A lo largo de una extensa conversación con el periodista Cesare Cavalleri, Mons. Álvaro del Portillo plasma la extraordinaria personalidad de san Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer, aportando nuevos datos, recuerdos y anécdotas. El testimonio de este testigo excepcional, que vivió durante cuarenta años junto al fundador del Opus Dei, muestra su trascendencia eclesial, su cercanía y sencillez en la vida cotidiana y, entre otras muchas cosas, su ejemplar empeño apostólico para extender la llamada universal a la santidad. Mons. Álvaro del Portillo (1914-1994) fue el más íntimo colaborador del fundador del Opus Dei, y su primer sucesor. Doctor Ingeniero de Caminos, en Filosofía y en Derecho Canónico, desempeñó un papel relevante en el Concilio Vaticano II y fue consultor de diversas Congregaciones de la Curia. Nombrado prelado del Opus Dei por Juan Pablo II, ordenado obispo y beatificado en 2014. Cesare Cavalleri (Treviglio, 1936) es periodista, crítico literario y director de Edizioni Ares (Milán) y de Studi Cattolici. Es columnista del diario Avvenire.
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!
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
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.
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.