Josemaría Escrivá

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 by Pope John Paul II, who declared Saint Josemaría as "counted among the great witnesses of Christianity". He is the most recently deceased Saint.
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. However, some independent journalists, among them CNN Vatican analyst John Allen, Jr., say that these accusations are mere myths that grew from black legends propagated against Opus Dei and Escrivá. Opus Dei and Escrivá continue to be polarizing subjects among certain members of the Catholic Church. Popes and Catholic leaders strongly endorse Escriva's teaching on the universal call to holiness, the role of laity, and sanctification of work.
His best known book is The Way which has sold more than 5 million copies in 50 languages. All in all his works have sold a total of 8 million copies.
==See also==
* Opus Dei
* The Way (book)
==Notes==
===Official Catholic Church documents===
* Pope John Paul II. Homilies and discourses about the founder of Opus Dei.
===Others===
* Luis Carandell (1992). Vida y milagros de Monseñor Escrivá de Balaguer – hosted by OpusLibros (critical)
* Kenneth Woodward (1992). "A Coming-Out Party in Rome, Opus Dei prepares to stand by its man" (pdf; 540 kB), Newsweek, May 18, 1992
* Opposition to Canonization by ODAN (opposition)
* B. Badrinas, ed. (1992). Testimonies on Josemaría Escrivá, Founder of Opus Dei, Sinagtala. – collection of some testimonies given by ecclesiastical officials which were used for the beatification process.
* Jesús Ynfante (2002). El santo fundador del Opus Dei. Biografía completa de Josemaría Escrivá – hosted by OpusLibros (critical)
* William May (2003). Holiness and Ordinary Life in the Teaching of Saint Josemaría Escrivá – theological analysis of Escrivá's teachings
* Blaye, Edouard de. (1976). Franco and the Politics of Spain. Penguin Books, ISBN 0140219498
* Ramón Garriga (1977). El Cardenal Segura y el Nacional-Catolicismo. Planeta, Barcelona, ISBN 8432056375.
* Fabro Cornelio, Garofalo Salvatore, Raschini Maria Adelaide (1992). Santi nel mondo. Ares, ISBN 8881550709
* William Keenan (2004). St Josemaría Escrivá And The Origins Of Opus Dei: The Day The Bells Rang Out. Gracewing, ISBN 0852445814
* Eugueny Pazukhin (2000). Blessed Josemaría Escrivá's Life and Achievement – first Russian biography by an Orthodox thinker, philosopher and journalist
==External links==
* Patron Saints Index: St Josemaría Escrivá (primary source)
* St Josemaría Escrivá, the founder of Opus Dei
* Documents of the Holy See about Opus Dei and its founder
* Writings of Josemaría Escrivá
* ODAN Opus Dei Awareness Network (opposition)
* Letter from Escriva to Franco
* Josemaria Escrivá and Nazism
* EWTN webpage, containing biography, spiritual writings, video-audio presentation
* Comments by Popes on Josemaría Escrivá
* Interview with Cardinal Julian Herranz about Josemaría Escrivá
* Josemaría Escrivá's Crusade for Holiness: The Life and Times of Opus Dei Founder
* Most recent accounts of favors received
* St. Josemaría Escrivá Historical Institute, Rome
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