Bishop alvaro del portillo biography of mahatma
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He was always very grateful to his parents for having handed down the faith to him. The Monkole Hospital in Kinshasa (Congo), the Niger Foundation Hospital in Enugu (Nigeria), the Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE, en Cebú, Filipinas) are example of social development projects carried out by members of Opus Dei, with others, under the direct impetus of Bishop del Portillo.
In addition, the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross (since 1985) and the Sedes Sapientiae International Seminary (from 1990), both in Rome, and the Bidasoa International Ecclesiastical College (Pamplona,Spain), have formed for the dioceses thousands of candidates for thepriesthood sent by bishops from around the world.
They show the concern of Bishop del Portillo for the role of the priest in today’s world, a theme to which he devoted much of his energies, as evidenced during the years of Vatican II.
“The priesthood is not a career,” he wrote in 1986, “but a generous, complete self-giving, without calculation or limits, to be sowers of peace and joy in the world, and to open the gates of Heaven to those who benefit from this service and ministry.”
Bishop Alvaro del Portillo died in Rome in the early hours of March 23, 1994, just hours after returning from a pilgrimage to Holy Land.
He received formation directly from the founder, with the spirit corresponding to this new path in the Church. In the early hours of the following morning, the bishop woke up feeling ill. On September 15, 1975, del Portillo was elected unanimously by the congress delegates, comprising priests and lay members from around the world, to lead Opus Dei.[20][21] The election reflected his longstanding fidelity to Escrivá's vision and administrative expertise, with no reported dissent among participants.
The heart of the new Blessed beat with the desire to bring the Good News to all hearts. He takes the initiative and is always waiting for us. In the course of the Council (1962-65), he was secretary of the Commission on the Discipline of the Clergy and of the Christian People.
After the Council, Paul VI appointed him as consultor to the post-conciliar Commission for Bishops and the regulation of dioceses (1966).
John XXIII appointed him as consultor to the Sacred Congregation of the Council (1959-1966). He tried to instruct those who worked in the sacristy, make sure that the chapels were always clean, well perfumed and adorned with fresh flowers, and assure that the liturgical vestments and objects were well kept, all so that souls might thereby recognize the presence of God..
HE IS ALSO TEACHING US THAT IN THE SIMPLICITY OF OUR DAILY LIVES WE CAN FIND A SURE PATH TO HOLINESS (Ibidem).”
Blessed Alvaro del Portillo is known for his HUMILITY and FIDELITY TO THE VOCATION HE RECEIVED FROM OUR LORD AND IN THE FAITHFUL FULFILLMENT OF THE LITTLE THINGS OF EACH DAY FOR LOVE OF GOD. That is why St. Josemaria once said to his spiritual children, “If there is anyone among you who was able to grasp and faithfully live the spirit of Opus Dei, it is your brother Alvaro.”
Dear friends, IF WE WANT TO BE FAITHFUL RIGHT TILL THE END OF OUR LIFE TO THE VOCATION WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM GOD, WE CAN ASK BLESSED ALVARO’S INTERCESSION.
He himself once said of his mother, “She instilled in me a special devotion to the Sacred Heart and the Holy Spirit, and a particular devotion to Our Lady in her title of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel,” and in reference to his father, “God, our Lord, led my father and I to become very close and this obviously prevented me from coming across bad friends.”
THE CALL FROM GOD
The future Blessed was an outstanding student.
He held this post until 1953.
Fr. His 1969 book Fieles y laicos en la Iglesia: bases de sus respectivos estatutos jurídicos delineates the juridical frameworks distinguishing clerics, religious, and laity within the Church, drawing on Vatican II's emphasis on the universal call to holiness while clarifying distinct roles to avoid blurring sacramental orders with lay states.[27][28] This text, published by Ediciones Universidad de Navarra, underscores canonical precision amid post-conciliar debates on lay participation, prioritizing scriptural and magisterial foundations over interpretive ambiguities.[29]In Escritos sobre el sacerdocio, del Portillo explores priestly identity, formation, and duties, emphasizing the ontological difference between priesthood and laity as rooted in Christ's sacramental configuration rather than functional equivalence.
That is where our Lord is awaiting us. My God, help us to realize that surrendering our entire life to you is worthwhile, because you give us yourself in return.”
©Magazine HM º177 March-April 2014
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Prelate in Central America; book ‘Saxum’
August 7th, 2014Comments Off on Prelate in Central America; book ‘Saxum’
The Prelate in Central America; book ‘Saxum’ (new biography of Bishop Alvaro del Portillo)
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The Prelate in Central America
On Monday July 28, Bishop Echevarría arrived in Nicaragua to begin the second stage of his trip, after his stay in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.
Biography of Blessed Alvaro del Portillo
Alvaro del Portillo was born in Madrid on 11 March 1914, the third of eight children of a Mexican mother, Clementina Diez de Sollano, and a Spanish father, Ramón del Portillo y Pardo.
After receiving his secondary education at El Pilar school (Madrid), he entered the School of Civil Engineering, where he completed his studies in 1941.
He returned to Rome and died suddenly at dawn on 23 March 1994, at age 80; Pope John Paul II visited his remains the same day.[7][21] Del Portillo's body was interred in the crypt of the Church of Santa Maria della Pace in Rome.[7]
Intellectual and Written Works
Key Publications and Themes
Álvaro del Portillo authored several works on canon law, theology, and pastoral topics, reflecting his expertise as a civil engineer turned priest and canonist.He was beatified last September 27, 2014, in Madrid.
Blessed Alvaro del Portillo was the 1st successor of St. Josemaria, founder of Opus Dei, “from whom HE LEARNED TO FALL MORE IN LOVE WITH CHRIST EVERY DAY. YES, TO FALL IN LOVE WITH CHRIST. It was certainly a grace for him to visit the land of our Savior, His Mother and the apostles, all of whom he loved dearly. There was no reason to suspect that this was to be his last trip.
The last day of the pilgrimage, Bishop Alvaro concelebrated Mass with other priests of Opus Dei in the Upper Room in Jerusalem and a few hours later, they took the flight back to Rome, arriving there in the afternoon.
HE IS ENCOURAGING US NOT TO BE AFRAID TO GO AGAINST THE CURRENT AND SUFFER FOR ANNOUNCING THE GOSPEL. He is telling us to trust in the Lord, that he is our brother, our friend, who never lets us down and is always at our side.