Saint Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer

Saint Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer (January 9, 1902 – June 26, 1975) (also known as José María or Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer y Albás, born José María Mariano Escrivá y Albás) was a Roman Catholic priest from Spain, and founder of Opus Dei. He was canonized in a controversial process by Pope John Paul II, who declared Saint Josemaría as "counted among the great witnesses of Christianity".The Daily Catholic: Top 100 Catholics Of The Century, vol 10, no 222, November 23, 1999 He is the most recently born saint, as well as the most recently deceased.
He had a doctorate in civil law at the University of Madrid and a doctorate in theology at the Lateran University in Rome. He was a member of the Pontifical Academy of Theology and Consultor of the Congregation of Seminaries, and Consultor of the Pontificial Commission for the Authentic Interpretation of the Code of Canon Law.
His principal work was the foundation, government and expansion of Opus Dei. He and the organization have been accused of many things, including political involvement. CNN Vatican analyst John Allen Jr., however, says that these accusations are mere myths that grew from black legends propagated against Opus Dei and Escrivá.Allen, John, Jr. (2005). Opus Dei: an Objective Look Behind the Myths and Reality of the Most Controversial Force in the Catholic Church, Doubleday Religion. Opus Dei and Escrivá continue to be polarizing subjects among certain members of the Catholic Church.
==read also==
*Biography from Saint Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer
Category:Persons
category:Opus Dei