Romana

To mark the centenary of St. Josemaría Escrivá’s ordination to the priesthood, the city of Zaragoza hosted a series of commemorative events from March 27 to 30. Other cities that were important in the priestly career of the founder of Opus Dei, such as Rome and Logroño, also wanted to join in the celebration. Perdiguera, a town in Aragon where St. Josemaría was sent as a newly ordained priest, also commemorated the hundredth anniversary of his time there as assistant pastor.

On the 27th, an academic event was held in Zaragoza, in the Casa de la Iglesia, at which Archbishop Carlos Escribano spoke. The historian José Luis González Gullón gave an overview of the key moments in St. Josemaría’s priestly vocation, and the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy, Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-sik, spoke about the identity and mission of a priest (among the audience were some 300 priests from various dioceses). The Prelate of Opus Dei also took part; his address is included in this issue of Romana. This was followed by an exchange between the priests attending the conference and the Prelate of Opus Dei, and later a prayer vigil for priestly vocations in the church of the Royal Seminary of St. Charles Borromeo. The vigil included songs and testimonies, as well as a few words from the cardinal and, at the end, a solemn Eucharistic blessing.

On the 28th, the anniversary of St. Josemaría’s priestly ordination, Bishop Santos Montoya of Calahorra and La Calzada-Logroño, celebrated Mass in the co-cathedral of Santa María de la Redonda, in Logroño. In Rome, on the same day, Monsignor Mariano Fazio presided over a concelebrated Mass in the Basilica of St. Apollinaris, followed by an event in the auditorium of the adjacent Pontifical University of the Holy Cross on the priestly figure of St. Josemaría. In addition to the auxiliary vicar of the prelature, Luis Cano, a professor of Church History and member of the Istituto Storico San Josemaría Escrivá, also spoke.

Also in Zaragoza, a Mass was celebrated that day in memory of St. Josemaría’s ordination in the church where this had taken place, in the Seminary of San Carlos. Monsignor Ocáriz was the main celebrant. After Mass, the Prelate offered Our Lady of Pilar one hundred red roses in thanksgiving for the founder of Opus Dei’s hundred years of priesthood.

Perdiguera continued the celebrations on Sunday, March 30. The following day would mark the 100th anniversary of St. Josemaría’s arrival at the parish as assistant pastor. The Archbishop of Zaragoza sent a warm message that ended with an emotional acclamation: “Long live St. Beatrice, our patron saint! Long live St. Josemaría, our parish priest!” It was read after the solemn Mass concelebrated by nine priests. Afterwards, in the Plaza de la Iglesia, at an event presided over by the mayor, José Manuel Usón, the Father Josemaría Escrivá Square was inaugurated. Later, the Monte Oscuro Hall hosted a colloquium entitled “The legacy of Perdiguera in the message of St. Josemaría,” with the participation of various people (including the son of one of the children who welcomed St. Josemaría on the day of his arrival in Perdiguera) and in the presence of a large audience.