitolderthantheuniversitystudentsthatusedtocometoactivities,heruntheSo.Co.In,whichwasthefirstattemptofStJosemaríatostarttheworkofStGabriel.Later,withTomasAlviraandothers,heaccompaniedEscriváinthecrossingofthePyreneesduringtheSpanishCivilWar.In1938helostcontactwiththeWork,althoughhealwayshadgreataffectionandvenerationforStJosemaría.

HemarriedCarmenGoñiandtheyhadsevenchildren.HemovedtoPamplonaforworkreasons.

WhenthepossibilityaroseofreconnectingwithsomeoldfriendsfromthetimesofFerraz,StJosemaríathoughtaboutSainzdelosTerreros,whoagreedtotakepartinthe

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workshopinMolinoviejo,althoughhisnewcontactwiththeWorkwasinterruptedagainafternotverylong.HediedinPamplonaon18June1995.

AngelSantos(1912-2005)

HewasborninReinosa(Cantabria,northcoastofSpain)in1912.Whenhewas22hegraduatedinPharmacyintheUniversityofMadridandlaterdidfurtherstudiesinLondonandParis.HemetStJosemaríainSeptember193,throughMiguelDean,afriendwhowouldlateralsobecomeaSupernumerary.

Inhismemoirs,writtenmanyyearslater,wefindtheexhortationofthefounderofOpusDei“tohavethebestpossiblescientificandprofessionalpreparation,soastoachieveahighstanding,fromwhichtobringChristianideastothefamily,theuniversityandone’ssocialenvironment.”

HewasoneofthepeoplewhoparticipatedintheactivitiesofSoCoIn.DuringtheCivilWar,IsidoroZorzanomadeitpossibleforhimtoreceiveHolyCommunionsometimes,andonsomeoccasionsapriestcelebratedaclandestineMassinhishouse.But,asmanyotherCatholics,Santosendedupbeingarrestedandputinprison.AftertheCivilWarhecontinuedtakingpartinactivitiesofChristianformationinOpusDei,withStJosemaríaashisspiritualdirector.

In1940heobtainedtheChairofBiologicalChemistryintheFacultyofPharmacyoftheUniversityofMadrid.HerememberedthatStJosemaría“congratulatedhimand,withhisusualkeenness,remindedmeofmyresponsibilitiesasamemberoftheuniversity,asascientistandasasonofGod.Ishouldhavegreatloveformywork–withoutplacingmyhopesinpurelyhumangloryorthegratefulnessofothers–withanuprightintentionand,aboveall,aconstantconcerntodoapostolatewithmycolleaguesandfriends,helpingtheminadisinterestedway,notjustspiritually,butalsomateriallyifnecessary.”

AsSantosgottoknowOpusDeibetter,hekeptthinkingaboutapossiblecallfromGod,butrememberedthatthefounderhadtalkedtohimabouthisvocationtomarriage:“awonderfulvocation,”theFatherhadsaid,“whichIblesswithbothhands.”EscriváhimselfofficiatedathisweddingonDecember4,1941,toMariadelCarmenDiaz,whowouldalsobecomeaSupernumerary.Theyhadfourchildren.

Makingitcompatiblewithhisworkattheuniversityhestudiedforaseconddegree,inMedicine,inSalamanca,andfolloweditwithadoctorateinMadrid.ThroughhisacademicandresearchworkhebecameoneofthefathersofBiochemistryinSpain.In1955hewasappointedpresidentoftheNationalCouncilofBiochemistry.HewasoneofthefoundersofSpanishSocietyofBiochemistryandpresidentoftheRoyalNationalAcademyofPharmacy,aswellasmemberoftheRoyalNationalAcademyofMedicine.HereceivedfiveHonoraryDoctoratesandotherprizesforhisacademicandscientificwork.

HediedonApril23,2005,aged92.

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CarlosVerdú(1914-1991)

HewasborninPaterna(Valencia)in1914.HestudiedLawintheuniversityofValencia.

HewasoneoftheuniversitystudentswhoattendedthefirstretreatthatStJosemaríapreachedinValenciain1939.HewasaresidentintheSanJuandeRiberastudents’residenceinBurjasot(Valencia).ThreeresidentswereaskedtogotoMadridtocollectStJosemaríaandVerdúwasoneofthem.RememberingthosehourstravellingbycarfromMadridtoValenciawithStJosemaría,hewrotethathisconversation“revolvedaroundhisconcerntoconquertheuniversityforJesusChrist.Heencouragedustohaveasenseofresponsibility,asCatholics,totrytobethebestinallthedifferentareas,soastoacquireahighstandingandtakeonintheuniversitytheapostolatethatweareobligedtocarryoutasCatholicintellectuals.”

