Author Description

In the Footprints of Our Faith includes 27 articles that describe important places associated with Jesus' life: Nazareth, Ein Karem, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, the Jordan River, Cana, Capernaum, the Lake of Gennesaret, Bethany, Emmaus... To explain why Christians venerate the Sacred Places in the Holy Land, the authors rely on the Holy Bible, historical sources, and archaeological research. In addition, spiritual considerations are included, to help the reader personally immerse themselves in the Gospel, so that the Word of God may have a lasting impact on the reader's life. The inspiration for these reflections comes from the Fathers of the Church, the Magisterium of recent Popes, and the teachings of the Saints, especially that of St. Josemaria Escriva, the founder of Opus Dei. In the Footprints of Our Faith is useful reading for anyone interested in the Holy Land, especially those preparing to make a pilgrimage there and for those who wish to relive it later, once back home. St. Josemaria had always wanted to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and dreamed of starting various apostolic initiatives there which would help the Church. He was never able to fulfill this dream, but his first successor at the head of Opus Dei, Blessed Alvaro del Portillo, was able to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land from March 14-22, 1994. On the morning of March 23rd, only a few hours after Blessed Alvaro's return to Rome, God called him to Heaven. With the faithful of Opus Dei and those with a devotion to Blessed Alvaro in mind, there are references to his final days in the Holy Land scattered throughout the text of the extended edition of In the Footprints of Our Faith.