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Opus Dei: recent newshttp://www.opusdei.org/2016-06-24T18:44:04+01:00Pope Francis' Trip to Armenia2016-06-24T18:44:04+01:00http://opusdei.us/en-us/article/pope-francis-trip-to-armenia/From June 24-26, Pope Francis made an apostolic visit to Armenia, which in 301 AD became "the first nation to embrace Christ's gospel," thanks to the missionary work of Saint Gregory the Illuminator. From the Pope
For the Pope's schedule during the 3 day trip and links to all his addresses and homilies, click here.
Reflecting on "Laudato si" in Shrine of Torreciudad2016-06-22T13:21:04+01:00http://opusdei.us/en-us/article/rethinking-laudato-si/At an international seminar held in the shrine of Torreciudad, scientists and religious leaders from 15 countries and 8 religious faiths have discussed the role that science and religion can play in caring for the environment.Recent News
With the planting of an olive tree in the esplanade of the shrine of Torreciudad, the "International Seminar on Science and Religion Cooperating for Environmental Care" concluded today. This symbolic act was meant to signify the commitment and cooperation of the major religious traditions and the scientific community in conserving the natural environment.

During the work sessions held in the Torreciudad conference center, scientists and religious leaders from 15 countries and 8 religious faiths (Hinduism, Buddhism, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran, Catholic, Islam and Judaism) have discussed the role that science and religion can play in caring for the environment. The starting point for their reflections has been Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato si' and the concept of "ecological conversion" taken up from Saint John Paul II and Benedict XVI.

Peter H. Raven, an international expert in botany from the University of Washington, stressed that "science explains to us the importance of conserving the natural environment, but the ethical visions of the major religious traditions can guide our efforts to create a sustainable world living in peace."

Hillary Marlow, director of the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion, said that "science alone is unable to resolve the environmental problem since this has to be approached from the perspective of the values that the major religions have spoken about for many centuries."

Other religious leaders taking part in the event were Professor Wael Farouq, president of the Tawasul Islamic Culture Center for Inter-civilizational Dialogue, the Buddhist monk Tsunma Karma Chimey Lhatso, the Bulgarian Orthodox archdeacon Petar Gramatikov and the Procurator General of the Cistercian Order, Fr. Lluc Torcal.

The choice of Torreciudad as the site for the seminar was in part due to the natural beauty of the setting. None of the participants had previously visited the shrine and they all praised the harmony between the surrounding environment and the architecture, and the care taken to preserve the natural setting.
"Sunrise in Kibera" Mentoring Disadvantaged Youth in Kenya2016-06-21T18:07:36+01:00http://opusdei.us/en-us/video/sunrise-in-kibera/Macheo ("sunrise" in Swahili) is an after-school support program for students from one of Africa's largest slums, Kibera, in Nairobi, Kenya. It is organized and staffed by students and teachers from Strathmore University, a corporate work of Opus Dei. Social initiativesUp-close View of University of Navarra2016-06-16T15:42:12+01:00http://opusdei.us/en-us/article/up-close-view-of-university-of-navarra/Intrigued by "The Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College" recommendation of this university for Americans, journalist Adam Wilson recently visited it and gives his impressions.Recent News
By Adam Wilson

The latest edition of The Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College recommends two universities for the first time: University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain, and Holy Angel University in Angeles City, Philippines. Both institutions offer faithfully Catholic international experiences and are accessible to students who only speak English.

Over the past year, we visited both campuses, conducted many interviews with university staff and professors, and analyzed the universities' dedication to Catholic identity. We were highly impressed with these institutions and are pleased to recommend them to Catholic families. In this essay, we'll give the inside scoop on the University of Navarra.

A corporate work of Opus Dei, the University of Navarra started in 1952 as a law school with 48 students and four professors. It has expanded over the years into a contemporary institution offering dozens of majors to more than 10,000 students, and yet still remains moored to its founding principles. Sixty percent of professors are Opus Dei members, and 85 percent are practicing Catholics—remarkable numbers for a university of its size.

But University of Navarra offers a diverse array of majors. And, increasingly, the University is attracting students from all over the world.

Americans seeking a solid Catholic education overseas will find University of Navarra an attractive option. Students who don't speak of a word of Spanish can take courses taught in English for the first two years in the University's schools of economics, humanities and social sciences, communication, sciences, and engineering.

The University had 25 American students enrolled in spring 2016, and it is hoping to attract many more in the coming years. The American students I spoke with had high praise for the University and its Catholic identity. And they said transitioning to life on this international campus was fairly easy.

As we shared tapas one evening during my visit, some students spoke frankly about their impressions of the University. One theme they touched on repeatedly was Navarra's dedication to forming students to become excellent professionals. They explained how Opus Dei's mission for Christians to sanctify their work informs the University's focus on quality career formation. The benefits of graduating from college with fluency in Spanish and substantial international experience are huge draws for students preparing to enter today's career force. Still, the University would argue that its high-caliber academic programs are the main attraction.

Academic formation for all students begins with two year-long "Catholic Worldview" courses in ethics and anthropology as part of the core curriculum. The courses study Christianity, faith and reason, and the necessity of God from a philosophical perspective. Students also choose two "Cultural Keys" courses from a variety of options, such as Church History, Recent Papal Thought and Biblical Literature.

There are several academic opportunities available at Navarra that students won't find at every Catholic university. For instance, pre-medicine students can gain first-hand experience at the University's state-of-the-art research hospital. Communications students can obtain the most highly ranked journalism and audio-visual communications degrees in Spain. And theology and philosophy students can take courses from a Vatican-approved ecclesiastical faculty.

The University attracts a wide variety of students. Many attend because of Navarra's academic prestige within Spain rather than because of its mission. Because on-campus housing is available for only about 15 percent of students, the majority live in the many flats and apartments surrounding campus. Outside of class it is common to find many students taking advantage of the nightlife in Pamplona rather than the many cultural opportunities available on campus.

However, for those students who choose to live on campus, the experience provides a well-rounded formation. Each residence provides students with a host of spiritual, social, and cultural activities. The colegios host academic debates, classical concerts and art exhibitions on a regular basis.

Meals taken in the colegios always begin and end with prayer. Following lunch — which is the main meal of the day and taken around 2 p.m. — students make their way as a group to the chapel for a few moments of prayer. Many students who live off campus are drawn to this vibrant community life and frequently take part in the many opportunities in thecolegios.

One student jokingly told me that there's a Mass said at every hour of the day. It's barely an exaggeration, though, as every residence and nearly every building on campus has its own chapel. The University even offers several spiritual opportunities for English-speakers, including weekly Mass and Confession, Theology on Tap, and other activities.

The group of American students I spoke with seemed very happy with their decision to study at University of Navarra. They were interested in their majors and appeared well engaged in campus life.

Reprinted with permission from Aleteia.
"Charity is contagious" Netherhall Residents Assist Refugees in France2016-06-10T23:00:21+01:00http://opusdei.us/en-us/article/charity-is-contagious-we-had-gone-to-help-others-and-yet-we-ourselves-were-helped/In response to Pope Francis' call for practical acts of charity during the Jubilee Year of Mercy, groups of students from Netherhall House, an intercollegiate residence hall in London, have been making trips to Calais to help the refugees stranded there.Social initiatives
The day after the trip, my mobile phone was flooded with texts from the group members: "Thank you very much to every one! It was really an unforgettable weekend," said Pio. "It was a pleasure to serve alongside you, gentlemen," Luke wrote. "What an intense and amazing experience. Thank you for keeping up our good spirits and to Alvaro for organising the trip," was Sergi's response.

I would never have imagined that spending a weekend collecting rubbish in a refugee camp could have brought so much joy and gratitude to a group of young professionals and university students. But that's how it was. Of course, it wasn't what we were doing but the why and with whom we were doing it that made it a very special trip.

Netherhall House is a hall of residence for students in London. In the past we had organised volunteering trips abroad to faraway places such as Nicaragua and Cambodia. During this Year of Mercy, we were keen to continue this tradition, particularly now, when war and conflict had brought so many people in need much closer to our borders.

The idea of a trip to help refugees in Calais came up during a seminar organised by Caritas in February. It was inspiring to hear about so many initiatives organised by different groups willing to support the desires of the Holy Father to reach those in need. But among them all, the one that caught our attention was an account of a trip to the refugee camp in Calais organised by some parishioners of a church in London.

On March 12th, a group of residents of Netherhall House, former residents and students of King's College London embarked on the first of two weekends to help refugees. Less than two months later another group also made their way to Calais. Right from the beginning, we felt a strong desire and willingness to share in this work of mercy among the different people we approached for help for the trip. The parents of one of the residents offered to pay some of the traveling costs; the school next door lent us a mini-bus that would carry not only the 9 volunteers but also 100 new travel blankets donated by a friend of the residence.

Once in Calais, we spent the weekend helping in a warehouse, located 5 minutes away from the main refugee camp and working in the refugee camps. The warehouse operates as the logistic hub for the collection and distribution of donations. One of the first things one experiences is a great sense of being welcomed and needed. The day started with a briefing by a senior volunteer who gave an update about the situation of the refugees, explain some basics of what we were there and allocated volunteers into different teams.

There is a constant flow of donations of clothes, sleeping bags, toiletries and other essential items. So, a large amount of volunteering in Calais is helping to sort out and classify the gifts in the most effective way, so that they can be distributed according to the needs of the refugees. We were very lucky to get involved in all the different steps of the distribution of aid: from receiving and sorting out donations, to going dwelling by dwelling taking orders and delivering the needed items in the migrant camp itself. Having our own mini-bus was instrumental in being able to help with the transportation and direct distribution of aid.

During our first trip, the group was sent to help in "Utopia 56," a brand new refugee camp in Dunkirk built and run by "Medics Sans Frontiers." Our group was assigned to help with the insulation of the small wooden huts occupied mostly by Kurdish men.

In our second trip, we went to "The Jungle," a more precarious and ethnically diverse refugee camp where we helped distribute aid and clean the camp. We spent Sunday morning picking up litter only to find out that the task that awaited us after lunch was cleaning up a dumping place for all sorts of solid and organic rubbish. The task was daunting, one that any single individual or group would have easily abandoned. However, it was seeing the other volunteers so totally committed to the task that gave us the encouragement to keep going, till the mountain of rubbish little by little disappeared. The truth is that all the volunteers were, in fact, helping each other and strengthening each other in their resolve. Charity is contagious. We all helped each other to be generous in our efforts.

One of the highlights of the trip was meeting refugees in the "Jungle Books," an evening activity taking place in a hut used as a public library, where volunteers and refugees mingle together to share their cultures and language.

Another of the highlights was coming across a Coptic Christian church set up by an Eritrean community inside the refugee camp. This unexpected encounter with a church was a real blessing. The simplicity and cleanliness of that small hut set aside for the Lord, poor in its structure and materials yet rich in the love of God of the people who built and cared for it, inside a dirty and muddy refugee camp spoke to us very eloquently of the presence of God in the middle of so much suffering, uncertainty and need. Fr Gerry, the priest who came with the group, led some common prayers that were particularly heartfelt and we spent some time in silent prayer.

The second trip had started on Saturday May 21st with a 4.15 am Mass at Netherhall House and finished in Folkestone with Sunday Mass at 7.00 pm. In between the two Masses, we had made many acquaintances and friendships. We had experienced both the suffering of refugees but also the kindness and generosity of many volunteers from all walks of life totally committed to helping them. We had gone to help others, and yet we realised that we ourselves had been helped by that very fact of being together and sharing in that act of mercy. Before midnight we were back in London ready to get a good night's sleep but with the joy of knowing that in this Year of Mercy, we had made our small contribution to improve the lives of those in need.

Alvaro Tintore

Masses for Feast of Saint Josemaria (2016)2016-06-10T13:49:15+01:00http://opusdei.us/en-us/article/masses-for-feast-of-st-josemaria-3/Some of the bishops celebrating Masses for the feast of Saint Josemaria in the United States this year are Archbishops Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles and William E. Lori of Baltimore, and Bishops Robert J. Cunningham of Syracuse, New York, James V. Johnston, Jr., of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Missouri, Michael F. Olson of Fort Worth, Texas, Thomas John Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois, and Salvatore R. Matano of Rochester, New York.Recent News
June 26, the day Saint Josemaria died in 1975, is now his feast day in the Church. Commemorative Masses will be held in cities throughout the U.S. on or about this date.

Dates and times for these Masses are listed on the interactive map at the St. Josemaría Institute website. To access this map, click here.

