October marks the 90th anniversary of the founding of Opus Dei. Thus, weeks before, a book entitled “The Last Romantic – St. Josemaria in the 21st Century” has just been published.
MARIANO FAZIO
General Vicary, Opus Dei
“St. Josemaria refers to himself as 'the last romantic.' He believed 19th century romantics were in love with freedom and decided to give their lives for freedom. He saw that in his time, everyone spoke of democracy, of freedom, but there was a lot of tyranny; or many people defended their own freedom, but not that of the rest. The definition he gave himself always appealed to me.”
Throughout the book, Mariano Fazio reflects on St. Josemaria's message from a modern perspective, and its form in the 21st century.
MARIANO FAZIO
General Vicary, Opus Dei
“Now we can try to be saints through WhatsApp, Twitter and traveling quicker and more often than when St. Josemaria received this message. The circumstances change, but the essential remains. The fundamental message is that we're all called to holiness in the world. It's what Pope Francis calls holiness next door. We all have a vocation, the Lord calls us, he doesn't forget anyone. He calls the vast majority of people in their work, in their families, to be good citizens in a society that needs so much Christian spirit, so much strength from the Gospel.”
This informative piece will interest those wanting to become more familiar with the Opus Dei message: holiness in the world, which requires cultivating a personal relationship with God; being united with the pope and bishops without losing one's place in society, such as work or family, and always doing so freely. As St. Josemaria said, one cannot love without freedom.
