envelope-oenvelopebookscartsearchmenu

Devotion Throughout the World

A relic in Tejar del Guarco, Cartago, Costa Rica

For the centennial celebration of the parish of the Immaculate Conception in Guarco, the pastor, Rev. Alfonso Marin, and his vicars decided to embellish the basilica by constructing a new altar that would contain a relic of St. Josemaría. On November 17, Bishop José Francisco Ulloa of Cartago, presided over the solemn Mass for the centennial, celebrated on the new altar. More than a thousand parishioners from the Tejar del Guarco community attended the ceremony.

As the pastor explained: “I am certain this is going to be a great opportunity to spread St. Josemaría’s teaching about the universal call to holiness, and an invitation to our parishioners to go to his intercession and learn to find God in their ordinary work. And for our priests, it will be a wonderful reminder each day to rely on the help of St. Josemaría especially in the celebration of Holy Mass, to make it, as he did, the center and root of our life.”

❑ ❑ ❑

Two new paintings

Madrid, Spain

In October, the Royal Monastery of St. Elizabeth placed in its church a painting of St. Josemaría, chaplain and rector of this church from 1931 to 1946. The canvas represents the founder of Opus Dei during those years, holding in his arms the statue of the infant Jesus from the convent. The painting, by Ignacio Valdes, has been reproduced on cards, on the back of which is printed: “Through a singular grace of God, during those years there took root in his soul a sure awareness of his divine filiations and a strong love for Christ’s Most Holy Humanity, to which the Infant Jesus of this Recollect Augustinians convent contributed. Next to the sacristy he wrote his book Holy Rosary, which has taught many people to contemplate the life of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, as one more person in the Gospel scenes.”

Florence, Italy

The Scuola d’Arte Sacra in Florence has produced an oil painting of St. Josemaría, This representation of the founder of Opus Dei was placed in the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, in Ischia near Naples, together with a portrait of Blessed Maria Cristina of Savoy.

❑ ❑ ❑

A traffic circle in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain

On December 6, the city of Jerez de la Frontera dedicated a traffic circle to St. Josemaría. The municipal government took this decision based on a citizens’ initiative backed by the Academy of St. Dionisius, sports clubs, neighborhood associations, fraternities and confraternities, businesses, private enterprises, and the diocese. The traffic circle is found in the vicinity of Pozoalbero, a retreat center begun under the impetus of St. Josemaría, which offers spiritual and cultural formation to people from all walks of life.

❑ ❑ ❑

A sports field in Fondi

The Italian town of Fondi has dedicated its new sports field to St. Josemaría Escrivá. This recreational complex is located in the working class area of Portone della Corte. Its inauguration took place on November 18, with the attendance of 300 children from the Don Milani primary school. Salvatore De Meo, the town mayor, reminded people of the visits by St. Josemaría and Blessed Álvaro del Portillo to Salto di Fondi and expressed his gratitude for their efforts to foster the social and spiritual growth of the area. He also stressed that the dedication was in recognition of the love that the founder of Opus Dei had for the neediest. Afterwards, in the parish church of St. Francis of Assisi, Rev. Ugo Borghello presided over a Eucharistic celebration in thanksgiving.

Romana, n. 59, July-December 2014, p. 349-351.

Send to friend