Currents News Staff
After reciting the Regina Coeli in Saint Peter’s Square on Sunday May 19, Pope Francis asked for a round of applause for Guadalupe Ortiz de Landázuri, who had been beatified in Madrid the day before. The ceremony was held an old bullfighting stadium, where Cardinal Angelo Becciu celebrated the beatification on behalf of the Holy Father.
Pope Francis briefly explained the message of this woman, the first lay-woman of Opus Dei to be declared Blessed.
“She joyfully served her brothers and sisters by combining the teaching and the proclamation of the Gospel. Her witness is an example for Christian women engaged in social activities and scientific research,” he said.
Cardinal Angelo Becciu, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, spoke of how Ortiz de Landázuri, while on the path to canonization, will influence the faithful.
“The new Blessed communicates to us, today’s Christians, that it is possible to harmonize prayer and action, contemplation and work, according to a lifestyle that leads us to trust in God and to feel that we are an expression of His will, which must be lived out at all times,” he said.
The ceremony was attended by the Cardinal of Madrid, Carlos Osoro, the President of the Spanish Episcopal Conference, Cardinal Ricardo Blázquez; and the Prelate of Opus Dei, Fernando Ocáriz.
“For the intercession of Blessed Guadalupe I commend our intention to always be good children of the Church; and may the Prelature of Opus Dei, as St. Josemaría wanted, always serve the Church as the Church wants to be served,” said Father Ocáriz during the ceremony.
Guadalupe Ortiz de Landázuri was one of the very first women in Opus Dei. She was enthusiastic about St. Josemaria’s suggestion not to limit her relationship with God solely to prayer in a chapel. This is because he advocated work and rest as good opportunities to help people and encounter God.
Guadalupe studied chemistry and worked in Spain, Mexico, and Italy. She was a cheerful and committed woman who always knew how to make herself available to those who needed her.