Rome, December 12 - At 21.08 today, on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Msgr. Javier Echevarría, bishop and second successor of St. Josemaría, founder of Opus Dei. He was hospitalized last December 5 in the Campus Bio-Medico University Hospital for respiratory insufficiency from pulmonary fibrosis.
During hospitalization, some slight improvement in lung function gave hope for resolution of the crisis. However, the last 3 days were characterized by progressive physical suffering and worsening of respiratory conditions leading to death.
During the last moments of the Prelate's life, some people told him that they were praying to Our Lady of Guadalupe and asked him: "Do you want us to place the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe in front of you?" and he replied: “It's not necessary, because I can't see it. But I see it inside her”
The prelate passed away at the age of 84. He was born in Madrid in 1932, where he met Saint Josemaría, of whom he was secretary from 1953 to 1975, the year in which he was appointed general secretary of Opus Dei. In 1994 he was elected prelate. He received from the hands of Giovanni Paul II the episcopal ordination on January 6, 1995 in the basilica of San Pietro.
Tonight at 24 pm in the chapel of the University Hospital a Holy Mass was celebrated in which many of the people who loved him were able to pray in front of his body.
