By ACIPRENSA's Mons.Álvaro del Portillo siempre abogó por unidad de la familia, afirma sobrina defuturo beato.
This article was translated mainly with the help of Google Translate.
Pilar del Portillo, niece of the future blessed Bishop Alvaro del Portillo, said the bishop was "a reference to God and now he will be for many more people, "aside from always encouraging family unity, and he even helped a nephew to discover his vocation as Comboni missionary.
Pilar del Portillo, who is affectionately called "Chinita", recalled that she met his uncle Alvaro "when my father died who was his brother, in February of 1956. I was 12 years old. He came to see us in Madrid, because he lived in Rome. He was in Spain for a week, and during that time he visited us every day. He spoke to my brother George and I about how to pray, go to confession often, be good Christians ... I do not know why, but I started to take note of everything I talked to him about."
Speaking to ACI Prensa, the niece of the first successor of St. Josemaría in the direction of Opus Dei, Bishop Del Portillo recalled that he helped her mother in the education of her children. "He told us to write to him and we tell him our concerns and our joys. 'I will always be at your side and I will pray for you,' he told us." Since then "Uncle Alvaro" almost "without me realizing it became for me like a father."
"We felt that our things were very important to him. He gave the first communion to several nieces, nephews, grandchildren, he presided over the marriage of a cousin ... definitely he was very close to each of our family," she said.
"My uncle helped my mother in the education my education and my brother, so my mother suggested that I learn English. I went to Manchester for a year, there lived in a residence of the Work. During that time was where I really met Opus Dei, in this life with these people, "recalls del Portillo and states that" in all the letters he wrote to me from Rome he asked me to 'soak' the spirit of natural the Work. When I decided to become a numerary and told him he stood outside the room for my decision. "
Bishop Del Portillo also helped especially a cousin of Pilar, which is Comboni missionary in Africa. "This guy cousin always says Alvaro helped him discover his vocation Comboni missionary and remain faithful to it. He had many difficulties, he went to Africa with 21 years, and told our uncle doubts or problems, always encouraged him and said: 'Go on, have to be there, God wanted you in this way.' "
In the more than a hundred family beatification of Bishop Alvaro del Portillo will be present. Pilar said that the family was thrilled with the announcement of the beatification, but not surprised. "We never doubted it would ever happen. My uncle Alvaro has always been a reference to God and now it will be for many more people, "he said, visibly excited and acknowledged it will cost to call him" Blessed Alvaro "because" for me will always be Uncle Alvaro ".
"When he was appointed bishop in Rome and accompanied him on a little celebration we had made a toast. He stood up and said, 'Here's to the unity of my family.' For us it is beautiful to see that this is now a reality, for we are many but disparate Portillo in many things, but all have my uncle Alvaro in the center within the family, "he said.
Of the eight children of blessed future life just keeps Carlos, 86, who "will go to the beatification with their children, who want to accompany him on one of the most exciting days of your life, the beatification of his brother."
The goodness of Alvaro del Portillo was obvious and "what was most often talked about among us. He was a such a good man and that led him to be among people because he was always willing to love, to help, to listen." "Now that I think about it after many years, it amazes me that he always ended our conversations thanking me for having had the opportunity to spend some time with him," she recalled.
Pilar also still remember with emotion the postcard that his uncle sent her from the Holy Land , dated four days before he died. "With all my affection, I hug and bless you, your uncle Alvaro", reads the card, with the somewhat irregular handwriting of someone who had just turned 80.
Bishop Alvaro del Portillo was born in Madrid on March 11, 1914 and died in Rome on March 23, 1994. He was the first successor of St. Josemaria, founder of Opus Dei and will be beatified on September 27 at Valdebebas (Madrid). 100,000 people from five continent are expected to attend the ceremony.
