Saxum

The Life of Alvaro del Portillo

By: John F. Coverdale

Narrated by: Elliott Bales

Saxum - the Latin word means rock - is a term that St. Josemaria Escriva, founder of Opus Dei, sometimes used in letters to Alvaro del Portillo to describe him. Don Alvaro, as he came to be known, was for many years the founder's closest associate as well as his successor and first Prelate of Opus Dei after it became a personal prelature-a foundational rock for this dynamic international Catholic group devoted to promoting sanctity in ordinary life.

Written in anticipation of Bishop del Portillo's September 2014 beatification - his official recognition by the Church as "blessed" and a stage on the way to his possible canonization as a saint-the book is a fact-filled biography set against the background of historic events like the Spanish Civil War and Vatican Council II. It depicts a person of powerful integrity and conviction who set aside a promising engineering career to collaborate with the founder of Opus Dei. Don Alvaro emerges in these pages as a tower of strength, reliability, and good humor in the face of a host of threats and challenges that might well have defeated a lesser man.

John Coverdale, an attorney and historian, is the author of two other books detailing the early days of Opus Dei- Uncommon Faith, about St. Josemaria and his companions during and shortly after the civil war in Spain, and Putting Down Roots, about Father Joseph Muzquiz, along with Alvaro del Portillo one of Opus Dei's first priests, who played a key role in introducing it in the United States.

©2014 John F. Coverdale (P)2014 John F.Coverdale

Inspiring!

Inspiring story of a man who was in love, with his God and with all mankind. Faithful and heroic until the end. Incredible!

Beautiful!

Beautiful and inspiring life of a faithful hard-working priest
Quiet yet strong successor of St. Josemaria

Great history of opus dai

I know a lot of people in opus dai, but I didn’t know much about the history of opus dai. This was a great lesson on the founder and the history and the timeline of how opus dai came to be an organization of what it is.

Excellent narration

Excellent narration about a truly saintly man that lived all the virtues to a heroic degree. He like Our Father will inspire many generations to come.

A Saint Among Us

This special book captures the life, spirit and sanctity of this amazing and humble Spanish saint.