I haven’t met many people who were 100 years old, although I did attend a 99th birthday party once, and I know a lot of people over 90. A hundred personal years of life on earth is a long time and a great accomplishment, attesting to many positive factors: genetics; family health history; diet; lifestyle; spirituality; and perhaps exercise. If God wants me to make it to 100 (only 40 years to go), I will gladly try. In the life of a community and especially the Church, 100 years is not really long at all, especially when we realize the eternity of God’s plans for the Communion of Saints in heaven. In that beatific light, 100 years is just a snapshot (is that still a word?) a sliver of everlasting life. Well, today (October 2, 2026) is the Feast of the Guardian Angels, and that is also the founding day of Opus Dei, when in 1928 Saint Josemaria discovered in a private revelation that God wanted him to proclaim and promote the universal call to holiness, that is, a calling to be saints by sanctifying our ordinary situations, especially our work and family-social commitments. Today’s 98th anniversary of the founding of the Work is a kind of launchpad (I am based in Houston) for the upcoming centenary in 2028. In Opus Dei we are being asked to open ourselves up to more grace, and to commit ourselves to pray and live the spirit given to Saint Josemaria, and make it better known in the Church and the world. As a kind of kick-off (yes, it’s football season) The Prelate of Opus Dei, Msgr. Fernando Ocariz (video below) and his US-Canada vicar, Msgr. Tom Bohlin (click here) offer inspiration to guide us through this moment. Enjoy and start the celebration in your own life!