MAY 12: FEAST OF BLESSED ALVARO DEL PORTILLO, BISHOP AND 1st SUCCESSOR OF ST. JOSEMARIA. ASK GOD THROUGH BLESSED ALVARO FOR YOUR FIDELITY TO YOUR DIVINE VOCATION!

Bl. Alvaro

MAY 12: FEAST OF BLESSED ALVARO DEL PORTILLO,
BISHOP AND 1^st SUCCESSOR OF ST. JOSEMARIA.
ASK GOD THROUGH BLESSED ALVARO FOR YOUR FIDELITY TO YOUR DIVINE VOCATION!

On May 12, the Catholic Church will celebrate the feast of Blessed Alvaro del Portillo. In many cities all over the world where Opus Dei is present, a Solemn Mass will be celebrated in various churches and cathedrals in honor of the Blessed, beatified last September 27, 2014 in Madrid.

Blessed Alvaro del Portillo was the 1^st 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. THIS IS THE PATH TO HOLINESS THAT EVERY CHRISTIAN HAS TO FOLLOW: TO LET OURSELVES BE LOVED BY THE LORD, TO OPEN UP OUR HEARTS TO HIS LOVE, AND TO ALLOW HIM TO BE THE ONE WHO GUIDES OUR LIVES (Pope Francis, Letter to Bishop Javier Echevarria, Prelate of Opus Dei on the occasion of the Beatification of Alvaro del Portillo).”

In the same letter, he wrote: “Dear brother, Blessed Alvaro del Portillo is sending us a very clear message. 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. HE IS ENCOURAGING US NOT TO BE AFRAID TO GO AGAINST THE CURRENT AND SUFFER FOR ANNOUNCING THE GOSPEL. 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 once wrote, paraphrasing the last point of St. Josemaria’s book, “The Way”: “You must have often thought about point no. 999 of The Way: ‘And what is the secret of perseverance? Love. Fall in Love, and you will not leave him’. Perhaps, too, you noticed that the last part also makes sense when read backwards: DON’T LEAVE HIM, AND YOU WILL FALL IN LOVE; BE LOYAL AND YOU WILL END UP MADLY IN LOVE WITH GOD (Pastoral letter, 19 March 1992).”

-Fr. Rolly Arjonillo, priest of Opus Dei, of the CATHOLICS STRIVING FOR HOLINESS FB page. Kindly help more people in their Christian life by liking our page and inviting your family, friends and relatives to do so as well. You might want to subscribe as well in our website, http://www.catholicsstrivingforholiness.com. Thanks in advance and God bless you and your loved ones!