Opus Dei was founded in Spain in 1928 by Catholic priest Josemaría Escrivá. Its stated mission is to help its lay and clerical members to seek Christian perfection in their everyday occupations and within their societies. Opus Dei has long attracted significant controversy regarding its political activities and its alleged cult-like practices.
Fernando Ocariz, present prelate of Opus Dei
Central building of the University of Navarra
Pope John Paul II: Opus Dei was founded "led by divine inspiration".
Pope Francis: "St. Josemaria is a precursor of Vatican II in proposing the universal call to holiness"
Saint Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer y Albás was a Spanish Roman Catholic priest. He founded Opus Dei, an organization of laypeople and priests dedicated to the teaching that everyone is called to holiness by God and to discover sanctity in their ordinary lives. He was canonized in 2002 by Pope John Paul II, who declared Josemaría should be "counted among the great witnesses of Christianity."
Josemaría Escrivá
Mother of Fair Love, a gift of Josemaría Escrivá to the University of Navarra: John Paul II stated: "Love for our Lady is a constant characteristic of the life of Josemaría Escrivá."
Bronze portrait of Escrivá in Cahir, Ireland, commemorating a visit he made in 1959.
