New Biography of Bishop Álvaro del Portillo
At the beginning of October, Ediciones Rialp released a new book entitled Álvaro del Portillo: Un hombre fiel. This is a comprehensive biography of the first successor of St. Josemaría at the head of Opus Dei. The author, Fr. Javier Medina Bayo, came to the central offices of Opus Dei, in Rome, in 1970, and as a result was in close contact with Bishop del Portillo for 24 years. Writing the book required an intense work of research, attested to by the numerous citations of letters, official documents, and testimonials throughout the biography.
Vir fidelis multum laudabitur (Prov 28:20). These words from the book of Proverbs are highlighted by the author as the best summary of the life of Venerable Álvaro del Portillo. Already in its second printing, the biography has three sections: “Infancy and Youth (1914-1939),” “Alongside St. Josemaría (1939-1975),” and “Father and Pastor (1975-1994).”
Romana, n. 55, July-December 2012, p. 362.