Two charisms: Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer (1902-1975) and Marcial Maciel (1920-2008)

Abstract

: This paper analyzes comparatively from a historical approach the life and charisma of two main characters of the history of the contemporary Catholic Church: The Spanish Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer y Albás and the Mexican Marcial Maciel Degollado; as well as their respective religious works: Opus Dei and the Legionaries of Christ. The paper builds on the concept of charism in its dual meaning: that which refers to historical individuals who are built as leaders alongside their followers, such as these two characters; and the charism of religious works created and seen by their founders who are recipients of the divine call to live the faith with specific goals that give its followers an identity and an organization within the framework of the Catholic Church. The two leaders sought closeness with the ecclesiastical hierarchy and with the powerful classes, so that the gospel is oriented to the spiritual tranquility of the elites in an exchange that leads to the understanding that fosters social and religious conservatism with mutual benefits, hence their close collaboration. They are examples of a Catholic prosperity theology.