Romana

Rialp publishers of Madrid has brought out the Critical-Historical Edition of Christ Is Passing By, a collection of homilies given by the founder of Opus Dei. Professor Antonio Aranda, editor of this work, introduces the book with an explanation of its process of publication in various languages during the author’s life-time. Then he explains the history of the first edition of the original text, accompanied by some critical and historical commentaries.

Christ Is Passing By is a compilation of 18 homilies given by St. Josemaría between 1951 and 1971, on various feasts throughout the liturgical cycle. The connecting thread is divine filiation, the foundation of the universal call to sanctity; other key topics are the sanctification of ordinary work, contemplation in the middle of the world, and unity of life. Since 1973 more than 500,000 copies have been printed in 14 languages.

The prologue to the work, written by Bishop Javier Echevarría, stresses “the importance that this volume of the Founder of Opus Dei had and has in the spiritual life of countless people,” and he highlights three characteristics already pointed out by Msgr. Alvaro del Portillo in the presentation of the first edition of Christ Is Passing By: 1) the theological depth of these meditations, fully linked to the Word of God; 2) the close connection between the teaching of the Gospel and the ordinary life of Christians; 3) the literary style of the author, direct and simple, which helps explains why, after forty years, the book keeps the same freshness and immediacy that it had when it was published.

Antonio Aranda, a professor at the University of Navarra and at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, is the author of numerous publications and a member of various scientific associations.