| abstract | - Saint Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer (January 9, 1902 – June 26, 1975) (also known as José María or Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer y Albás, born José María Mariano Escrivá y Albás) was a Roman Catholic priest from Spain, and founder of Opus Dei. He was canonized by Pope John Paul II, who declared Saint Josemaría as "counted among the great witnesses of Christianity". He is the most recently deceased Saint. He had a doctorate in civil law at the University of Madrid and a doctorate in theology at the Lateran University in Rome. He was a member of the Pontifical Academy of Theology and Consultor of the Congregation of Seminaries, and Consultor of the Pontificial Commission for the Authentic Interpretation of the Code of Canon Law. His principal work was the foundation, government and expansion of Opus Dei. He and the organization have been accused of many things, including political involvement. However, some independent journalists, among them CNN Vatican analyst John Allen, Jr., say that these accusations are mere myths that grew from black legends propagated against Opus Dei and Escrivá. Opus Dei and Escrivá continue to be polarizing subjects among certain members of the Catholic Church. Popes and Catholic leaders strongly endorse Escriva's teaching on the universal call to holiness, the role of laity, and sanctification of work. His best known book is The Way which has sold more than 5 million copies in 50 languages. All in all his works have sold a total of 8 million copies.
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