The latest case involved priest and engineer José María Hernández Garnica (1913-1972), whose cause for canonization recently opened in Madrid.
Born in Madrid, Hernández Garnica was a close aide of founder St. Josemaría Escrivá.
With doctorates in mining engineering, natural sciences, and theology, Hernández Garnica was one of the first three faithful of this ecclesial reality to be ordained a priest, together with Álvaro del Portillo and José Luis Múzquiz.
A priest since June 1944, Hernández Garnica was entrusted by Monsignor Escrivá with fostering Opus Dei’s apostolic life among women.
From 1957 until his death, he was sent by the founder to stimulate the development of Opus Dei in England, Ireland, France, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Other faithful of the Opus Dei Prelature who are in the process of canonization are the founder’s successor, Álvaro del Portillo, as well as six laymen. The latter are three Spaniards — Montse Grases, Guadalupe Ortiz de Landázuri and Eduardo Ortiz de Landázuri; Argentine Isidoro Zorzano; Swiss Toni Zweifel; and Guatemalan Ernesto Cofiño.