(If a Mass being celebrated in your area is not listed there, please send this information to the St. Josemaria Institute).

Confessions will normally be available before Mass. Check the interactive map for specific details about each <st1 style="line-height: 1.6em; background-color: initial;">Mass.</st1>

A partial listing of the Masses being celebrated in the U.S. on or about June 26 is given below:

(This list will be updated as new information becomes available.)

Arizona

Phoenix

Corpus Christi Catholic Church
 3550 E. Knox Rd.
 Phoenix, AZ 85044
 Saturday, June 25, at 11 am

California

Los Angeles

St. John Chrysostom Church
 546 East Florence Avenue
 Inglewood, CA 90301
 Saturday, June 25 at 11 am
 Main celebrant: Archbishop Jose H. Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles

Orange County

Mission Basilica of St. Juan Capistrano
 31522 Camino Capistrano
 San Juan Capistrano, CA 92693
 Thursday, June 23, 7 pm

San Diego

Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
 13541 Stoney Creek Rd.
 San Diego, CA 92129
 Thursday, June 23, 7:30 pm

San Francisco

Church of St Mary of the Assumption
 1111 Gough St
 San Francisco, CA 94109
 Saturday, June 25, 11 am

Sacramento

St. Mel's Church
 4745 Pennsylvania Avenue
 Fair Oaks, CA 95628
 Friday, June 17, at 6:30 pm

District of Columbia, Washington

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
 400 Michigan Ave NE
 Washington, DC 20017
 Saturday, June 25, at 2:30 pm
 Main celebrant: Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville-Rodríguez, Auxiliary Bishop of Washington

Florida

Miami

St. Brendan Catholic Church
 8725 SW 32nd Street
 Miami, FL 33165
 Saturday, June 25, at 11 am

Georgia

Atlanta

St. Peter Chanel Catholic Church
 11330 Woodstock Road
 Roswell GA 30075
 Saturday, June 4, at 10 am

Illinois

Chicago

St. Mary of the Angels Church
 1850 N Hermitage Ave
 Chicago, IL 60622
 Saturday, June 25, at 5 pm

Springfield

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
 524 E Lawrence Ave
 Springfield, IL 62703
 Sunday, June 26, at 5 pm
 Main celebrant: Bishop Thomas John Paprocki

Maryland

Baltimore

The Basilica of the Assumption
 409 Cathedral Street
 Baltimore, MD 21201
 Saturday, June 18, at 10 am
 Main celebrant: Archbishop William E. Lori, Archbishop of Baltimore

Massachusetts

Boston

St. Joseph's Church
 1360 Highland Avenue
 Needham, MA 02492
 Saturday, June 25 at 11:30 am

Minnesota

Minneapolis

Cathedral of St. Paul
 239 Selby Ave.
 St. Paul, MN 55102
 Saturday, June 25, at 8 am

Missouri

Kansas City

Coronation of Our Lady Catholic Church
 1300 Bennington Ave.
 Grandview, MO 64030
 Saturday, June 25, at 11 am
 Main celebrant: Bishop James V. Johnston, Jr., Bishop of Kansas City-St. Joseph

St. Louis

Ascension Catholic Church
 230 Santa Maria Drive
 Chesterfield, MO 63005
 Saturday, June 18, at 11 am

Nevada

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church
 2300 Sunridge Heights Parkway
 Henderson, NV 89052
 Saturday, June 18 at 11 am

New Jersey

Northern New Jersey

St. Vincent de Paul Church
 249 Bebout Ave
 Stirling, NJ 07980
 Saturday, June 25, at 11 am
 Main celebrant: Monsignor Thomas G. Bohlin, U.S. Vicar of Opus Dei

New York

Albany

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
 125 Eagle St.
 Albany, NY 12202
 Main Celebrant: Bishop Edward Scharfenberger of Albany
 Saturday, June 25, at 11 am

Manhattan

Saint Patrick's Cathedral
 Fifth Avenue between 50th & 51st St.
 Monday, June 27, at 7 pm
 Main celebrant: Bishop Gerald T. Walsh, Auxiliary Bishop of New York

Rochester

Our Lady of Victory
 210 Pleasant St.
 Rochester, NY 14604
 Thursday, June 23, at 6 pm
 Main celebrant: Bishop Salvatore R. Matano, Bishop of Rochester

Syracuse

Holy Family Church
 127 Chapel Dr.
 Syracuse, N.Y. 13219
 Saturday, June 25, at 6:30 pm
 Main celebrant: Bishop Robert J. Cunningham, Bishop of Syracuse

Ohio

Cincinnati

Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church
 810 Neeb Road
 Cincinnati, Ohio 45233
 Friday, June 17, at 6:30 pm

Oregon

Portland

St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church
 2727 NE, 54th Ave.
 Portland, OR 97213
 Saturday, June 18, at 12:15 pm

Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh

St. Bede Church
 509 S. Dallas
 Pittsburgh, PA 15208
 Saturday, June 25, at 10:30 am

Tennessee

Nashville

St. Mary of the Seven Sorrows Catholic Church
 330 5th Avenue
 Nashville, TN 37219
 Saturday, June 25, at 9 am

Texas

Austin

St. Martin de Porres
 26160 Ranch Rd 12, Dripping Springs, TX 78620
 Saturday, July 2, at 10 am

Dallas

Christ the King Catholic Church
 8017 Preston Road
 Dallas, TX 75225
 Saturday, June 25, at 10 am
 Main celebrant: Bishop Michael F. Olson, Bishop of Fort Worth

Houston

Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart
 1115 St. Joseph Parkway
 Houston, TX 77002
 Saturday, June 25, at 9 am
 Main celebrant: Bishop George A. Sheltz, Auxiliary Bishop of Galveston-Houston

McAllen

Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows
 1108 W Hackberry Ave
 McAllen, TX 78501
 Wednesday, June 22, at 6:30 pm

San Antonio

St. Ann
 210 St. Ann Street
 San Antonio, TX 78201
 Monday, June 20, at 7 pm

Washington

Seattle

St Pius X Catholic Church
 22301 58th Ave W.
 Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043
 Friday, June 17, at 7 pm

Wisconsin

Milwaukee

St. Mary's Visitation Catholic Parish
 1260 Church Street
 Elm Grove, WI 53122
 Saturday, June 25, at 10 am
Program for World Youth Day in Poland2016-06-06T19:14:31+01:00http://opusdei.us/en-us/article/program-for-world-youth-day-in-poland/Scheduled stops include World Youth Day in Krakow, Auschwitz, and Czestochowa during his July 27-31 trip. With link to Message for WYD 2016.From the Pope
Below is the Vatican released program, detailing Pope Francis' apostolic visit to Poland on the occasion of the XXXI World Youth Day, July 27-31:

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

14:00: Departure by plane from Rome's Fiumicino International Airport to Kraków

16:00: Arrival at the St. John Paul II International Airport of Kraków-Balice

WELCOME CEREMONY in the Military Area of Kraków-Balice International Airport

17:00 MEETING WITH AUTHORITIES, CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS in the courtyard of the Castle of Wawel (Discourse of the Holy Father)

17:40: COURTESY VISIT TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC in the Hall of birds of the Wawel

18:30: MEETING WITH POLISH BISHOPS at Krakow Cathedral (Discourse of the Holy Father)

Thursday, July 28, 2016

07:40: Transfer to the Airport of Kraków-Balice

Stop at the Convent of the Sisters of the Presentation

08:30: Helicopter transfer to Częstochowa

09:45: Arrival at the Monastery of Jasna Gora and Prayer at the Chapel of the Black Madonna

10:30: Holy Mass on the occasion of the 1050th anniversary of the Baptism of Poland, in the Shrine of Częstochowa

(Homily of the Holy Father)

12:45: Helicopter transfer to the airport of Kraków-Balice

17:30: WELCOMING CEREMONY Greets young people in Jordan Park in Kraków (Discourse of the Holy Father)

Friday, July 29, 2016

08:45: Helicopter transfer to Oswięcim

09:30: VISIT TO AUSCHWITZ

10:30: VISIT TO THE CAMP OF BIRKENAU (Discourse of the Holy Father)

11:30: Helicopter transfer to the airport of Kraków-Balice

16:30: VISIT to UNIVERSITY PEDIATRIC HOSPITAL (UCH) in Krakow (Discourse of the Holy Father)

18:00: WAY OF THE CROSS with young people in Jordan Park in Kraków (Discourse of the Holy Father)

Saturday, July 30, 2016

08:30: VISIT TO THE SHRINE OF DIVINE MERCY in Kraków

09:00: Will Pass Through the Door of Divine Mercy

09:15: Rite of Reconciliation of some young people in the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy

10:30: Holy Mass with priests, religious men and women, seminarians and consecrated persons in the Polish Shrine of St. John Paul II in Krakow (Homily of the Holy Father)

12:45: Lunch with young people in the Archbishopric

19:00: Arrival at Campus Misericordiae and crossing the Holy Door with some young people

19:30 PRAYER VIGIL WITH YOUNG PEOPLE Campus Misericordiae

Sunday, July 31, 2016

10:00: Holy Mass for World Youth Day in Campus Misericordiae

(Homily of the Holy Father, Angelus)

17:00: MEETING WITH WYD VOLUNTEERS and with the Organizing Committee and the Benefactors at Tauron Arena in Kraków (Discourse of the Holy Father)

18:15: FAREWELL CEREMONY at the airport of Kraków-Balice

18:30: Departure by plane to Rome / Ciampino

20:25: Arrival at Rome / Ciampino airport

Time zone

Rome: UTC + 2 hours

Kraków / Częstochowa / Oswięcim: UTC + 2 hours

[Program Published by the Holy See Press Office]
Prelate's Pastoral Visit to Slovenia and Croatia2016-06-06T13:12:06+01:00http://opusdei.us/en-us/article/prelates-pastoral-visit-to-slovenia-and-croatia/From 2-6 June, Bishop Javier Echevarría was in Slovenia and Croatia for a brief pastoral visit. He met with faithful of the Prelature and friends and encouraged them in their apostolic efforts.From the Prelate
Croatia (3-6 June)

During his stay in Croatia, the Prelate often spoke about Saint's Josemaria's great affection for this country, which he was well informed about thanks to several Croatian faithful of Opus Dei, including Vladimer Vince and Luka Brajnovic.

Bishop Echevarría recalled that, when in the middle of the twentieth century the political situation in Croatia didn't permit the recognition of basic human rights, the Founder of Opus Dei had assured people with a lot of faith that in the not too distant future the Christian message would once again be spread in these lands.

The Prelate had a chance to visit with Cardinal Josip Bozanić of Zagreb, and stopped in the Cathedral to pray before the mortal remains of Blessed Aloizije Stepinac, well-known for his efforts to defend human and civil rights in Croatia.

He spent most of his time meeting with faithful of the Prelature in Zagreb and many other people who take part in the formative activities of Opus Dei. He spoke a lot about the Year of Mercy and invited people to have recourse to Saint Josemaria to learn how to be merciful: "as he himself said, he didn't need to learn how to forgive, since our Lord had taught him how to love."

He had a chance to speak with a group of families who are starting several primary schools, and also with people who are organizing courses of family orientation to assist married couples in Croatia.

The Prelate also met with a group of priests who are members of the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross and some of their friends.

Slovenia (2-3 June)

Bishop Javier Echevarría arrived in Ljubljana on Thursday, June 2. This was his third visit to the city, after a brief stay in 2004 and 2011. In Ljubljana, he had several get-togethers with faithful of the Prelature and cooperators, as well as with young people taking part in the activities of Christian formation. Opus Dei began its stable apostolic work in Slovenia in 2003.

The Prelate encouraged everyone to live their faith integrally and, echoing Pope Francis, to strive to help so many people who are waiting for someone to speak to them about God: "God wants to make use of you to help many other people come to know Him. Don't tell Him no!"

On Friday afternoon he visited the Archbishop of Ljubljana, Stanislav Zore, who thanked him for the apostolic work Opus Dei is carrying out in Slovenia, and also met with the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Juliusz Janusz. He also had a chance to stop in the Ljubljana Cathedral to pray for a few moments and to pass through the holy door.

In the afternoon, he had two get-togethers with families. The Prelate stressed the vocation of all the baptized to holiness, which for most people means striving for sanctity in the middle of the world, in their work, their family setting, and their daily obligations.

