Diocesan Phase Concludes for Father Joseph Muzquiz’s Canonization Process

On May 22, Cardinal Seán O'Malley of Boston will preside over the closing session of the diocesan phase of the cause of canonization for Father Joseph Muzquiz.

On Thursday May 22, Cardinal Seán O'Malley, archbishop of Boston, will preside over the closing session of the diocesan phase of the cause of canonization for Father Joseph Muzquiz.

The session will take place at 11 a.m. in the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center.

At the conclusion, the boxes containing the evidence gathered through the diocesan investigation, including declarations from witnesses and other documents, will be sent under seal to the Vatican's Congregation for the Causes of Saints. This will end the local stage in Father Joseph’s cause of canonization and the process will now move to Rome.

Soon after his cause was opened in June 2011, Cardinal O’Malley said: “We are blessed that the cause of sainthood for Father Joseph Muzquiz, the priest who brought Opus Dei to the United States, is taking place here in the Archdiocese of Boston. We need to hear more about priests, religious and lay people who faithfully lived their vocation to holiness in contemporary times. Father Muzquiz showed us that the virtue of everyday heroism can be achieved by all people of good faith who open their heart and soul to the gift of God’s graces.”

Father Joseph, as he was known in the United States, was born on October 14, 1912, in Badajoz, Spain. While studying in Madrid he met Saint Josemaría, the founder of Opus Dei, just before the civil war in Spain broke out. When the war ended, responding to God’s call, he joined Opus Dei in January 1940.

As a civil engineer he sought to sanctify his work of building bridges and railroad stations, and carried out a deep apostolate with colleagues and friends. He was ordained a priest on June 25, 1944, and was one of the first three priests in Opus Dei. Bishop Alvaro del Portillo, who was ordained along with him, will be beatified in Madrid on September 27, 2014.

At Saint Josemaria’s request, in 1949 Father Joseph went to the United States to start Opus Dei’s apostolic work there, first in Chicago and then in other cities. In the late 1950s, he traveled extensively, laying the groundwork for Opus Dei’s beginnings in Asia. He subsequently worked in Rome, Switzerland and Spain.

In 1976 he returned to the United States to be the head of Opus Dei there. On June 21, 1983, Father Joseph died, after suffering a heart attack while teaching a class at Arnold Hall Conference Center in Pembroke, Massachusetts.

Two minute trailer from documentary film about Fr. Joseph's life