40 Years with a Saint: Blessed Álvaro del Portillo on St. Josemaría Escrivá

by Cesare Cavalleri

First published in English in 1996 as Immersed in God, this 20th anniversary edition serves an anecdotal account of the life of St. Josemaria Escriva (1902-1975). Blessed Alvaro (1914-1994) was at the saint’s side for almost 40 years as his confessor, and from 1976 to his death as the Prelate of Opus Dei, was the successor to St. Josemaria. Blessed Alvaro relates dozens of accounts of Saint Josemaria’s apostolate, his service to the Church, and his personality. Many of these stories only came to light after his death, when letters and tributes poured into Rome from around the world. The author and the interviewer of Don Alvaro is Cesare Cavalleri, born in 1936, who edited the theological journal Studi Cattolici, and was a columnist and television critic for the Italian newspaper Avvenire. These lively anecdotes are gathered in 13 chapters which form a mosaic of the life of St. Josemaria and provided thousands of readers around the world with a picture of the saint, just before publication of an official three volume biography, The Founder of Opus Dei, by Andres Vazquez de Prada.

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, Religion, Catholic

273 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book through and know that I will read It again. It was inspiring, motivating and encouraging. This book is also reprint of the book originally called Immersed in God. I first started reading about Opus Dei and Saint Josemaria Escriva the founder over a decade ago. And yet the more I read, the more I am impressed with both the man and the organization. And this book was an incredible read, opening up the life of the man and the work from one of the earlier members, Blessed Alvaro del Portillo.

Bishop Alvaro del Portillo lived with and worked closely with Josemaria Escriva for 40 years. The faith of both men come through in the book, their friendship, their support for each other and their dedication to serving the Church. The book is an interview with the back and forth between Cavalleri and del Portillo.

The sections in this book are:

Foreword
Preface
1. A Son of the Church
2. Citizens of Two Cities
3. What the Father Was Like
4. His Upbringing
5. The Founder
6. A Family and an Army
7. Means and Obstacles
8. Outlines of Interior Life
9. The Bread and the Word
10. Devotions
11. Virtues Lived to a Heroic Degree
12. A Reputation for Sanctity
13. June 26, 1975
A Chronology of the Life of St. Josemaría Escrivá
Bibliographical Note

Some of the stories in this book have different versions told elsewhere. But many of them are new. It is the personal account of a life lived in service. A life committed to following Gods leadings, guidance an immense trust in Gods provision. This book was an excellent read. It will challenge your faith and how you live it out. The examples of Escriva and del Portillo will both motivate and encourage.

This book is wonderful and I encourage you to give it a read with an open heart!

Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.

(Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: A Year of Reading Intention - Catholic Reading!)

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book answers the following question:
What can we learn from the life of Saint Josemaria Escriva?
The answers come from interviews to Blessed Alvaro del Portillo who walked by his side for decades
Despite the interview format, this is a book which gives us a very close look at St Josemaria
Highly recommended

[Benjamín Castro Martínez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una entrevista que abarca todo el arco temporal de la labor apostólica de San José María Escrivá de Balaguer, descrita por quien fuera su amigo más cercano.

[Davis Haguma]

OK

[Horacio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Que buen libro!, cuanto de aprende sobre el espíritu del Opus Dei.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an interview with the close coworker and successor of the founder of Opus Dei-- Blessed Alvaro del Portillo. It is amazing to read loving, familiar recollections of life with a saint. The style reminds me of the book length interviews with then-Cardinal Ratzinger, as it is an engrossing read that conveys a real sense of the people involved.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

From start to finish, readers lwarn the facts of St. Josemaria Escriva's life as Opus Dei founder.

[The Hofs]

World Youth Day prep.