On Saturday he visited the Polzela Conference Center, an ancient Dominican monastery that was built in the 15th century. It is currently undergoing remodeling to make it suitable for the activities of spiritual formation organized by the Prelature of Opus Dei.
Mariam: Living Among Christians in Lebanon2016-05-24T22:27:23+01:00http://opusdei.us/en-us/article/living-among-christians-in-lebanon-mariams-story/Mariam, a young Muslim girl in Aleppo, Syria, had to flee with her family three years ago because of the war. She found refuge and a new family in Lebanon.Personal testimonies
My name is Mariam, and I am from a city in Syria called Aleppo. Three years ago, I became one of the million and a half Syrian refugees in Lebanon. When the war first began in my country, it took some time for us to realize the deep impact it would have on our lives.

At first, the idea of leaving Aleppo didn't even occur to us, but reality soon set in. Our house was burned down and shelling in our neighborhood became quite frequent; even finding something to eat became a major ordeal.

One day, my family and I were inside a house while bombs were falling when we heard a knock at the door. We were afraid to see who it was, but it turned out to be my uncle who was offering to take us to a safer place.

Leaving was hard. My sister is disabled and can't walk; we had to push her in a wheelchair in the midst of the rubble. We spent two years going from one place to another until we decided to cross the border into Lebanon and settle in a house that my brother Muhammad, the eldest in the family, had been able to find for us a few months earlier. The house is located in a mountain village.

Amid many hardships, a tambourine

We spent the first months in Lebanon amid many hardships. Life for Syrian refugees in this country is not easy. Everything is very expensive and work opportunities are scarce. Money, which was never a problem for us in Syria, began to be a cause for concern. On top of all that, there were also health problems to deal with. My mother, who had begun cancer treatment in Syria, needed to continue the treatments and travel back and forth. All this, while frequently receiving terrible news about our friends and relatives.

We survived by having recourse to prayer and music. My family is very cheerful, especially my mother who, when she notices our spirits failing, pulls out a tambourine and starts to sing.

When the war began in Syria, I was in my first year of university. I love to study, but at first I thought it would not be possible to continue in Lebanon. Rita, the daughter of the Lebanese couple from whom we were renting the house, talked to my mother about the Institute where she had studied hospitality: the IMS (Institute of Management and Services), a school run by people of Opus Dei in the rural area of Byblos.

Initially, I had no desires of going. I assumed they wouldn't accept a Syrian Muslim with a head veil. I also felt it my duty to help out at home because several people in my family were sick. But my mother insisted that I continue my studies, telling me that it was more important. She came with me to visit IMS and we were delighted by the environment and the people who received me there. When I told them about my financial difficulties, they said I could ask for a scholarship to help pay for it. I left jumping for joy.

Saint Josemaria's smile and my veil

Now I am in my second year of Higher Technical Education. In the IMS, I have learned a lot about hospitality and management, but my discoveries have not stopped there.

When I went into the school chapel one day, I saw an image of our Lady, Saint Joseph and Saint Josemaria. That night Saint Josemaria appeared to me in a dream, smiling at me and telling me that he was going to help my family. In my dream I was quite worried because I wasn't wearing my veil, but Saint Josemaría didn't seem to mind. His smile has helped me to be happy despite all my difficulties. I have sent his image to people in Syria, so that when Opus Dei comes to my country to set up another IMS, there will already be many people who know about Saint Josemaría.

My older brother works in a small carpentry workshop and supports the whole family with this work. The working conditions are not very good. The boss is usually angry, space for handling the furniture is limited, and he receives a minimal salary. Besides all this, his co-worker isn't a believer and my brother was discouraged after conversations with him because he seems to have no hope.

My mother told him that between having a job and having God, it is better to have God, and that if his co-worker was going to continue having a bad influence on him, she preferred that he quit the job. The answer to my mother's prayers was that my brother's colleague decided to stop working there.

God loves me, in spite of everything

In the IMS, I have learned that God loves us in spite of everything. Often I have to shut myself up in my room to cry, because we receive very worrisome news, but gradually I've come to learn that the good is always stronger.

I try to convince my brother Muhammad of this when he becomes discouraged. I left him a copy of the book of Job that was given to me at IMS; there they explained to me that evils are not necessarily a punishment from God, but a blessing. I don't totally understand all this yet, but I'm learning to pray and take things more calmly.

One day I was informed at IMS that a hotel was redoing its interior design and was getting rid of the old furniture. We arranged things so that my older brother could go over to the hotel with Farouq, who heads up maintenance at IMS. Farouq is a very generous man and close to God, who often hires Syrians to work with him and helps them a lot. I think this may be the beginning of a positive friendship for my brother.

At IMS, they treat me as just another student, but they are also concerned about my whole situation and have managed to help my family through small gestures: arranging cheaper medical examinations for us at a clinic; small donations from people there to be able to make an extraordinary payment; and regularly giving me clothes to offer other refugee families I know.

At IMS, I have found a family. When we arrived in Lebanon we were very much alone, always shut up at home and only interacting with other Syrian refugees. I am very happy at IMS. When I have a problem, I can always tell someone, and I feel that they care about me, that I and my family matter to them.

Giving hope, amid tears and laughter

At first, I was often quite ill, because I made an effort not to cry and suppressed my worries. I ended up with a stomach ulcer that needed surgery. The girls from IMS came to see me at my house, a gesture I will never forget and that made me feel loved. Now I prefer to cry when I need to, and also to pray.

I am naturally a cheerful person, like my mother. I sing, tell jokes, recite poetry, and have a knack for theater. I make my IMS colleagues laugh a lot. So when I had to choose a small business project to present for my Business Management class, it occurred to me to make a mobile theater for children. This idea has slowly started to take shape, and the people at IMS have encouraged me a lot in my endeavor. It is a project that gives me a lot of hope and offers a path for my desire to do good. I hope to bring the mobile theater to refugee camps to brighten the lives of children there.

During Christmas, I took part in the concert of carols that the students prepared for their families. When I was in Aleppo, I saw that the Christians were very joyful at this time of the year. This school year, I was able to experience this joy from within. I also helped out in the Christmas campaign organized at IMS. Besides visiting poor Lebanese families and the elderly in nursing homes, we prepared bags of clothes to send to Damascus with a Syrian girl who travels there regularly. I love being able to cooperate in this effort and to feel closer to people going through a difficult time.

I am asking God that the war in Syria may end soon, and that until then He gives me the strength to keep up my hope and to help the people around me and those suffering in Syria, just as I have been helped.

***************************************************************

The IMS (Institute of Management and Services) is a Higher Technical Institute that offers certification in Service Management, Hotel Management and Rural Tourism. Students come from a variety of religions and villages in the area. During the two-year program, students develop a project to be carried out in their villages, which is meant to be profitable and contribute to local development. This enables people not to have to migrate to the cities, to maintain their traditions, and to appreciate their villages' local riches.

More information: https://www.facebook.com/ims.maad
Preparing for Feast of Corpus Christi2016-05-23T19:02:35+01:00http://opusdei.us/en-us/article/preparing-for-feast-of-corpus-christi/The Prelate speaks about Saint Josemaria's devotion to the Blessed Eucharist in this video clip from a 2012 Holy Week gathering in Rome. Recent News
Prelate's Pastoral Letter for 2004 Year of the Eucharist

Church's teaching on Christ's real presence in the Eucharist

Amsterdam to See its First Eucharistic Procession Since 1578
eBook: Catechesis on the Family (vol. III)2016-05-19T14:25:01+01:00http://opusdei.us/en-us/article/ebook-catechesis-on-the-family-vol-iii/The final volume of Pope Francis' addresses on the family is now available in pdf and epub format. From the Pope
PDF: Catechesis on the Family (vol. III)

ePub: Catechesis on the Family (vol. III)

Catechesis on the Family (vol. II)

Catechesis on the Family (vol. I)
Just Start (3): Enlarge your Family 2016-05-16T20:29:39+01:00http://opusdei.us/en-us/article/just-start-3-enlarge-your-faimly/Pope Francis encourages us to "never be a family that is closed in on itself." Third video in the series on the works of mercy.Social initiatives
Below are some questions and quotes that can help you get more out of this video, in screenings with your friends, in your school or your parish.

Questions for dialogue

— What do Thomas, in Singapore, and Annemarie and Mathias, in Austria, have in common?

— How have they "enlarged their family"?

— Why does Sara, a volunteer in an orphanage in the Philippines, say that anyone can help out and there is no need to be a professional to help others?

— What people in today's society stand in need of receiving the warmth of a family? How can we help them?

Suggestions for action

— Pray each day for your family and for all the families in the world.

— Be more attentive to those who need someone to listen to them or to accompany them.

— Try to spread joy and optimism to those around you.

— Become informed about nearby shelters for children, for the elderly, etc., and if possible donate your time and company to those living here.

Quotes from Sacred Scripture to reflect on

— As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you (Is 66:12-13).

— Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God (2 Cor 1:3-4).

— If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? (Jas 2:15-16).

 — Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares (Heb 13:2).

Quote from Pope Francis to reflect on

— A family that is closed in on itself is like a contradiction of the promise that gave birth to it and enables it to live. Never forget: the identity of a family is always a promise that expands, and it expands to the whole family and also to all of humanity (Audience 21 October 2015).

— Jesus made a great promise to us: "I will not leave you orphaned" (Jn 14:18), because he is the way to go, the teacher to listen to, the hope that does not disappoint. How can we not feel a burning desire in our heart and say to all, especially the youth: "You are not orphans! Jesus Christ revealed to us that God is Father and wants to help you, because he loves you." This is the profound meaning of Christian initiation: being born in the faith means proclaiming that we are not orphans (Address, 16 June 2014).

— By looking at Mary, we discover the most beautiful and most tender face of the Church; and by looking at the Church, we recognize the sublime features of Mary. We Christians are not orphans, we have a mama, we have a mother, and this is great! We are not orphans! The Church is mother, Mary is mother (Audience, 3 September 2014).

Quotes from Saint Josemaria to reflect on

— The Master passes very close to us, again and again. He looks at us... And if you look at him, if you listen to him, if you don't reject him, He will teach you how to give a supernatural meaning to everything you do... Then you too, wherever you may be, will sow consolation and peace and joy (Way of the Cross, 8th station, no. 4).

— Don't forget that our Lord has a special love for little children and those who become as little children (The Way, no. 872).

— What a joy it is to contemplate Jesus in Bethany! Friend of Lazarus, Martha and Mary! It is there that he goes to regain his strength when tired. There Jesus finds a home, and people who appreciate him. Some people, when they draw close to the Tabernacle, find Bethany there. May it be so for you! Bethany is trust, the warmth of a family, intimacy. Specially beloved friends of Jesus (Meditation, 6 November 1940).
"Mary invites us to prayer, penance and conversion"2016-05-12T13:41:01+01:00http://opusdei.us/en-us/article/mary-invites-us-to-prayer-penance-and-conversion/In his May 11 general audience, Pope Francis reminded everyone that Friday May 13 is the feast of Our Lady of Fatima, and urged us to follow Saint John Paul II's example in having recourse to her.From the Pope
(from Zenit):

During his weekly General Audience this morning in St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis recalled that in this month of Mary, Friday marks the liturgical memorial of Our Lady of Fatima.

"In this apparition," Pope Francis said, "Mary invites us once again to prayer, penance and conversion. She asks us to not offend God anymore. She warns all mankind of the need to surrender to God, the source of love and mercy.

"Follow the example of St. John Paul II, great devotee of Our Lady of Fatima; let us listen attentively to the Mother of God and seek peace for the world. Praised be Jesus Christ," Francis said.

The Pope also gave greetings today to Slovak pilgrims and acknowledged that Sunday marks the Solemnity of Pentecost.

"We pray to Almighty God to pour out upon us the Holy Spirit with His gifts, so we can become courageous witnesses of Christ and the Gospel," Pope Francis prayed.

For translation of Pope's entire address click here.
"Show us you are a mother!"2016-04-28T23:50:15+01:00http://opusdei.us/en-us/article/show-us-you-are-a-mother/For the month of May, dedicated to our Lady, we offer an account of Saint Josemaria's pilgrimage to Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico, in May 1970. Recent News
On May 1, 1970, Saint Josemaria announced his desire to cross the Atlantic and prostrate himself at the feet of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Recalling the circumstances of that outburst of filial love for our Lady, Bishop Javier Echevarria, who went with him, wrote 25 years later, "I would go so far as to say – in fact I heard him say so himself several times – that it was our Lady who obliged him to undertake that penitential pilgrimage, because she wanted him to pray for her intercession for the good of the world, the Church, and that little portion of the Church which is Opus Dei, there at the feet of the Virgen Morena."