VerdúwastheprotagonistofastorythatStJosemaríatoldatvarioustimesinhislife,bothpreachingandinwriting,relatedtoalargenoticewiththewords‘Leteachwayfarerfollowhisway’,whichhadbeenleftbehindbytherepublicantroopswhohadoccupiedthebuildingduringthewar.WhenVerdúwasabouttoremoveit,StJosemaríatoldhimthatitmightbeusefultoleaveitthereandthenduringtheretreat,“inalmostallmeditationsandtalkshewouldbringupthissentencethat‘leteachwayfarerfollowhisway’todrawoutconsequencesforouractivityasCatholics.”

Verdúhimselfdiscernedduringthosedays,withthehelpofStJosemaría,thathis“way”involvedseekingholinesswithinmarriage.HewouldnotseethefounderagainuntiltheworkshopinMolinoviejo,wherehehadbeeninvitedbyhisoldfriendAngelLopez-Amo,followingasuggestionofStJosemaría.

Aftertheworkshop,alreadyasasupernumerary,hemetStJosemaríaagaininValencia,inApril1949.Onthatoccasionhewaswiththreeotherfriendswho,soonafter,alsoaskedfortheadmissionassupernumeraries.

HemarriedMariaSanchoandtheyhadfourchildren.HepracticedLawinValenciaandGandía,anearbytown.HealsooccupiedsomepositionsinpubliclifeinValncia:hewasamemberofValencia’slocalparliament,lieutenantofthemayorofValencia,anddirectoroftheProvincialHospital.HecontinuedhiscontactwiththeSanJuandeRiberastudentsresidenceandwasamemberofthePatrons’Committee,aswellaspresidentoftheAlumniAssociation.

HediedonJuly24,1991,inValencia,afterthreeyearsofaseriousillness.

PedroZarandona(1922-2009)

HewasborninCastroUrdiales(Cantabria)on22August1922.Hewastheyoungestoftwelvechildren.In1941hestartedMilitaryNavySchool.InJune1944hewasdiagnosedwithtuberculosis.Duringhisconvalescence,twosistersofhiswhowerenuns(PoorClares)inthemonasteryofCantapiedra(Salamanca),recommendedthebookTheWaytohim.

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Wantingtomeettheauthor,ZarandonatriedtogetintouchwithStJosemaríaandtheysaweachotheron1December1945inMadrid.Thefoundertookaninterestinhisillnessand,amongotherthings,advisedhimtoseektheintercessionofIsidoroZorzano.WhenheaskedaboutOpusDei,StJosemaríaadvisedhimtobepatientandsuggestedthatfornowheshouldgototherectoroftheparishofBuenSucesoforspiritualguidance.TherectorwasMonsignorJoséMaríaBulart,agoodfriendofStJosemaría.Almostfullyrecovered,hestartedtoattendmeansofChristianformationintheuniversityresidence,Moncloa,inOctober1946.

InJanuary1947hemanagedtogetaplaceattheNavySchooltofinishhisstudies.InJunethatyearhewaspromotedtosecondlieutenantandwaspostedtotheCentralNavyJudicialofficesinMadrid,wherehegotbackincontactwithOpusDei.

HavingaskedtojoinasaSupernumeraryin1948,andafterthedaysspentinMolinoviejo,hestartedtostudyEconomicsattheCentralUniversityinMadrid,makingitcompatiblewithhisjob.InNovember1950,whenonamilitarypilgrimagetoRome,hemetStJosemaríaagain.Shortlyafterwards,heaskedtojoinasanAssociatememberandayearlaterhebecameaNumerary.

In1962,afterbeingpromotedtolieutenantcommander,heaskedforleavefromtheNavysoastoworkfulltimeoninternaltasksintheWork.From1962to1964helivedandworkedinSeville,asamemberoftheCounciloftheDelegationofOpusDeiinthatcity.In1964hereturnedtoMadridtoworkontheRegionalCommissionofOpusDeiinSpain,firstasanassistantandlater,from1966,astheAdministrator.

In1976hemovedtoTorreciudadtobecomepresidentofthePatronsCommitteeoftheshrine,whereheworkedonitsfinancesandpublicity,aswellasonthepromotionofeducationalandsocialprojectsinthearea.In1992,whenhereturnedtoMadrid,heworkedonsupportingvariousapostolicinitiativesofOpusDei.Inaddition,heworkedonpromotingthefoundationAnaMaríadelaLamaySalvarrey,thatawardsgrantstoyoungstudentsinCantabria,aswellasassistingothersocialprojects.

Hediedon21May2009,inMadrid.