Every day with new enthusiasm
On 17th January 1906 Tomás Alvira was born in Villanueva de Gállego, the village of his father and grandfather, a few kilometres from Saragossa. His daughter, Pilar, recalls that it was her father’s habit to celebrate his birthday not for himself, but for the enjoyment of the whole family, a simple party full of joy.
Servant of God Tomás Alvira
May 7th 2018 is the 26th anniversary of the passing of Tomás Alvira, the first supernumerary member of Opus Dei.
By Word and Example
A great gift for us all, fundamental to our education”, concludes his son, “was the daily experience of the love our parents had for each other, which was always on the increase. I think my mother was everything for my father and from the time he married his life would have no meaning without her”.
Tomás Alvira, Father of a family
There can be no better gift for a father… than the grateful love of a son. That affection grows and matures with years and becomes even more deeply rooted when the father has gone, even though he is known to be nearer and more active than ever. Rafael Alvira, a son before a philosopher, considered at the death of his father the legacy he received.
"Paquita and Tomás helped me to meet Jesus"
A school teacher describes how she drew close to Jesus and Mary thanks to the example of Christian life given by the Alvira couple.
Tomas Alvira. From Teacher to Teacher
The school’s energy is not produced in the directors’ offices, but in the classroom, in every classroom. But this will only be produced if it has life.
Tomás Alvira’s first meeting with St. Josemaría
The first meeting between Tomás Alvira and the Founder of Opus Dei took place during a very difficult time, as the civil war had broken out little more than a year before. It occurred in Madrid, in the midst of a religious persecution that had already produced many martyrs. Tomás used to go to the house of an old friend from the Chemistry Faculty of Saragossa, Josémaría Albareda.