Early in the morning on May 15, 1970, Saint Josemaria arrived in Mexico City. "I've come to see Our Lady of Guadalupe – and, by the way, to see you too," he told his children in Opus Dei there as soon as they met. The next day, May 16, even before he had fully adapted to the change of altitude and time difference, he went to the Basilica and began his novena. He continued it until May 24.

On the first day he stayed on his knees in the sanctuary for over an hour and a half. His eyes fixed on the picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe, he addressed a very intense prayer to our Heavenly Mother, telling her with total trust, "Monstra te esse Matrem! Show that you're a Mother! If a little child asked his mother that, there isn't a single mother who wouldn't be moved. Hear us: I know you will!" On the following days he was able to go up to a little balcony, where he was very close to the picture itself and could pray without attracting attention....

The final day of the novena, May 24, 1970, was a Sunday. Saint Josemaria arrived at the Villa, the Basilica of Guadalupe, at 16:40 in the afternoon. Before going up to the balcony he went first, as was his custom, to make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament.

In the balcony Saint Josemaria began speaking to our Lady aloud, taking up the thread of the "get-togethers," as he called them, that he'd been having with Our Lady of Guadalupe over the past nine days.

"I don't have words to express my great joy at being here with you, Mary. My children [addressing some of his sons who were accompanying him], I call you to witness before God that I want to tell the one who is our Mother, whose children we are proud to be, that I have come here because, more than ever during these months, I want to beg her not to abandon the Church, and not to abandon us. I know she won't ever leave us, but I am begging her to cut short the time of trial, the storm that is afflicting the barque of Peter. And I am appealing very especially, constantly, to her intercession, because I trust her with all the strength of my soul.

Through our Lady's hands, through the one who is all-powerful in her supplication, I also need to say to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, that I place myself before the Blessed Trinity in total submission, in unreserved self-surrender; and I repeat, in a sincere prayer, the acceptance of God's Will that she showed with her 'Fiat – be it done!' My Lady, I surrender myself, I surrender myself totally: I'm not asking for anything any more! I love your Son's Will! We abandon ourselves, we love and accept his plan, obeying God's Will in full.

We know, Mother of ours, that you will give us the means to take forward this path of charity and love, and to spread it throughout the world.

We have had these 'get-togethers' so close to your picture: nine days of intense, filial conversation with you! And today, once again, with ever-growing love and trust, we want to present to you the Church; and so we want to present to you these sons and daughters of yours in Opus Dei, who want nothing for themselves, who don't nourish any ambition for themselves. Look at each of us, Mary my Mother! Look at me – although I am well convinced that I don't deserve the slightest glance from you. But ne respicias peccata mea, sed fidem eorum! Don't look at my failings, which are so numerous, and for which I'm sorry and ashamed and beg for forgiveness. Look at my sons, look at my daughters; look how they love you with the perennial fire of their dedication, which holds no human motives.

We are not pursuing any human goal in our self-giving! We have surrendered ourselves because your Son was the one who asked us to. Most Holy Virgin, protect the Church, save the Church! And from now on I won't make any suggestions. Up till now I have been telling you things boldly, but always with my head bowed, because I am a dirty rag, although I think I have always tried to act out of love for the Wisdom and Will of the Blessed Trinity."

 Saint Josemaria continued his prayer aloud for a long time, with acts of love for God and abandonment to God's Will, acts of thanksgiving and acts of atonement, and burning petitions. Then he began to pray the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary with the other people there, slowly, savouring the scenes and words.

Before beginning the glorious mysteries, he said: "We will offer the first mystery for the peace and tranquility of Europe, the continent in which many countries are under Communism. I don't want there to be wars, and that is what I beg of you, Mother of ours, Queen of Heaven and earth. I don't want there to be wars, because war is the worst scourge God can permit. In Europe there is a need for peace: peace to be able to love God freely. Our Lady, I persist in begging you for the peace of Christ for all nations."

At the end of the first mystery, Saint Josemaria said aloud: "We will offer the second mystery to Our Lady of Guadalupe, praying with very great faith and very great hope that she will bring freedom and the peace of Christ to the peoples of Asia.

There comes to my mind the great nation of China – great for so many reasons. I pray that the seed that so many men and women have sown, and the blood and sufferings of many people, may bear fruit again very soon. We ought to love the Chinese people and all the peoples of Asia, and ask the Mother of God to bring them all into the light and peace of her Son."

The third mystery of the Rosary was offered for Africa. "My children: now Africa. Let's pray to Our Lady to grant peace and Christian freedom to Africa. Look at how that continent is a very powerful charge of vitality. We should feel very deeply the need for those brethren of ours to know Christ and love him."

At the end of the third mystery, Saint Josemaria said: "We will offer the next decade of the Holy Rosary that our Lady, our Mother of Guadalupe, may obtain peace for the peoples of the American continent, which many people are trying to turn instead into a nest of constant revolution.

Here before your picture I want to leave a sort of testament to my children in Mexico: with your intercession they are obliged to take your Son's divine seed, to work with love for God and for love of God, from the north, the very north of this continent to Tierra del Fuego."

Finally, he came to the fifth glorious mystery: "This last mystery, we will offer for the peoples of Oceania – Australasia – where there are so few Catholics, so very few clergy, and so many islands! We feel the need to come to their help, because we are interested in the souls of everyone in the world, and because there are not enough people to care for them. We aren't put off by this desolation. The apostolic and human work to be done is certainly huge, but we have God's imperative command and the intercession of Our Lady, Queen of Victories.

We appeal to our Lady's protection, because we can feel secure in the knowledge that each of us in our own state – priest, lay-person, single, married, widowed – if we faithfully fulfil our daily duties, will achieve victory on earth, the victory of staying loyal to our Lord; and we will get to Heaven afterwards and rejoice forever in the friendship and love of God, with our Lady, Holy Mary."

The novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe was nearing its end. It was half-past six in the evening. The Founder of Opus Dei said: "My children, before we say the three Hail Marys invoking her as Daughter, Mother and Spouse of God, and before going on to the litany, I want to thank my Blessed Mother in Heaven from the bottom of my heart for the immense happiness of these hours of family conversation we have spent in her company, so close to her picture. And I want to tell her that I find it hard to tear myself away. These days have been so human and so supernatural! What's more, we end today by saying 'Fiat! Be it done!' with total abandonment, because you don't abandon your children.

Repeat with me, each deep in your hearts, with joy and peace: 'May the most just and most loveable Will of God be done, be fulfilled, be praised and eternally exalted above all things for ever and ever. Amen. Amen.'

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Seat of Wisdom, our Hope, pray for us!"

As he went down the steps, visibly content, he said, "I'm so happy! In the end we didn't pray for anything, we just said to her in all confidence, 'Fiat! Let it be done!'" She will sort everything out. I am sure that it is already sorted out, right now."

The day before Saint Josemaria went back to Rome, he had a get-together with a group of his sons in Opus Dei. One of them started to play a guitar, announcing: "Father, this is an old pop song. Some people say it's too sentimental, but I like it. It starts off rather slow:

'I want to sing you my sweetest song, for you are my love, the Queen of my heart…'"

He stood up suddenly, saying: "Let's go to the Villa and sing that to our Lady, to serenade her!"

The consent was unanimous, and by 8.30 that evening they were all in the Basilica of Guadalupe.

Half an hour before, pilgrims had begun to end their visits. But instead of remaining in shadowy silence, the Basilica was now filled with an enthusiastic group of his daughters and sons and friends of theirs. The Mariachi singers arrived with their guitars, and took their places. The Basilica was packed.

 Saint Josemaria came in and the church-wardens closed the doors. Once again, as on the day of his arrival, he knelt down before the picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe. He intoned a Salve, and the singing was taken up by his daughters and sons, all singing together in a spontaneous farewell. Then the guitars broke the silence, and the voices rose in song: "Yours is my heart, my sunshine, my love," as they sang La Morenita. It was a deeply moving moment, giving expression to the very soul of Mexico.

During his stay in Mexico he had been shown a picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe giving a flower to Juan Diego. On seeing it Saint Josemaria had expressed a petition: "That's how I'd like to die: looking at the Blessed Virgin, and with her giving me a flower…" And after a little silence, he repeated: "Yes, I'd like to die in front of this picture, with our Lady giving me a rose."

************

Generally speaking, Mexican Indians are reserved and silent. They may be deeply interested in a conversation but still refrain from taking part. When they were with Saint Josemaria, however, their behavior changed: the Mexican Indians from the Amilpas Valley talked and laughed with him, revealing the simplicity and affection of their hearts.

 Saint Josemaria, because he understood the language of their hearts, made his own their human and social problems, arising from the extreme poverty of rural workers. He examined the housing projects that aimed to provide decent homes for them around Montefalco; he asked in detail about the education and training they were receiving in the technical training school there, which was being provided at the cost of huge efforts by many people; he opened his arms and his heart to the families of the trainees at training centres run by people of Opus Dei around Mexico City.

He told some of them: "We are concerned to see you improve, and escape from this situation, so that you don't have such great money problems. We are also going to make sure that your children can get a proper education. Between all of us, we can do it, and you'll see how some of them, the ones who are talented and want to study, will go very far. And how will we do this? Like we're doing you a favour? No! I told you before: we're all equal."

[from josemariaescriva.info]

"How to pray the Rosary." With story of St. Josemaria's first pilgrimage to Sonsoles.

Photo Gallery of Mysteries of the Rosary in Shrine of Torreciudad
Video Summary of Priestly Ordinations2016-04-26T18:35:03+01:00http://opusdei.us/en-us/video/video-summary-of-priestly-ordinations/A 6 minute video with highlights from the ordination of 27 priests in Rome on April 23. With scenes from the get-together with the Prelate of Opus Dei after the ceremony.Recent News"I want to make a lot of Japanese friends"2016-04-25T12:06:38+01:00http://opusdei.us/en-us/article/i-want-to-make-a-lot-of-japanese-friends/Javier Palau, 18 years old, is from Guadalajara in Spain. Several months ago he decided to undertake the adventure of moving to Japan and begin learning a new language and culture and making new friends. Personal testimonies
(Above photo: Javier at UNIV Forum in Rome with 20 students from Japan)

Little by little he is learning the language and has already made a good number of Japanese friends. Some even say he is beginning to look Japanese…. Although he knows it will be hard, he hopes to begin studying finance and business at the University of Kobe next year. He lives near the university, in Ashiya, and assists in the apostolic work of Opus Dei there.

In the brief video below Javier recounts some of his adventures after moving to Japan.

Michael Fagan: New American Priest2016-04-21T18:09:07+01:00http://opusdei.us/en-us/video/michael-fagan-new-american-priest/Michael Fagan, who grew up in Washington D.C., was ordained on April 23. In this brief video he talks about his hopes for his future life as a priest. Recent News"There's a lot of work to be done"2016-04-21T14:26:11+01:00http://opusdei.us/en-us/article/theres-a-lot-of-work-to-be-done/On Saturday April 23, the Prelate of Opus Dei ordained 27 priests in Rome. A brief video with words from some of the new priests.Recent News
Below are the new priests and their countries of origin:

Alfredo Rodríguez Sedano (Spain)

José María Pérez-Seoane Mazzuchelli (Spain)

Vincenzo Arborea (Italy)

Fernando Hernansanz Serrano (Spain)

Odon Swamotz Wazaka (Congo)

Carlos Iza García (Russia)

Luis Cruz Ortiz de Landázuri (Spain)

Alejandro Muñoz Vizcaíno (Spain)

Mario Medina Rodríguez (Spain)

Michael Nievales Quilantang (Philippines)

José Omar Espíritu Castro (Mexico)

Manuel Valdés Mas (Spain)

Julio Agustín Sánchez León (Costa Rica)

Francisco Javier Córcoles García (Spain)

Agustín Pablo González Alonso (Spain)

Juan Cruz Bustillo (Argentina)

Manuel Valentini Colomer (Chile)

Albert Penella Mas (Spain)

Javier Aranguren Sánchez-Ostiz (Spain)

Guillermo Arregui Cussi (Mexico)

John Paul Mitchell (United States)

Kalle Oskari Juurikkala (Finland)

Gonzalo de la Morena Barrio (Spain)

Marcelo José Monteiro (Brazil)

Martin Abonyo Onyango (Kenya)

Michael Joseph Fagan (United States)

José Antonio Cordero Becker (Chile)
Visit to Moria Refugee Camp, Lesvos (Greece)2016-04-18T16:14:39+01:00http://opusdei.us/en-us/article/visit-to-moria-refugee-camp-lesvos/Speeches by Pope Francis, the Patriarch of Constantinople and the Archbishop of Athens during their joint visit to the Moria refugee camp on Saturday 16 April, on the island of Lesvos off the coast of Turkey.From the Pope
HIS HOLINESS BARTHOLOMEW, ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE

Dearest brothers and sisters,

Precious youth and children,

We have traveled here to look into your eyes, to hear your voices, and to hold your hands. We have traveled here to tell you that we care. We have traveled here because the world has not forgotten you.

