Filipinos a 'miracle of God': Alvaro del Portillo beatified

MANILA, Philippines - The Roman Catholic Church beatified Alvaro del Portillo, a Spanish engineer and bishop who inspired various social projects in the Philippines, in Madrid on Saturday afternoon (Manila time) in a solemn ceremony attended by people from over 90 countries including thousands of Filipinos.

Cardinal Angelo Amato, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints, presided over the beatification rite and Mass in an expansive open area at Valdebabas, an park just outside the Spanish capital.

At the start of the ceremony, Amato read Pope Francis' letter apostolic letter on the life of faith of Del Portillo.

"I like to remind the aspiration from Alvaro, 'Thank you. Forgive me. Help me more'," the Pope wrote.

Pope Francis approved in January Del Portillo's beatification, a definite step toward sainthood, confirming his capacity to intercede on behalf of those who pray in his name.

Del Portillo, who is now accorded the title "blessed," was the first successor of Saint Josemaria Escriva, the founder of Opus Dei, and headed the institution from 1975 to 1994.

In 1987, Del Portillo visited the Philippines and preached to audiences in Manila and Cebu, encouraging Filipino Catholics to help close the glaring gap between the rich and the poor.

"My daughters and my sons, I have seen enormous wealth and enormous poverty," he said.

He also marveled at the solid Christian faith in the Philippines and commented on the special role of Filipinos to spread their love for God in this part of the world.

"The Filipino people are a miracle of God," Del Portillo said.

His visit sparked the beginning of training schools and organizations based in Batangas, Rizal, Iloilo, Manila and Cebu in service of the less fortunate.

The projects, which to date have assisted thousands, include farm schools for young agricultural workers, the Family Cooperation Health Services Foundation or FAMCOHSEF,which trains community health workers assisting the underprivileged and the Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise or CITE reaching out to Visayas and Mindanao with courses in mechanical, electrical and electronics technology.

Also inspired by Del Portillo were the Developmental Advocacy for Women Volunteerism or DAWV, which has served as mother organization of several cooperatives and foundations, and the Banilad Center for Professional Development in Cebu offering two-year vocational-technical courses on hotel and restaurant management for high school graduates who cannot afford to pursue higher studies.

The Philippines, however, was hardly the only country Del Portillo's words have touched. He also inspired social and apostolic projects in 30 countries including those in sub-Saharan Africa and South America. 

Del Portillo died in March 23, 1994 in Rome a few hours after he visited the Holy Land and celebrated his last Mass in the historic Cenacle, traditionally recognized as the place where Jesus Christ took the last supper as the first Mass.

The miracle that led to Del Portillo's beatification was the instantaneous healing of Chilean newborn baby, Jose Ignacio Ureta Wilson in 2003. The boy suffered a cardiac arrest lasting more than 30 minutes and a massive hemorrhage. The medical team considered the baby dead, when unexpectedly, his heart started to beat again.

His parents had been praying for his revival through the intercession of Bishop Alvaro del Portillo. Ten years later Jose Ignacio is living a normal life. - Camille Diola