The Vatican announced June 9 that Pope Francis had signed a decree recognizing a miracle attributed to the intercession of María Guadalupe Ortíz de Landázuri Fernández de Heredia (1916-1975), a laywoman who was a member of the Personal Prelature of Opus Dei. The Venerable Servant of God was born in Madrid, Spain, on December 12, 1916, and died in Pamplona, Spain, on July 16, 1975.
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The miracle obtained through her intercession was the instantaneous healing in 2002 of a malignant skin tumor located near the right eye of Antonio Jesús Sedano Madrid, then age 76.
One night, a few days before his scheduled surgery to remove the cancer, Antonio prayed to Guadalupe, pleading that through her intercession he might not have to undergo the operation. The next morning, the tumor had completely disappeared.
In successive medical check-ups, the healing was confirmed. His skin cancer never came back. Antonio Jesús died 12 years later due to cardiac disease at the age of 88, in 2014.
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Fr. Antonio Rodríguez de Rivera—the postulator for the cause of canonization—defined Guadalupe as “a woman in love with God, full of faith and hope, who, with her work and optimism, helped others in their spiritual and material needs. The joy that permeated all her endeavors was evident, even in the face of the most difficult situations.”
The Venerable Servant of God María Guadalupe Ortíz de Landázuri was born on December 12, the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, her namesake. She went on to study chemistry. Her life was forever marked by seeing her father executed during the Spanish Civil War, but she immediately forgave all who were responsible for and involved in his death.
Early in 1944, she met the founder of Opus Dei, Saint Josemaría Escrivá and thus began her life in Opus Dei.
As a result of heart disease, María Guadalupe died at age 59 in Pamplona on July 16, 1975, the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Already at the time of her death, she had a widespread reputation for sanctity. Since then, private devotion to María Guadalupe has continued to spread.
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As reported by Opus Dei, relating the testimony of the postulator, people who have requested the intercession of the Venerable Servant of God María Guadalupe Ortíz de Landázuri Fernández de Heredia have received varied graces, including healings, favors related to pregnancies and childbirth, help with employment and obtaining jobs, graces to obtain a proper work-life balance, assistance with family needs and family reconciliation, resolution of financial needs and crises, and a return to God on the part of friends and colleagues.
Graces obtained through her intercession can be reported via postal mail to the Office for the Cause of Saints of the Prelature of Opus Dei / Calle Diego de León, 14, 28006 Madrid, España) or via email (ocs.es@opusdei.org.)
For more information on her life and cause, and a video regarding the miraculous healing, visit the Opus Dei website (https://opusdei.org/en/article/pope-aproves-miracle-beatification-guadalupe-ortiz-de-landazuri.)
And today we celebrate...