With our brothers, Pope Francis and Archbishop Ieronymos, we are here today to express our solidarity and support for the Greek people, who have welcomed and cared for you. And we are here to remind you that – even when people turn away from us – nevertheless "God is our refuge and strength; God is our help in hardship. Therefore, we shall not be afraid" (Ps 45: 2-3).

We know that you have come from areas of war, hunger and suffering. We know that your hearts are full of anxiety about your families. We know that you are looking for a safer and brighter future.

We have wept as we watched the Mediterranean Sea becoming a burial ground for your loved ones. We have wept as we witnessed the sympathy and sensitivity of the people of Lesvos and other islands. But we also wept as we saw the hard-heartedness of our fellow brothers and sisters – your fellow brothers and sisters – close borders and turn away.

Those who are afraid of you have not looked at you in the eyes. Those who are afraid of you do not see your faces. Those who are afraid of you do not see your children.

They forget that dignity and freedom transcend fear and division. They forget that migration is not an issue for the Middle East and Northern Africa, for Europe and Greece. It is an issue for the world.

The world will be judged by the way it has treated you. And we will all be accountable for the way we respond to the crisis and conflict in the regions that you come from.

The Mediterranean Sea should not be a tomb. It is a place of life, a crossroad of cultures and civilizations, a place of exchange and dialogue. In order to rediscover its original vocation, the Mare Nostrum, and more specifically the Aegean Sea, where we gather today, must become a sea of peace. We pray that the conflicts in the Middle East, which lie at the root of the migrant crisis, will quickly cease and that peace will be restored. We pray for all the people of this region. We would particularly like to highlight the dramatic situation of Christians in the Middle East, as well as the other ethnic and religious minorities in the region, who need urgent action if we do not want to see them disappear.

We promise that we shall never forget you. We shall never stop speaking for you. And we assure you that we will do everything to open the eyes and hearts of the world.

Peace is not the end of History. Peace is the beginning of a History tied to the future. Europe should know that better than any other continent.

This beautiful island we stand right now is just a dot in the map.

To dominate the wind and the rough sea Jesus, according to Luke, called a halt to the blow outright when the ship He and His disciples embarked was in danger. Eventually calm succeeded the storm.
God bless you. God keep you. And God strengthen you.

HIS BEATITUDE IERONYMOS, ARCHBISHOP OF ATHENS AND OF ALL GREECE

It is with unique joy that we welcome today to Lesvos the Head of the Roman-Catholic Church, Pope Francis.

We consider his presence in the territory of the Church of Greece to be pivotal. Pivotal because together we bring forward before the whole world, Christian and beyond, the current tragedy of the refugee crisis.

I warmly thank His All-Holiness, and my beloved brother in Christ, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew; who blesses us with his presence as the First of Orthodoxy, uniting through his prayer, so that the voice of the Churches can be more vocal and heard at the all the ends of the civilized world.

Today we unite our voices in condemning their uprooting, to decry any form of depreciation of the human person.

From this island, Lesvos, I hope to begin a worldwide movement of awareness in order for this current course to be changed by those who hold the fate of nations in their hands and bring back the peace and safety to every home, to every family, to every citizen.

Unfortunately it is not the first time we denounce the politics that have brought these people to this impasse. We will act however, until the aberration and depreciation of the human person has stopped.

We do not need to say many words. Only those who see the eyes of those small child that we met at the refugee camps will be able to immediately recognize, in its entirety, the "bankruptcy" of humanity and solidarity that Europe has shown these last few years to these, and not only these, people.

I take pride in the Greeks, who even though going through there own struggles, are helping the refugees make their own Calvary (Golgotha) a little less ponderous, their uphill road a little less rough.

The Church of Greece and myself, personally, mourn the so many souls lost in the Aegean. We have already done a great deal, and we will continue to do so, as much as our abilities allow for us to undertake in handling this refugee crisis. I would like to close this declaration by making one request, a single call, a single provocation: for the agencies of the United Nations to finally, using the great experience that they offer, address this tragic situation that we are living. I hope that we never see children washing up on the shores of the Aegean. I hope to soon see them there, untroubled, enjoying life.

POPE FRANCIS

Dear brothers and sisters,

I have wanted to be with you today. I want to tell you that you are not alone. In these weeks and months, you have endured much suffering in your search for a better life. Many of you felt forced to flee situations of conflict and persecution for the sake, above all, of your children, your little ones. You have made great sacrifices for your families. You know the pain of having left behind everything that is dear to you and – what is perhaps most difficult – not knowing what the future will bring. Many others like you are also in camps or towns, waiting, hoping to build a new life on this continent.

I have come here with my brothers, Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop Ieronymos, simply to be with you and to hear your stories. We have come to call the attention of the world to this grave humanitarian crisis and to plead for its resolution. As people of faith, we wish to join our voices to speak out on your behalf. We hope that the world will heed these scenes of tragic and indeed desperate need, and respond in a way worthy of our common humanity.

God created mankind to be one family; when any of our brothers and sisters suffer, we are all affected. We all know from experience how easy it is for some to ignore other people's suffering and even to exploit their vulnerability. But we also know that these crises can bring out the very best in us. You have seen this among yourselves and among the Greek people, who have generously responded to your needs amid their own difficulties. You have also seen it in the many people, especially the young from throughout Europe and the world, who have come to help you. Yes, so much more needs to be done! But let us thank God that in our suffering he never leaves us alone. There is always someone who can reach out and help us.

This is the message I want to leave with you today: do not lose hope! The greatest gift we can offer one another is love: a merciful look, a readiness to listen and understand, a word of encouragement, a prayer. May you share this gift with one another. We Christians love to tell the story of the Good Samaritan, a foreigner who saw a man in need and immediately stopped to help. For us, it is a story about God's mercy which is meant for everyone, for God is the All-Merciful. It is also a summons to show that same mercy to those in need. May all our brothers and sisters on this continent, like the Good Samaritan, come to your aid in the spirit of fraternity, solidarity and respect for human dignity that has distinguished its long history.

Dear brothers and sisters, may God bless all of you and, in a special way, your children, the elderly and all those who suffer in body and spirit! I embrace all of you with affection. Upon you, and those who accompany you, I invoke his gifts of strength and peace.
Restoring Hope to Prisoners Through Rugby2016-04-15T16:51:54+01:00http://opusdei.us/en-us/article/restoring-hope-through-rugby/Esteban Viñas, a judge in Argentina, oversees a program that tries to restore hope to young people in prison by teaching them human virtues based on the sport of rugby.Social initiatives
Esteban Viñas, 54 years old and father of 4, is an ex-player and coach of rugby junior league and judge on the Court of Appeals in Mar del Plata, Argentina. He is convinced that love is fundamental to transforming the lives of prisoners and helping them to set out on a path of hope.

He asks: "How do you explain to your son that you need to assist prisoners even after thieves have entered your home and pointed a gun at your wife? What do you tell your children when they ask you: 'Papa why are you helping this person?' The only answer is to tell them that we are all capable of the worst atrocities, and that we have to be thankful for our family, for the education and the opportunities we have received, and that we should show our gratitude by helping those who haven't had these opportunities."

With the assistance of the NGO "Change of Pace," Esteban Viñas seeks to help young inmates in Batán prison, through rugby, work and study, to learn not only the virtues needed to get along with others in society, but also to have hope in the possibility of a new life. "We aren't trying to make them professional rugby players," says Esteban, "but rather to teach them to confront the circumstances of life as in rugby: with respect for other people."

Below is an interview with Esteban Viñas about his work in the prison:

Why did you choose rugby as important for your work in the prison?

Rugby is a special sport. It involves a lot of physical contact but also has very clear rules as to what is allowed. From the first day the coaches play with them and try to help them realize that we are all equal, that no one is more important than anyone else. Leadership has two key elements: example and service. They learn to feel useful, with each one learning his role. And they come to realize that they can provide help to others, which is healing in itself, since these young people often didn't realize it was possible to do good to others. We teach them that, if you fulfill your role, you provide a service to your whole team. Feeling useful has a transformative value.

Of the 150 inmates who play rugby, 60 live in what we call the "hall of respect," a unit with distinct characteristics: they sleep and eat together, and they themselves are responsible for discipline. When someone doesn't work or train, or brings in alcohol or drugs, they themselves sanction that person. They are obliged to train every day, except Sundays, and to study and work. They are the ones who set the rules, and the first rule is to always say "please" and "thank you." In the prison itself that is unimaginable, and is seen as a sign of weakness.

Santiago Valenza, one of the young fellows in the program who has now been released, confided to me: "This program had me in mind; it gave me hope, because when I entered I lost the will to live. Rugby gave me back the desire to be someone; I began to feel part of something bigger than myself, and I wanted to improve."

What role does faith play in the work of "Change of Pace"?

The program incorporates many Catholic elements, but both Catholics and evangelicals are involved, as well as many young fellows who aren't even baptized. In 2011, the inmates built a shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Rugby. There is a chaplain who visits them, and we also try to provide them with what they need. A good number have been baptized and received the sacraments. All this happens thanks to the help of specific people who come to lend a hand; they realize there are many people in the prison who need their assistance, and they do it as a work of mercy.

Why do you refer to "Change of Pace" as a work of mercy?

"Chance of Pace" tries to help people who have become "depersonalized" to acquire a stronger identity. When we make mistakes, we get off the right path, we become "dehumanized" a bit and lose our identity. It is a work of love to help someone who has taken the wrong path to get back on the right track. Only by recognizing the worth of each human being is this work possible.

What inspired you to undertake this project?

I was inspired by the words of a saint. Saint Josemaria Escriva encouraged us to serve one another; he said that when we meet those who need us, we shouldn't turn a deaf ear to them and ignore their needs. Some words of his that I have read many times have helped me a lot: "Be convinced that justice alone is never enough to solve the great problems of mankind. When justice alone is done, don't be surprised if people are hurt. The dignity of each person, who is a child of God, requires much more. Charity must penetrate and accompany justice because it sweetens and deifies everything, since God is love" (Saint Josemaria, Friends of God, no. 172).

Tell us about "Change of Pace."

"Change of Pace [Cambio de Paso] is a non-profit association whose goal is to assist those who have committed crimes to re-integrate in society, trying to ensure that they do not return to a life of crime when they leave prison. It is an interdisciplinary work in the prison that involves training in and playing rugby, studying, apprenticeship in a trade and work practice, and on leaving the prison, ongoing job training and a continued link with rugby.
"You visited me in prison"2016-04-11T18:46:49+01:00http://opusdei.us/en-us/video/you-visited-me-in-prison/Strathmore University in Nairobi, Kenya, has been working with Naivasha Maximum Prison since 2002 under the Strathmore Prison Education Program. Over the years, Strathmore students and staff have visited the prison to donate learning materials and interact with the prisoners through several platforms like the annual football tournament. Strathmore Community Service Centre also sponsors inmates to pursue accountancy courses.Social initiativesJust Start (2): Feeding Body and Soul2016-04-11T16:24:24+01:00http://opusdei.us/en-us/article/just-start-2-feeding-body-and-soul/Second video in the series on the works of mercy. People in Russia and the Philippines are shown fighting material and spiritual hunger. Social initiatives
Below are some questions and quotes that can help you get more out of this video, in screenings with your friends, in your school or your parish.

Questions for dialogue

What do you see as the driving force behind getting projects like these started? What role do the Christian virtues of faith and charity play in getting them started and in sticking with them?

Why are people happy to volunteer for projects like these?

How can those who receive this help come to form part of a "virtuous circle"?

Is hunger still a real problem in this country?

Some specific suggestions for action

Pray for those who are suffering from hunger and malnourishment.

Give sincere thanks to God before meals.

Try not to waste food at home.

Contribute to those who need it any leftover food (at home, in restaurants, after parties, etc.).

Help out in some way (with your work, time, money, prayer, etc.) in projects to fight hunger and malnourishment.

Find out about projects in your neighborhood for distributing food to the needy.

Quotes from Sacred Scripture

And whoever gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he shall not lose his reward (Mt 10:42)

Now the day began to wear away; and the twelve came and said to him, "Send the crowd away, to go into the villages and country round about, to lodge and get provisions; for we are here in a lonely place." But he said to them, "You give them something to eat" (Lk 9:12-13).

