A sea of thousands of people of all walks of life knelt silently as the Eucharist was raised to Heaven. The reverence at the Holy Mass of the Beatification of Don Alvaro was overwhelming and inspiring.
Over 200,000 people from 80 various countries journeyed last Saturday, September 27th, to Madrid, Spain to take part in this holy celebration to honor and beatify Don Alvaro, first successor to Saint Josemaria Escriva as bishop and prelate of Opus Dei.
Although the many people crowding the area could have caused chaos and disorder, the entire ceremony was performed with such ease that, as Ms. Mahoney remarked, the people’s peaceful demeanor revealed the selfless attitudes and reverence for the Mass of everyone around her.
At the moment of the consecration, a police car drove by. The driver and passenger peered out their windows to see if the 200,000 joyful people they had witnessed dancing and singing before the ceremony were all still breathing. It seemed that the policemen did not expect such absolute silence and adoration.
The three Montrosians who took part in the beatification, including myself, all agreed that we could feel the love and joy surrounding us. We noticed the friendliness of everyone, including the volunteers. It felt like one big family reunion.
Not only did the crowd show the universality of Opus Dei, it showed how many lives Don Alvaro touched during his lifetime. His 198 pastoral visits to 42 countries, during his 59 years of service to Opus Dei, proved remarkably effective. He was able to help so many people: men, women, children, the poor, and the sick. Blessed Don Alvaro exhibited an unfailing spirit of service to the Church, love towards those around him, and obedience to the Church as well as the vision of St. Josemaria.