What
is UNIV?
Our Lady of Peace
Short Video | Information and map
The prelatic church of Opus Dei
A place of prayer, housing the mortal remains of Saint Josemaría Escrivá
The mortal remains of Saint Josemaría Escrivá are contained in a casket
located beneath the altar of the Church of Our Lady of Peace. Millions
of people throughout the world turn to Saint Josemaría’s intercession
to gain graces of every kind from God. Many come to the Church of the
Prelature to continue their petition or give thanks for graces received
through his intercession.
Saint Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer was born in Barbastro, Spain in
1902 and ordained to the priesthood in 1925. The universal nature of
Opus Dei, and his great love for the Church and the Pope, led Mgr Escrivá
to move to Rome in 1946. From the Eternal City he spread the call to
holiness to faithful Christians in all five continents. He died in Rome
on June 26, 1975. He was canonized by Pope John Paul II on October 6,
2002.
“St. Josemaría was chosen by the Lord to proclaim the universal call
to holiness and to indicate that everyday life, its customary activities,
are a path towards holiness. It could be said that he was the saint
of the ordinary. He was really convinced that, for whoever lives with
an outlook of faith, everything offers an opportunity for a meeting
with God, everything becomes a stimulus for prayer.”
John Paul II
The Church
On December 31, 1959, Saint Josemaría celebrated the first Mass in the
church of Our Lady of Peace. After Opus Dei was established as a personal
prelature, this became the Church of the Prelature. Saint Josemaría’s
devotion to our Lady is the reason for the title of this church and
the main picture. The crypt of the church holds the Blessed Sacrament
Chapel and confessionals. Saint Josemaría preached with untiring zeal
on our need for the sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist,
given by God to his children as a source of peace and never-ending joy.
The crypt is also the burial-place of Bishop Alvaro del Portillo (1914-1994),
Saint Josemaría’s first successor at the head of Opus Dei.
“Holy Mary is the Queen of peace, and thus the Church invokes her.
So when your soul or your family are troubled, or things go wrong at
work, in society or between nations, cry out to her without ceasing.
Call to her by this title: ‘Regina pacis, ora pro nobis — Queen of peace,
pray for us.’ Have you at least tried it when you have lost your calm?
You will be surprised at its immediate effect.”
Saint Josemaría Escriva