And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as hoarfrost on the ground.  When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, "It is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat" (Ex 16:14-15).

I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die.  I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh (Jn 6:48-51).

Quotes from Pope Francis

The poverty of the world is a scandal. In a world where there is such great wealth, so many resources for giving food to everyone, it is impossible to understand how there could be so many hungry children, so many children without education, so many poor people! Poverty today is a cry. We must all think about whether we can become a little poorer. This is something we must all do. How I can become a little poorer to be more like Jesus, who was the poor Teacher (Address, 7 June 2015).

There was a time when our grandparents were very careful not to throw away any leftover food. Consumerism has led us to be accustomed to excess and to the daily waste of food, whose value, which goes far beyond mere financial parameters, we are no longer able to judge correctly. Let us remember well, however, that whenever food is thrown out it is as if it were stolen from the table of the poor, from the hungry! I ask everyone to reflect on the problem of the loss and waste of food, to identify ways and approaches which, by seriously dealing with this problem, convey solidarity and sharing with the underprivileged (Audience, 5 June 2013).

Jesus satiates not only material hunger, but the most profound one, the hunger for the meaning of life, the hunger for God. Before the suffering, loneliness, poverty and difficulties of so many people, what can we ourselves do? Complaining doesn't resolve anything, but we can offer the little that we have, like the lad in the Gospel. We surely have a few hours of time, certain talents, some skills.... Who among us doesn't have "five loaves and two fish" of his own? We all have them! If we are willing to place them in the Lord's hands, they will be enough to bring about a little more love, peace, justice and especially joy in the world (Angelus, 26 July 2015).

Quotes from Saint Josemaria

Among the ingredients of your meal include that "most delicious" one, mortification (The Forge, no. 783).

The good things of the earth, monopolized by a handful of people; the culture of the world, confined to cliques. And, on the outside, hunger for bread and education. Human lives—holy, because they come from God—treated as mere things, as statistics. I understand and share this impatience. It stirs me to look at Christ, who is continually inviting us to put his new commandment of love into practice (Christ is Passing By, no. 111).

If we work well, sanctifying our tasks, and if we teach others to find God in their work; if we put great care into it and don't work in a sloppy way, learning how to work as a team, shoulder to should with our fellow men, how many material miracles we will see! We will help bring it about that there is less hunger in the world, less ignorance, less poverty, less illness…. (7 April 1970).

Peru: Fighting the "Vicious Cycle of Poverty" (Link to article)
Apostolic Exhortation "Amoris Laetitia"2016-04-08T13:44:58+01:00http://opusdei.us/en-us/article/apostolic-exhortation-amoris-laetitia/A summary of the document released today on married love and the family, which was signed by Pope Francis on March 19. The Prelate of Opus Dei has asked "that we may all learn how to accompany families better and more closely."From the Pope
Today, on the occasion of the publication of this document, the Prelate of Opus Dei, Bishop Javier Echevarría, has asked "all the faithful and friends of the Prelature to pray abundantly during these days for Pope Francis and his intentions, so that we may all learn, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to accompany families better and more closely."

Below is the Vatican-provided summary of Pope Francis' Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia. A link to the full document is found at the end.

Summary of Amoris Laetitia: On Love in the Family

It is not by chance that Amoris Laetitia (AL), "The Joy of Love," the post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation "On Love in the Family," was signed on 19 March, the Solemnity of Saint Joseph. It brings together the results of the two Synods on the family convoked by Pope Francis in 2014 and 2015. It often cites their Final Reports; documents and teachings of his Predecessors; and his own numerous catecheses on the family. In addition, as in previous magisterial documents, the Pope also makes use of the contributions of various Episcopal Conferences around the world (Kenya, Australia, Argentina…) and cites significant figures such as Martin Luther King and Erich Fromm. The Pope even quotes the film Babette's Feast to illustrate the concept of gratuity.

Introduction (1-7)

The Apostolic Exhortation is striking for its breadth and detail. Its 325 paragraphs are distributed over nine chapters. The seven introductory paragraphs plainly set out the complexity of a topic in urgent need of thorough study. The interventions of the Synod Fathers make up [form] a "multifaceted gem" (AL 4), a precious polyhedron, whose value must be preserved. But the Pope cautions that "not all discussions of doctrinal, moral or pastoral issues need to be settled by interventions of the magisterium." Indeed, for some questions, "each country or region … can seek solutions better suited to its culture and sensitive to its traditions and local needs. For 'cultures are in fact quite diverse and every general principle … needs to be inculturated, if it is to be respected and applied'" (AL 3). This principle of inculturation applies to how problems are formulated and addressed and, apart from the dogmatic issues that have been well defined by the Church's magisterium, none of this approach can be "globalized."

The Pope clearly states that we need above all to avoid a sterile juxtaposition between demands for change and the general application of abstract norms. He writes: "The debates carried on in the media, in certain publications and even among the Church's ministers, range from an immoderate desire for total change without sufficient reflection or grounding, to an attitude that would solve everything by applying general rules or deriving undue conclusions from particular theological considerations" (AL 2).

Chapter One: "In the light of the Word" (8-30)

Following this introduction, the Pope begins his reflections with the Holy Scriptures in the first chapter, which unfolds as a meditation on Psalm 128 (which appears in the Jewish wedding liturgy as well as that of Christian marriages). The Bible "is full of families, births, love stories and family crises" (AL 8). This impels us to meditate on how the family is not an abstract ideal but rather like a practical "trade" (AL 16), which is carried out with tenderness (AL 28), but which has also been confronted with sin from the beginning, when the relationship of love turned into domination (cf. AL 19). Hence, the Word of God "is not a series of abstract ideas but rather a source of comfort and companionship for every family that experiences difficulties or suffering. For it shows them the goal of their journey…" (AL 22).

Chapter two: "The experiences and challenges of families" (31-57)

Building on the biblical base, in the second chapter the Pope considers the current situation of families. While keeping "firmly grounded in [the] reality" of family experiences (AL 6), he also draws heavily on the final Reports of the two Synods. Families face many challenges, from migration to the ideological denial of differences between the sexes ("ideology of gender" AL 56); from the culture of the provisional to the antibirth mentality and the impact of biotechnology in the field of procreation; from the lack of housing and work to pornography and abuse of minors; from inattention to persons with disabilities, to lack of respect for the elderly; from the legal dismantling of the family, to violence against women. The Pope insists on concreteness, which is a key concept in the Exhortation. And it is concreteness, realism and daily life that make up the substantial difference between acceptable "theories" of interpretation of reality and arbitrary "ideologies."

Citing Familiaris Consortio, Francis states that "we do well to focus on concrete realities, since 'the call and the demands of the Spirit resound in the events of history', and through these 'the Church can also be guided to a more profound understanding of the inexhaustible mystery of marriage and the family'" (AL 31). Conversely, if we fail to listen to reality, we cannot understand the needs of the present or the movements of the Spirit. The Pope notes that rampant individualism makes it difficult today for a person to give oneself generously to another (cf. AL 33). Here is an interesting picture of the situation: "The fear of loneliness and the desire for stability and fidelity exist side by side with a growing fear of entrapment in a relationship that could hamper the achievement of one's personal goals" (AL 34).

The humility of realism helps us to avoid presenting "a far too abstract and almost artificial theological ideal of marriage, far removed from the concrete situations and practical possibilities of real families" (AL 36). Idealism does not allow marriage to be understood for what it is, that is, a "dynamic path to personal development and fulfilment." It is unrealistic to think that families can sustain themselves "simply by stressing doctrinal, bioethical and moral issues, without encouraging openness to grace" (AL 37). Calling for a certain "self-criticism" of approaches that are inadequate for the experience of marriage and the family, the Pope stresses the need to make room for the formation of the conscience of the faithful: "We have been called to form consciences, not to replace them" (AL 37). Jesus proposed a demanding ideal but "never failed to show compassion and closeness to the frailty of individuals like the Samaritan woman or the woman caught in adultery" (AL 38).

Chapter three: "Looking to Jesus: The vocation of the family" (58-88)

The third chapter is dedicated to some essential elements of the Church's teaching on marriage and the family. This chapter is important because its 30 paragraphs concisely depict the vocation of the family according to the Gospel and as affirmed by the Church over time. Above all, it stresses the themes of indissolubility, the sacramental nature of marriage, the transmission of life and the education of children. Gaudium et Spes of Vatican II, Humanae Vitae of Paul VI, and Familiaris Consortio of John Paul II are widely quoted.

The chapter provides a broad view and touches on "imperfect situations" as well. We can read, in fact: "'Discernment of the presence of 'seeds of the Word' in other cultures (cf. Ad Gentes 11) can also apply to the reality of marriage and the family. In addition to true natural marriage, positive elements exist in the forms of marriage found in other religious traditions', even if, at times, obscurely" (AL 77). The reflection also includes the "wounded families" about whom the Pope – quoting the Final Report of the 2015 Synod extensively – says that "it is always necessary to recall this general principle: 'Pastors must know that, for the sake of truth, they are obliged to exercise careful discernment of situations' (Familiaris Consortio, 84). The degree of responsibility is not equal in all cases and factors may exist which limit the ability to make a decision. Therefore, while clearly stating the Church's teaching, pastors are to avoid judgements that do not take into account the complexity of various situations, and they are to be attentive, by necessity, to how people experience and endure distress because of their condition" (AL 79).

Chapter four: "Love in marriage" (89-164)

The fourth chapter treats love in marriage, which it illuminates with Saint Paul's Hymn to Love in 1Corinthians13:4-7. This opening section is truly a painstaking, focused, inspired and poetic exegesis of the Pauline text. It is a collection of brief passages carefully and tenderly describing human love in absolutely concrete terms. The quality of psychological introspection that marks this exegesis is striking. The psychological insights enter into the emotional world of the spouses – positive and negative – and the erotic dimension of love. This is an extremely rich and valuable contribution to Christian married life, unprecedented in previous papal documents.

This section digresses briefly from the more extensive, perceptive treatment of the day-to-day experience of married love which the Pope refuses to judge against ideal standards: "There is no need to lay upon two limited persons the tremendous burden of having to reproduce perfectly the union existing between Christ and his Church, for marriage as a sign entails 'a dynamic process…, one which advances gradually with the progressive integration of the gifts of God'" (AL 122). On the other hand, the Pope forcefully stresses the fact that conjugal love by its very nature defines the partners in a richly encompassing and lasting union (AL 123), precisely within that "mixture of enjoyment and struggles, tensions and repose, pain and relief, satisfactions and longings, annoyances and pleasures" (Al 126) which indeed make up a marriage.

The chapter concludes with a very important reflection on the "transformation of love" because "Longer life spans now mean that close and exclusive relationships must last for four, five or even six decades; consequently, the initial decision has to be frequently renewed" (AL 163). As physical appearance alters, the loving attraction does not lessen but changes as sexual desire can be transformed over time into the desire for togetherness and mutuality: "There is no guarantee that we will feel the same way all through life. Yet if a couple can come up with a shared and lasting life project, they can love one another and live as one until death do them part, enjoying an enriching intimacy" (AL 163).

Chapter five: "Love made fruitful" (165-198)

The fifth chapter is entirely focused on love's fruitfulness and procreation. It speaks in a profoundly spiritual and psychological manner about welcoming new life, about the waiting period of pregnancy, about the love of a mother and a father. It also speaks of the expanded fruitfulness of adoption, of welcoming the contribution of families to promote a "culture of encounter", and of family life in a broad sense which includes aunts and uncles, cousins, relatives of relatives, friends. Amoris Laetitia does not focus on the so-called "nuclear family" because it is very aware of the family as a wider network of many relationships. The spirituality of the sacrament of marriage has a deeply social character (cf. AL 187). And within this social dimension the Pope particularly emphasizes the specific role of the relationship between youth and the elderly, as well as the relationship between brothers and sisters as a training ground for relating with others.

Chapter six: "Some pastoral perspectives" (199-258)

In the sixth chapter the Pope treats various pastoral perspectives that are aimed at forming solid and fruitful families according to God's plan. The chapter use the Final Reports of the two Synods and the catecheses of Pope Francis and Pope John Paul II extensively. It reiterates that families should not only be evangelized, they should also evangelize. The Pope regrets "that ordained ministers often lack the training needed to deal with the complex problems currently facing families" (AL 202). On the one hand, the psycho-affective formation of seminarians needs to be improved, and families need to be more involved in formation for ministry (cf. AL 203); and on the other hand, "the experience of the broad oriental tradition of a married clergy could also be drawn upon" (AL 202).

