Prelate's Homily at Mass of Blessed Alvaro

For the feast of Blessed Alvaro on May 12, Bishop Javier Echevarría celebrated a solemn Mass in the basilica of San Eugenio in Rome. Video summary with English subtitles

In his homily, the Prelate said that Alvaro del Portillo “took seriously the call to sanctity that our Lord addresses to all men and women, each in their own circumstances." And therefore “today we give thanks to God, who filled him with a spirit of truth and love."

Bishop Echevarría especially stressed the love that the first Prelate of Opus Dei had for the Church and the Pope. And he cited some words of Pope Francis in a letter written for the beatification of Blessed Alvaro: “Especially outstanding was his love for the Church, the Spouse of Christ, whom he served with a heart devoid of worldly self-interest, far from discord, welcoming towards everyone and always seeking in others what was positive, what united, what was constructive. He never spoke a word of complaint or criticism, even at especially difficult times, but instead, as he had learned from Saint Josemaría, he always responded with prayer, forgiveness, understanding and sincere charity" (Letter of Pope Francis to Bishop Javier Echevarría, for the beatification of Alvaro del Portillo).

Blessed Alvaro, the Prelate added, “taught us many things: among others, to live fully united to God's will, as he had learned from Saint Josemaría. This was the source of his serenity, which he infused in others. It makes me happy to recall the face of Don Alvaro, which infused peace, joy, friendship, desires to serve. The lovable face of this blessed led many people to think of the look of Christ that the crowds found so attractive."