Romana

Taking advantage of his stay in Navarre in July, Monsignor Fernando Ocáriz met with families who take part in Opus Dei activities in Navarre, the Basque Country, and La Rioja. The event, held on July 29, was attended by some 3,000 people. It took place on the campus of the University of Navarra, very close to the esplanade where St. Josemaría gave his homily Passionately Loving the World in 1967.

In his opening remarks, the Prelate of Opus Dei and Grand Chancellor of the University remembered those who are in countries at war: “So many people suffering, so many disasters. And all that is ours. The whole world is ours, as St. Paul wrote.” He also mentioned other intentions to keep in mind in their prayer: the Holy Father, the work related to the updating of the statutes of the Prelature, and the success of the Jubilee, which during those days brought together nearly a million young people in Rome.

A newlywed couple; another couple with a little more experience who want to face their children’s possible vocation in a Christian way; someone who works in the administration of an Opus Dei center, concerned with helping others understand the greatness of serving and caring for people; one of the pioneers of the University of Navarra, who has lived in Pamplona for 70 of his 95 years; a construction worker; a university employee, sister of a priest who recently died in an accident; a pharmacist attentive to the ethical issues of her profession... These were some of the people raising a wide range of questions in their interventions.

Monsignor Ocáriz emphasized at various points ideas heard directly from St. Josemaría: among them, the priority of prayer for Christians: “Prayer is the only weapon of Opus Dei,” he reminded them. He also invited them to live in friendship with everyone, even those who think or live in a way that contrasts with Christian principles, and spoke of the need to have broad horizons and never be satisfied with what has already been achieved. For as St. Josemaría also said, thinking about the Work at the end of his life, “everything is done and everything remains to be done”: that is, we can always do more.

A few days later, the Prelate traveled back to Rome.