The Pope then deals with the preparation of the engaged for marriage; with the accompaniment of couples in the first years of married life, including the issue of responsible parenthood; and also with certain complex situations and crises, knowing that "each crisis has a lesson to teach us; we need to learn how to listen for it with the ear of the heart" (AL 232). Some causes of crisis are analysed, among them a delay in maturing affectively (cf. AL 239).

Mention is furthermore made of accompanying abandoned, separated or divorced persons. The Exhortation stresses the importance of the recent reform of the procedures for marriage annulment. It highlights the suffering of children in situations of conflict and concludes: "Divorce is an evil and the increasing number of divorces is very troubling. Hence, our most important pastoral task with regard to families is to strengthen their love, helping to heal wounds and working to prevent the spread of this drama of our times" (AL 246). It then touches on the situations of a marriage between a Catholic and a Christian of another denomination (mixed marriages), and between a Catholic and someone of another religion (disparity of cult). Regarding families with members with homosexual tendencies, it reaffirms the necessity to respect them and to refrain from any unjust discrimination and every form of aggression or violence. The last, pastorally poignant part of the chapter, "When death makes us feel its sting," is on the theme of the loss of dear ones and of widowhood.

Chapter seven: "Towards a better education of children" (259-290)

The seventh chapter is dedicated to the education of children: their ethical formation, the learning of discipline which can include punishment, patient realism, sex education, passing on the faith and, more generally, family life as an educational context. The practical wisdom present in each paragraph is remarkable, above all the attention given to those gradual, small steps "that can be understood, accepted and appreciated" (AL 271).

There is a particularly interesting and pedagogically fundamental paragraph in which Francis clearly states that "obsession, however, is not education. We cannot control every situation that a child may experience… If parents are obsessed with always knowing where their children are and controlling all their movements, they will seek only to dominate space. But this is no way to educate, strengthen and prepare their children to face challenges. What is most important is the ability lovingly to help them grow in freedom, maturity, overall discipline and real autonomy" (AL 260).

The notable section on education in sexuality is very expressively entitled: "Yes to sex education." The need is there, and we have to ask "if our educational institutions have taken up this challenge … in an age when sexuality tends to be trivialized and impoverished". Sound education needs to be carried out "within the broader framework of an education for love, for mutual self-giving" (AL 280). The text warns that the expression 'safe sex' conveys "a negative attitude towards the natural procreative finality of sexuality, as if an eventual child were an enemy to be protected against. This way of thinking promotes narcissism and aggressivity in place of acceptance" (AL 283).

Chapter eight: "Guiding, discerning and integrating weakness" (291-312)

The eighth chapter is an invitation to mercy and pastoral discernment in situations that do not fully match what the Lord proposes. The Pope uses three very important verbs: guiding, discerning and integrating, which are fundamental in addressing fragile, complex or irregular situations. The chapter has sections on the need for gradualness in pastoral care; the importance of discernment; norms and mitigating circumstances in pastoral discernment; and finally what the Pope calls the "logic of pastoral mercy."

Chapter eight is very sensitive. In reading it one must remember that "the Church's task is often like that of a field hospital" (AL 291). Here the Holy Father grapples with the findings of the Synods on controversial issues. He reaffirms what Christian marriage is and adds that "some forms of union radically contradict this ideal, while others realize it in at least a partial and analogous way." The Church therefore "does not disregard the constructive elements in those situations which do not yet or no longer correspond to her teaching on marriage" (AL 292).

As far as discernment with regard to "irregular" situations is concerned, the Pope states: "There is a need 'to avoid judgements which do not take into account the complexity of various situations' and 'to be attentive, by necessity, to how people experience distress because of their condition'" (AL 296). And he continues: "It is a matter of reaching out to everyone, of needing to help each person find his or her proper way of participating in the ecclesial community, and thus to experience being touched by an 'unmerited, unconditional and gratuitous' mercy" (AL 297). And further: "The divorced who have entered a new union, for example, can find themselves in a variety of situations, which should not be pigeonholed or fit into overly rigid classifications leaving no room for a suitable personal and pastoral discernment" (AL 298).

In this line, gathering the observations of many Synod Fathers, the Pope states that "the baptized who are divorced and civilly remarried need to be more fully integrated into Christian communities in the variety of ways possible, while avoiding any occasion of scandal." "Their participation can be expressed in different ecclesial services… Such persons need to feel not as excommunicated members of the Church, but instead as living members, able to live and grow in the Church… This integration is also needed in the care and Christian upbringing of their children" (AL 299).

In a more general vein, the Pope makes an extremely important statement for understanding the orientation and meaning of the Exhortation: "If we consider the immense variety of concrete situations, … it is understandable that neither the Synod nor this Exhortation could be expected to provide a new set of general rules, canonical in nature and applicable to all cases. What is needed is simply a renewed encouragement to undertake a responsible personal and pastoral discernment of particular cases, one which would recognize that, since 'the degree of responsibility is not equal in all cases', the consequences or effects of a rule need not necessarily always be the same" (AL 300). The Pope develops in depth the needs and characteristics of the journey of accompaniment and discernment necessary for profound dialogue between the faithful and their pastors.

For this purpose the Holy Father recalls the Church's reflection on "mitigating factors and situations" regarding the attribution of responsibility and accountability for actions; and relying on St. Thomas Aquinas, he focuses on the relationship between rules and discernment by stating: "It is true that general rules set forth a good which can never be disregarded or neglected, but in their formulation they cannot provide absolutely for all particular situations. At the same time, it must be said that, precisely for that reason, what is part of a practical discernment in particular circumstances cannot be elevated to the level of a rule" (AL 304).

The last section of the chapter treats "The logic of pastoral mercy." To avoid misunderstandings, Pope Francis strongly reiterates: "To show understanding in the face of exceptional situations never implies dimming the light of the fuller ideal, or proposing less than what Jesus offers to the human being. Today, more important than the pastoral care of failures is the pastoral effort to strengthen marriages and thus to prevent their breakdown" (AL 307).

The overall sense of the chapter and of the spirit that Pope Francis wishes to impart to the pastoral work of the Church is well summed up in the closing words: "I encourage the faithful who find themselves in complicated situations to speak confidently with their pastors or with other lay people whose lives are committed to the Lord. They may not always encounter in them a confirmation of their own ideas or desires, but they will surely receive some light to help them better understand their situation and discover a path to personal growth. I also encourage the Church's pastors to listen to them with sensitivity and serenity, with a sincere desire to understand their plight and their point of view, in order to help them live better lives and to recognize their proper place in the Church." (AL 312).

On the "logic of pastoral mercy", Pope Francis emphasizes: "At times we find it hard to make room for God's unconditional love in our pastoral activity. We put so many conditions on mercy that we empty it of its concrete meaning and real significance. That is the worst way of watering down the Gospel" (AL 311).

Chapter nine: "The spirituality of marriage and the family" (313-325)

The ninth chapter is devoted to marital and family spirituality, which "is made up of thousands of small but real gestures" (AL 315). The Pope clearly states that "those who have deep spiritual aspirations should not feel that the family detracts from their growth in the life of the Spirit, but rather see it as a path which the Lord is using to lead them to the heights of mystical union" (AL 316). Everything, "moments of joy, relaxation, celebration, and even sexuality can be experienced as a sharing in the full life of the resurrection" (AL 317). He then speaks of prayer in the light of Easter, of the spirituality of exclusive and free love in the challenge and the yearning to grow old together, reflecting God's fidelity (cf. AL 319). And finally the spirituality of care, consolation and incentive: the Pope teaches that "all family life is a 'shepherding' in mercy. Each of us, by our love and care, leaves a mark on the life of others" (AL 322). It is a profound "spiritual experience to contemplate our loved ones with the eyes of God and to see Christ in them" (AL 323).

In the final paragraph the Pope affirms: "No family drops down from heaven perfectly formed; families need constantly to grow and mature in the ability to love … All of us are called to keep striving towards something greater than ourselves and our families, and every family must feel this constant impulse. Let us make this journey as families, let us keep walking together. (…) May we never lose heart because of our limitations, or ever stop seeking that fullness of love and communion which God holds out before us" (AL 325).

The Apostolic Exhortation concludes with a Prayer to the Holy Family.

Link to full text on Vatican website.

"A new dynamism in family pastoral work"2016-04-07T18:56:39+01:00http://opusdei.us/en-us/article/a-new-dynamism-in-pastoral-work-with-the-family/Statement made to Zenit news agency by Msgr. Fernando Ocáriz, Auxiliary Vicar of Opus Dei, regarding the Apostolic Exhortation "Amoris Laetitia."From the Pope
"The Exhortation Amoris Laetitia encourages a new dynamism in pastoral work with the family, and reminds us of the central role played by families in the new evangelization and in strengthening society.

"Pope Francis makes clear that family pastoral work entails many facets and challenges, as the length of the text itself shows. Among these, after a first rapid reading of the document, it seems to me that a central concern is viewing formation not only as imparting knowledge but as accompanying persons closely, in order to help them embody the Gospel in their lives and not simply know it.

"Amoris Laetitia incorporates the Pope's encouraging catechesis on the daily virtues of family life, conjugal charity, intra-familiar relationships, educating children, the difficulties families confront in the twenty-first century, the joy of family life and many other aspects that seek to reflect the Gospel's teachings and values.

"God's calling to holiness continues being universal. Each of us, each family, with our weaknesses and with the help of grace, is called to a high goal. And we are called to accompany the others on this path. The Pope invites us to continue meditating and reflecting on some practical consequences of following the Gospel's teachings, especially in relation to so-called irregular situations, which are very delicate and require careful discernment."
"Our Lord's wounds are a sign of mercy"2016-04-04T16:01:13+01:00http://opusdei.us/en-us/article/our-lords-wounds-are-a-sign-of-mercy/"Sheltered in our Lord's wounds, we will become witnesses to the joy that brims over on finding the risen Lord, alive among us." Address by Pope Francis at prayer vigil for the Jubilee of Divine Mercy.From the Pope
PRAYER VIGIL ON THE OCCASION OF THE JUBILEE OF DIVINE MERCY

ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS

Saint Peter's Square
Saturday, 2 April 2016

Good evening! With joy and thanksgiving we come together to share this time of prayer that begins Mercy Sunday. It is a liturgical feast which Saint John Paul II – he left us on this day in 2005 - ardently desired as a response to the request of Sister Faustina. The testimonies offered – for which we are grateful – and the readings we have just heard provide us the light and hope needed to enter the great ocean of God's mercy. How many are the expressions of mercy with which God encounters us? They are numerous and it is impossible to describe them all, for the mercy of God continually increases. God never tires of showing us mercy and we should never take for granted the opportunity to receive, seek and desire this mercy. It is something always new, which inspires awe and wonder as we see God's immense creativity in the ways he comes to meet us.

God has revealed himself, on many occasions, through his name which is "merciful" (cf. Ex 34:6). How great and infinite is the nature of God, so great and infinite his mercy, to the point that it is greatly challenging to describe it in all its entirety. Through Sacred Scriptures, we find that mercy is above all the closeness of God to his people. It is a closeness expressed essentially through help and protection. It is the closeness of a father or mother reflected in the beautiful words of the prophet Hosea: "I led them with cords of compassion, with the bands of love, and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them" (11:4). A father and mother's embrace of their child. This image is extremely evocative: God picks each one of us up and holds us to his cheek. How much tenderness and love is expressed here! Tenderness: a word almost forgotten and one which the world today needs, all of us need. I had these words of the prophet in mind when I saw the image for the Jubilee. Jesus not only carries humanity on his shoulders, but his face is so closely joined to Adam's face that it gives the impression they are one.

We do not have a God who is incapable of understanding and sharing our weaknesses (cf. Heb 4:15). Quite the contrary! Precisely because of his mercy God became one of us: "For by his incarnation the Son of God has united himself in some fashion with every man. He worked with human hands, he thought with a human mind, acted by human choice and loved with a human heart. Born of the Virgin Mary, he has truly been made one of us, like us in all things except sin" (Gaudium et Spes, 22). In Jesus, therefore, we are able not only to touch the mercy of God with our hands, but we are inspired to become instruments of his mercy. It is easy to speak of mercy, yet more difficult to become its witness. This is a path that is lifelong and which should not be interrupted. Jesus has said to us that we must be "merciful as the Father" (cf. Lk 6:36). It is a lifelong endeavour.

