Saints Library · Being a Leader
St. Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer
Founder of Opus Dei
Life and historical setting
Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer (1902–1975) is remembered in the Church as founder of Opus Dei. The supplied Catholic source associates this life with Barbastro city.
Documented offices and forms of service associated with Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer include Latin Catholic priest, theologian, priest.
Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer was ordained on March 28, 1925. Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer's service reached with his legal knowledge at different institutions in the Holy See.
The founding of Opus Dei, an organization of laypeople and priests dedicated to the principle of everyday holiness became part of Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer's lasting work.
The enduring witness of Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer is especially connected with gospel encounter and discipleship, preaching and evangelization, and pastoral and ecclesial leadership. Dates, offices, and institutions are presented as biographical facts, while later devotional interpretation is kept distinct from the historical outline.
Vocation and witness
These themes were identified from the supplied source record and provide a structured guide to the life.
Gospel encounter and discipleship
The supplied account connects this life directly with Christ, the Gospel, or the apostolic witness.
Preaching and evangelization
The source remembers preaching, missionary work, baptism, catechesis, or another form of evangelization.
Pastoral and ecclesial leadership
The account includes pastoral, monastic, or ecclesial leadership exercised for the good of the Church.
Founding and renewal
The source associates this life with founding, restoring, or strengthening a Christian work or community.
Courageous public witness
The narrative records fidelity expressed publicly despite conflict, opposition, exile, or imprisonment.
Leadership as service
The source presents Christian leadership as responsibility, moral courage, and service.
Spiritual legacy
The enduring witness of Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer is especially connected with gospel encounter and discipleship, preaching and evangelization, and pastoral and ecclesial leadership. Dates, offices, and institutions are presented as biographical facts, while later devotional interpretation is kept distinct from the historical outline.
Prayerful reflection
God of holiness, through the witness of Josemaria Escrivå de Balaguer y Albas, strengthen us in authority exercised as humble service, moral clarity, and responsibility before God. Keep our attention fixed on Jesus Christ, and teach us to answer grace faithfully in the duties, relationships, and needs placed before us. Amen.
Historical and liturgical note
Current Vatican News calendar listing; local and religious calendars may add other observances.
Dates, offices, and institutions are presented as biographical facts, while later devotional interpretation is kept distinct from the historical outline.