Escriva founded Opus Dei, formally known as The Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei in 1928 and led the largely lay organization for nearly fifty years. Starting in the late 1940s, the organization grew increasingly close to the Vatican and Opus Dei was granted (the first and only) status as a 'personal prelature' in 1982 under John Paul II. Escriva was beatified in 1992 and canonized in 2002. Contents: Chapter One. A Christian Family, Chapter Two. Called to the Priesthood, Chapter Three. The Foundation of Opus Dei, Chapter Four. A Time for Friends, Chapter Five. God and Daring, Chapter Six. The Mark of Divine Filiation, Chapter Seven. The Hours of Hope, Chapter Eight: The Freedom of the Children of God, Chapter Nine. The Father of a Large and Poor Family.