Description
Salvador Canals
Book Summary
This work offers a detailed biography of Salvador Canals (1920-1975), a key figure for understanding the history of the Church in the 20th century. Through his personal journey, the reader delves into two fundamental areas: the Roman Curia and Opus Dei. The book recounts his life in Rome, his participation in the Second Vatican Council, and his work as a judge of the Roman Rota tribunal, showing how his deep unity with the Pope and St. Josemaría marked his existence and left a mark of friendship on those who knew him.
What is it about?
The biography follows the life of Salvador Canals from his birth in Spain to his passing in Rome, where he spent almost his entire life. The account focuses on his experience during the Second World War, his priestly ordination, and his active participation in the Second Vatican Council. As a judge of the Roman Rota tribunal, Canals worked in the administration of ecclesiastical justice while maintaining a close bond with St. Josemaría Escrivá, founder of Opus Dei. The work presents him as a qualified witness of his time, whose life embodies the history of the Church in a period of profound changes.
Main themes
- History of the Church in the 20th century, with special attention to the Roman Curia.
- Personal and ecclesiastical relationship with St. Josemaría Escrivá and Opus Dei.
- Participation and context of the Second Vatican Council.
- Judicial work in the Roman Rota tribunal.
- Priestly life and witness of faith in post-war Rome.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at readers interested in the contemporary history of the Catholic Church, especially in the role of Opus Dei and the Roman Curia. It is also of great value to those seeking biographies of relevant ecclesiastical figures of the 20th century, as well as to scholars of the Second Vatican Council and of priestly life in complex historical contexts.
What this book provides
- A detailed and documented vision of the life of a direct witness to the history of the Church in the 20th century.
- Understanding of the relationship between Opus Dei and the Roman Curia during a crucial period.
- Historical context regarding the Second World War and the Second Vatican Council from a personal perspective.
- A human and spiritual portrait of a priest who influenced numerous people through his friendship and service.
Technical data
- Author: Méndiz Noguero, Alfredo
- Publisher: EDICIONES RIALP S.A.
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: BIOGRAPHY: GENERAL
- Collection: MONOGRAFIAS DEL INSTITUTO HISTORICO JOSE
- Binding: Other
- Date of publication: June 2019
- Number of pages: 476
- Weight: 673 g
Editorial review
This biography stands out for its historical rigor and its ability to connect the personal trajectory of Salvador Canals with the great ecclesiastical events of the 20th century. The author, Alfredo Méndiz, offers a well-documented work that is of great interest both to specialists in Church history and to readers who wish to know relevant figures of Opus Dei and the Roman Curia up close. It is a work that adds depth to the understanding of a key period for contemporary Catholicism.