Tuesday, June 26, Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
ST. JOSEMARIA ESCRIVA DE BALAGUER (b Spain 1902, d Rome 1975)
Priest, Founder of Opus Dei
An estimated 300,000 people filled St. Peter's Square on October 6, 2002, for the canonization of Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer, the founder of Opus Dei. His canonization came only 27 years after his death, one of the shortest waiting periods in Church history. Opus Dei, which means Work of God, emphasizes that men and women can become holy by living their daily lives in a Christian way. Born in Barbastro, Spain, the future saint was ordained a priest in 1925, briefly served in a rural parish, then moved to Madrid, where he obtained a doctorate in law. At the same time, he began to flesh out a movement that would allow 'ordinary' people to achieve lives of holiness in their daily activities. Opus Dei was officially founded in 1928. Fr. Escriva himself continued to minister to the poor and the sick. During the Spanish Civil War, he had to exercise his ministry secretly and move from place to place. After the war, he returned to Madrid to complete his studies, then moving to Rome where he obtained his doctorate in theology. Pope Pius XII named him an honorary prelate and a consultor to two Vatican congregations. All the while, Opus Dei grew in size and influence. When Msgr. Escriva died in 1975, Opus Dei was established in dozens of countries around the globe. Today its membership includes approximately 83,000 laypersons and 1,800 priests in 90 countries. However, his beatification and canonization, which were almost literally advocated by John Paul II, stirred up much controversy because of hostile accusations from some persons who had worked with him for years, and because of the 'speed' with which it happened (he died in 1975, was beatified in 1992, and canonized in 2002). He was one of the first candidates for sainthood to whom the new simplified rules for canonization desired by John Paul II were applied. The saint's remains are found beneath the main altar at the Opue Dei's prelature Church in Rome.
Readings for today's Mass: www.usccb.org/bible/readings/062612.cfm
WITH THE POPE TODAY
Visit to earthquake victims in Rovereto:
Tuesday, June 26
09.00 Departure from the Vatican heliport
10.15 Arrival at the San Marino di Carpi sports field in Modena province.
- The Holy Father is welcomed by Prefect Franco Gabrielli,
chief of Italy's Department of Civilian Protection.
The Pope will board a minibus if the DCP to go to Rovereto di Novi
and its Zona Rossa, or emergency zone, towards the church of Santa Caterina di Alessandria.
10.50 Arrival at a sports field with an assembly of civilian authorities,
bishops, parish priests, business representatives and the faithful.
- Greeting by the Hon. Vasco Errani, President of the Emilia-Romagna region
- Address by the Holy Father
The Pope will then greet and talk to those present.
11.50 The Holy Father departs by car for the helicopter station at the San Marino di Carpi sports field.
12.00 Papal helicopter leaves for Rome
13.15 Arrival at the Vatican heliport
The Vatican today announced some Curial resignations and appointments:
- Mons. Jean-Louis Bruguès, Emeritus Archbishop of Angers (France), who has been till now Secretary
of the Congregation for Catholic Education, as the Archivist-Librarian of the Holy Roman Church.
He succeeds Cardinal Renato Farina who has retired because of age.
- The retirement due to age of Cardinal Ennio Antonelli as President of the Pontifical Council for the Family,
who will be succeeded by
- Mons. Vincenzo Paglia, till now Bishop of Terni-Narni-Amelia, who is also elevated to the rank of Archbishop
- Mons. Joseph Augustine, until now Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship, as Vice-President
of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
- Mons. Arthur Roche, until now Bishop of Leeds (UK), is the new Secretary of the Congregation for
Divine Worship, and will be elevated to the rank of Archbishop.
- The retirement due to age of Mons. Piergiuseppe Vacchelli, as Adjunct Secretary of the Congregation
for the Evangelization of Peoples and President of the Pontifical Missionary Works, who is succeeded by
- Mons. Protase Rugambwa, until now Bishop of Kigoma (Tanzania), who is elevated to the rank of Archbishop.
- The retirement due to age of Mons. Gianfranco Girotti, as Regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary, succeeded by
- Mons. Krzysztof Józef Nykiel, until now an official in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
The Holy Father has also accepted the resignation of Mons. Fernando María Bargalló as Bishop of Merlo-Moreno
(Argentina), according to Section 2 of Art. 401 in the Code of Canon Law, and has named
- Mons. Alcides Jorge Pedro Casaretto, emeritus Bishop of San Isidro as the Apostolic Administrator of
Merlo-Moreno until a new bishop can be named.
[Bargallo resigned after admitting to a romantic relationship with a childhood friend with whom he was photographed vacationing in a Mexican resort.]
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 26/06/2012 17:47]