How many expressions there are, therefore, of God's mercy! This mercy comes to us as closeness and tenderness, and because of this, comes also as compassion and solidarity, as consolation and forgiveness. The more we receive, the more we are called to share it with others; it cannot be kept hidden or kept only for ourselves. It is something which burns within our hearts, driving us to love, thus recognizing the face of Jesus Christ, above all in those who are most distant, weak, alone, confused and marginalized. Mercy does not remain still: it seeks out the lost sheep, and when one is found, a contagious joy overflows. Mercy knows how to look into the eyes of every person; each one is precious, for each one is unique. How much pain do we feel in our hearts when we hear: "These people… these people, these poor souls, let's throw them out, let them sleep on the streets…". Are these words from Jesus?

Dear brothers and sisters, mercy never allows us to feel satisfied. It is the love of Christ which makes us restless until we reach the goal; it impels us to embrace, welcome and include those who need mercy, so that all may be reconciled with the Father (cf. 2 Cor 5:14-20). We ought not to fear for it is a love which comes to us and involves us to such an extent that we go beyond ourselves, enabling us to see his face in our brothers and sisters. Let us allow ourselves to be humbly guided by this love; then we will become merciful as the Father is merciful.

We have heard the Gospel: Thomas was hard-headed. He did not believe. And he found his faith at precisely the moment he touched the wounds of the Lord. A faith that is not able to touch the Lord's wounds, is not faith! A faith that cannot be merciful, as the Lord's wounds were a sign of mercy, is not faith: it is an idea, an ideology. Our faith is incarnated in a God who was made man, who became sin, who was wounded for us. But if we really want to believe and have faith, we must draw near and touch those wounds, caress those wounds and even lower our head and allow others to sooth our wounds.

It is good that it is the Holy Spirit who guides us: he is love, he is the mercy that is poured into our hearts. May we not place obstacles to his life-giving work but with docility follow the path he shows us. Let us open our hearts so that the Spirit can transform us; thus forgiven, reconciled, and sheltered in our Lord's wounds, we will become witnesses to the joy that brims over on finding the risen Lord, alive among us
"The whole world is our homeland"2016-04-01T13:36:56+01:00http://opusdei.us/en-us/video/the-whole-world-is-our-homeland/Bishop Javier Echevarría, Prelate of Opus Dei, encourages university students from all over the world attending the 2016 UNIV Congress in Rome during Holy Week to strive to stay close to Christ each day and to share their faith with those around them, and to pray especially for the Pope.From the PrelatePhotos of UNIV Forum Participants2016-03-25T14:07:00+00:00http://opusdei.us/en-us/article/photos-of-univ-2016-participants/Dozens of photos of young people from all over the world who are taking part in the UNIV 2016 Forum in Rome during Holy Week.Recent News
Click on flicker file below for some photos of those taking part in UNIV 2016 in Rome.

Pope Greets UNIV Students2016-03-23T15:25:26+00:00http://opusdei.us/en-us/article/pope-greets-univ-students/3,000 young people participating in the 49th edition of UNIV Forum attended the March 23 general audience in Saint Peter's Square with Pope Francis, who after his address extended a special greeting to them.From the Pope
Rome, March 23, 2016.

At 10 am, about 3,000 young people participating in the 49th edition of UNIV attended the general audience in Saint Peter's Square with Pope Francis, who after his address extended a special greeting to those taking part in the university Forum organized by the Prelature of Opus Dei.

Pope Francis, who asked everyone to pray for the victims of the terrorist attacks in Brussels, spoke in the audience about the immense love Christ showed in the events of the Paschal Triduum, which he called "a great mystery of love and mercy." "Our words are poor and insufficient to express it fully," the Holy Father said. "We can be helped by the experience of a not well-known girl, who wrote sublime pages on the love of Christ. Her name was Julian of Norwich; she was illiterate, this girl who had visions of Jesus' Passion and who then, having become a recluse, described in simple but profound and intense language, the meaning of merciful love. She said this: 'Then our good Lord asked me: Are you happy that I suffered for you? I said: Yes, good Lord, and I thank you very much; yes, good Lord, may you be blessed. Then Jesus, our good Lord, said: If you are happy, so am I. To have suffered the Passion for you is a joy for me, a happiness, and eternal bliss; and if I could suffer more, I would do so.' This is our Jesus, who says to each one of us: If I could suffer more for you, I would do so.

"How beautiful these words are! They enable us to truly understand the immense and limitless love that the Lord has for each one of us. Let us be enveloped by this mercy that comes to us and, in these days, while we have our gaze fixed on the Passion and Death of the Lord, let us receive in our heart the greatness of his love and, as our Lady on Saturday, in silence, in the expectation of the Resurrection."

(Zenit translation of entire audience is available here.)

What is UNIV?

Each year, the UNIV Forum offers thousands of university students the opportunity to spend Holy Week close to the Pope in Rome, getting to know the city's cultural and historical treasures and walking in the footsteps of the first Christians. UNIV began in 1968, under the impetus of Saint Josemaria, founder of Opus Dei.

The topic for reflection by the students in 2016 is "The Impact of the Family."

The president of UNIV 2016, the Dutchman Martijn Pouw, said: "At a time like the present, marked by economic and cultural crises that can easily isolate people, the testimony of the family is more necessary than ever. The family is the foundation of the common good. It is in the family that people learn to rise above their own interests and be concerned about others. UNIV 2016 seeks to make a contribution to deepening family values and fostering a more human society that responds to the deepest needs of the human person."

More information about the Forum is available at http://www.univforum.org.

The Prelature of Opus Dei organizes activities of Christian formation for those taking part in the Forum. As a sign of gratitude for the Jubilee Year of Mercy, a collection will be taken up among participants and given to Pope Francis for social initiatives he is interested in.
Homily for Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square2016-03-21T14:00:49+00:00http://opusdei.us/en-us/article/homily-for-palm-sunday-mass/Pope Francis' homily at the Mass for Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord on 20 March 2016.From the Pope
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" (cf. Lk 19:38), the crowd of Jerusalem exclaimed joyfully as they welcomed Jesus. We have made that enthusiasm our own: by waving our olive and palm branches we have expressed our praise and our joy, our desire to receive Jesus who comes to us. Just as he entered Jerusalem, so he desires to enter our cities and our lives. As he did in the Gospel, riding on a donkey, so too he comes to us in humility; he comes "in the name of the Lord". Through the power of his divine love he forgives our sins and reconciles us to the Father and with ourselves.

Jesus is pleased with the crowd's showing their affection for him. When the Pharisees ask him to silence the children and the others who are acclaiming him, he responds: "I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out" (Lk 19:40). Nothing could dampen their enthusiasm for Jesus' entry. May nothing prevent us from finding in him the source of our joy, true joy, which abides and brings peace; for it is Jesus alone who saves us from the snares of sin, death, fear and sadness.

Today's liturgy teaches us that the Lord has not saved us by his triumphal entry or by means of powerful miracles. The Apostle Paul, in the second reading, epitomizes in two verbs the path of redemption: Jesus "emptied" and "humbled" himself (Phil 2:7-8). These two verbs show the boundlessness of God's love for us. Jesus emptied himself: he did not cling to the glory that was his as the Son of God, but became the Son of man in order to be in solidarity with us sinners in all things; yet he was without sin. Even more, he lived among us in "the condition of a servant" (v. 7); not of a king or a prince, but of a servant. Therefore he humbled himself, and the abyss of his humiliation, as Holy Week shows us, seems to be bottomless.

The first sign of this love "without end" (Jn 13:1) is the washing of the feet. "The Lord and Master" (Jn 13:14) stoops to his disciples' feet, as only servants would have done. He shows us by example that we need to allow his love to reach us, a love which bends down to us; we cannot do any less, we cannot love without letting ourselves be loved by him first, without experiencing his surprising tenderness and without accepting that true love consists in concrete service.

But this is only the beginning. The humiliation of Jesus reaches its utmost in the Passion: he is sold for thirty pieces of silver and betrayed by the kiss of a disciple whom he had chosen and called his friend. Nearly all the others flee and abandon him; Peter denies him three times in the courtyard of the temple. Humiliated in his spirit by mockery, insults and spitting, he suffers in his body terrible brutality: the blows, the scourging and the crown of thorns make his face unrecognizable. He also experiences shame and disgraceful condemnation by religious and political authorities: he is made into sin and considered to be unjust. Pilate then sends him to Herod, who in turn sends him to the Roman governor. Even as every form of justice is denied to him, Jesus also experiences in his own flesh indifference, since no one wishes to take responsibility for his fate. And I think of the many people, so many outcasts, so many asylum seekers, so many refugees, all of those for whose fate no one wishes to take responsibility. The crowd, who just a little earlier had acclaimed him, now changes their praise into a cry of accusation, even to the point of preferring that a murderer be released in his place. And so the hour of death on the cross arrives, that most painful form of shame reserved for traitors, slaves and the worst kind of criminals. But isolation, defamation and pain are not yet the full extent of his deprivation. To be totally in solidarity with us, he also experiences on the Cross the mysterious abandonment of the Father. In his abandonment, however, he prays and entrusts himself: "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit" (Lk 23:46). Hanging from the wood of the cross, beside derision he now confronts the last temptation: to come down from the Cross, to conquer evil by might and to show the face of a powerful and invincible God. Jesus, however, even here at the height of his annihilation, reveals the true face of God, which is mercy. He forgives those who are crucifying him, he opens the gates of paradise to the repentant thief and he touches the heart of the centurion. If the mystery of evil is unfathomable, then the reality of Love poured out through him is infinite, reaching even to the tomb and to hell. He takes upon himself all our pain that he may redeem it, bringing light to darkness, life to death, love to hatred.

God's way of acting may seem so far removed from our own, that he was annihilated for our sake, while it seems difficult for us to even forget ourselves a little. He comes to save us; we are called to choose his way: the way of service, of giving, of forgetfulness of ourselves. Let us walk this path, pausing in these days to gaze upon the Crucifix; it is the "royal seat of God". I invite you during this week to gaze often upon this "royal seat of God", to learn about the humble love which saves and gives life, so that we may give up all selfishness, and the seeking of power and fame. By humbling himself, Jesus invites us to walk on his path. Let us turn our faces to him, let us ask for the grace to understand at least something of the mystery of his obliteration for our sake; and then, in silence, let us contemplate the mystery of this Week.
The "Our Father" in the Language Christ Spoke2016-03-11T15:34:13+00:00http://opusdei.us/en-us/article/the-our-father-in-the-language-christ-spoke/Kristian, Swarin, Sidra, Sarah and Soleen, five young Iraqis, were forced with their parents to abandon the Iraqi city of Karakosh. On arriving in France, some girls in a Grenoble youth club helped them to integrate in their new homeland.Recent News
From Iraq to France. It was a long journey for the five young Iraqi girls, between 6 and 16 years of age. The day the Islamic State took over Karakosh in Iraq, Kristian, Swarin, Sidra, Sarah and Soleen had to flee with their parents from their home, leaving everything behind.

They first took refuge in the Iraqi Kurdistan city of Erbil. From there, the whole family managed to get papers to move to Grenoble, in France.

In Grenoble, one of the sisters, Soleen, who is 16, became friends with some girls from the Lanfrey youth club. This club is the initiative of several local families who wanted to create an atmosphere of friendship, enriching free time and Christian formation. Opus Dei takes responsibility for the religious formation imparted there.

The family that welcomed Soleen and her younger sisters and her parents and grandmother, suggested that she get to know girls who attend activities at the Lanfrey Club. There she soon found a welcoming environment filled with fun but also serious study.

Every week, her new friends at the Club took turns in giving her French lessons. "Since these classes enriched all of us, we decided to organize an entire week of activities for Soleen and her sisters," says Celine, who directs the Lanfrey Club, "to help them integrate at school and in their new homeland."

The first day the five Iraqi sisters joined girls at the Club for a trip to the mountains, to break the ice and make friends. The next day, the lessons began at 9 am with a basic class in Aramaic and Arabic. The French girls had the opportunity to learn the "Our Father" and "Hail Mary" in the language that Christ spoke. The following days other classes were given, both in French and Arabic, to help prepare them for the start of the regular school year.

The French and Iraqi girls also spent time praying together, alternating between French and Arabic. Fun activities included sports and theater. Before dinner, they all discussed cultural topics, including events narrated in the Bible that took place in Iraq, the Islamic State, and the integral ecology desired by Pope Francis. The week ended with a play prepared by the young people: The Canterville Ghost.

This week has greatly enriched everyone who took part and helped the family of Soleen to feel at home in Grenoble and to be more confident in their new school.