I had never been to anything like it in my life

Julius Ogallo, Mechanical Engineer, Nairobi, Kenya

December 1, 2002

A friend invited me to go to a morning of recollection. I had never been to anything like that in my whole life… I started to read the Gospel and to pray with The Way. It was a totally different world. One of the ideas that had impressed me is the advice that lay people should read the Gospel. Now I see that the reason that Saint Josemaria gave it has a lot of sense: it is about having a clear image of our Lord, and imagining what He would do in the different circumstances of our life. In the apostolic letter Novo Millennio Ineunte it says, “the paths to holiness are personal and call for a genuine training in holiness adapted to people’s needs”. That is exactly what I have found in the formational activities offered by Opus Dei.

Life is such a gift

Wendy O’Bar, wife, mother, marriage mentor, Houston, USA,

December 1, 2002

Vince and Wendy O’Bar live in Houston with their three sons. Vince is a salesman who enjoys spending time with his kids, playing basketball with the guys, and drinking a cold beer on a hot afternoon. Wendy has named herself “Secretary of Interior” at the “O’Bar mansion” and cares for their children full-time. After visiting their cheerful and lively home, one would never know that the family has encountered tremendous hardships in the past few years. In addition to two miscarriages, Wendy has given birth to two children with a fatal genetic disorder. Both children passed away within a week of their birth. Showing great faith in God, Vince and Wendy have come to view these tragedies as opportunities to grow closer together and appreciate the wonderful gift of life.

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At age 35 the wheelchair came into my life

Susana Chavez, Buenos Aires, Argentina

December 1, 2002

I rediscovered the value of living in the grace of God from the teachings of the Founder of Opus Dei.
Years ago I saw a filmed encounter with the Founder of Opus Dei in the Teatro Coliseo in Buenos Aires, and I still remember the impact made on me by a question from a woman in a wheelchair. I felt totally identified with her because, like me, in that situation she wanted to know what people with disabilities could do for Opus Dei, apart from praying and offering up our limitations to God.

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I realized that I could be a good Christian, a football fan and a party member

Jorge Barrera, lawyer and member of parliament, Uruguay

November 1, 2002

I have to acknowledge the fact that I come from a very idealistic family. I was born and brought up in politics, and arguing about ideas and ideals has always been part of my life. I’ve always considered myself an idealist, and so I defend the conviction instilled in me by my parents, that life has a meaning if you are committed to an ideal.

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Pope John Paul II

Homily, Monday, October 7, 2002

October 7, 2002

The tender face of a Father

The Lord made him understand deeply the gift of our divine filiation. Saint Josemaria taught how to contemplate the tender face of a Father in God, who speaks to us through the most varied vicissitudes of life. A Father who loves us, who follows us step by step and protects us, understands us and waits for a response of love from each one of us. The consideration of this paternal presence, which accompanies him everywhere, gives the Christian an unshakable confidence; at every moment he should confide in the heavenly Father. He never feels alone, nor is he afraid. In the Cross, when it appears, he does not see a punishment but rather a mission entrusted by the Lord himself. The Christian is necessarily optimistic, because he knows that he is a son of God in Christ.

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If you’re going to do something, do it big!

Mary Hamm, Executive director of Centro Tepeyac*, wife and mother of 12 children, Washington, D.C., USA

October 6, 2002

When people ask me how many children I have, I often tell them twelve, plus two non-profits: working with a non-profit is like having another child. It was largely through the inspiration of Josemaria Escriva and the support of Opus Dei that I came to this.

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A flame to set the world on fire with new life

Nadine Chirizzi and Bruno Mastroianni

October 6, 2002

Bruno: We got to know each other during our school years and it was Nadine who gave me the idea of attending a spiritual retreat. It was from there that I wanted to know more about the teachings of Josemaria Escriva.

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There is no room for sadness

Pierluigi Bartolomei, professor of the Elis Center Training School, Rome

October 6, 2002

Interviewer: Josemaria Escriva was a happy man. It is enough to see the film clips where he is willing to offer a smile and some words of encouragement to those present. But what is the secret of his constant good humor?

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A man that knew how to love

Marlies Kucking

October 6, 2002

In the 27 years that have gone by since Josemaria Escriva’s “dies natalis”, or birthday into Heaven, on June 26, 1975, many people have asked about the “secret” of his life: why did he attract so many people? Why is it that when others listened to him and read his writings they felt encouraged to return to God, and to see Him as their Father, their Friend, their Love … and to bring others closer to Him? There is only one answer. While his strong personality certainly attracted people, it was above all the love of God that filled his entire life that had this effect.” This is the account given by Marlies Kucking - a member of the central government of the Prelature since 1964 - which was published in the “L’Osservatore Romano” on the occasion of the canonization.

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It is enough to put love into my day

Vittorio Anniballi, Boccea, Rome.

October 6, 2002

Who said that having a big family would necessarily be a burden or limit one’s freedom? Vittorio Anniballi goes against the current as he explains how he found true happiness thanks to his wife, Maria Rita and his seven children. Vittorio Anniballi got married in 1981. He is the owner of a number of apartments in the Boccea area of Rome. He got to know Opus Dei through “Montemario” and “Petranova”, two schools in which parents are very much involved in their children’s education. Vittorio explains, “In 1993, a friend of my wife told me about these two schools. Intrigued by the novel method of teaching, we decided to register one of our children there. While we didn’t know anything about Opus Dei, we decided to try it out. It was such a positive experience that we decided to bring our other two boys to the school as well.

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Serving the Church as she wishes to be served

Angela Solferino, lawyer of the Apostolic Tribunal of the Romana Rota, Italy

October 6, 2002

Angela Solferino: I started to get more involved with Opus Dei in 1988 when I enrolled in the Faculty of Canonical Law in the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross. I realized while attending the classes there that everything in reference to the doctrine and the Magisterium of the Church was treated coherently and respectfully.

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Redeeming Time

Philippe D., law student, Paris, France

October 5, 2002

When I first heard about the Founder of Opus Dei’s message, and started trying to put it into practice, I realized more deeply with every week and month that passed, that my hours of study had their own importance in God’s eyes, and that they were the means I had to employ in order to achieve the goals described in the first point of The Way. I could see that the intellectual training I received at school was something that could help me to bring people to God: you don’t have to wait to be “old enough” to “be useful”, “light up”, and lead an “apostolic life”. What I learnt from Saint Josemaria about study enabled me to understand, while still a schoolboy, the importance of being at the top of the class and at the forefront of one’s profession.

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