The Prelate used the occasion of the 50th anniversary of IESE to recall some of the teachings of St. Josemaria Escriva, Founder of Opus Dei and the moving spirit behind the establishment of IESE fifty years ago. As everyone familiar with Opus Dei would know, the teachings of St. Josemaria are at the very heart of the social doctrine of the Catholic Church about the sanctification of ordinary work. These teachings have a permanent value in all sectors of human activity; and also, therefore, for those who occupy positions of management.

Bishop Echevarria started by reminiscing on that day of October 1972 when St. Josemaria engaged in a very lively conversation with the Directors of IESE and other executives in the IESE campus in Barcelona during his unforgettable catechetical trip all over the Iberian peninsula. One of those present asked what should be the first virtue to be lived by an entrepreneur. St. Josemaria talked about charity, "because justice alone is not enough." It was always a perennial teaching of the Founder of Opus Dei that "the best form of charity is to generously exceed the demands of justice." He also used to comment: "Justice is to give to each one what is his, but I would add that this doesn’t suffice. No matter how much each person deserves, one has to give more, because each soul is a masterpiece of God."

Without doubt, charity should not be confused with a vague sentiment of solidarity with persons or people in need, but who are far away. I am not referring here to the authentic Christian solidarity, about which Pope John Paul II has left very profound teachings. It is human to have compassion for the needs of others; however, charity presupposes much more. As St. Josemaria wrote in the book Christ is Passing By: "The charity of Christ is not only a good feeling towards our neighbor; it does not stop at the taste for philanthropy. Charity, infused in the soul by God, transforms from within the intelligence and the will: it gives the supernatural reason to friendship and the joy of doing good . . . Christian charity is not limited to helping the needy as regards material things; it is directed, above all, towards respecting and understanding each individual as such, in his intrinsic human dignity and as a son or daughter of the Creator."

Bishop Echevarria then develops the very essence of business as a "community of persons." He says that much beyond ambitious projects and the making of huge profits, the most important thing in an enterprise is to promote the good of the persons who work within its walls or who maintain more or less close relations with its initiatives. One cannot ignore – despite the urgent requirements and pressures of a fierce competitiveness – this primordial demand of Christian morality, whose very essence and originality can be found in following and imitating Jesus Christ, especially in His love. As taught by the Venerable Pope John Paul II, "the way of acting of Jesus and His words, his actions and precepts, constitute the moral rule of Christian life." In that actuation, made up of works and words, always with special reference to the commandment of fraternal charity (John 13, 34-35), we discover in an unequivocal manner the love of Jesus for His Father and for all men, and the primacy of love. Pope Benedict XVI also has reminded us with great force that God is Love (1 John 4, 16). "And, since it is God who has loved us first (1 John 4,10), now love no longer is just a ‘commandment,’ but a response to the gift of love, with which He comes to meet us."

St. Josemaria, because of his great love for all men his brothers, always insisted in the perennial Christian teaching that recognizes and affirms the intrinsic value of the person and which demands a treatment that is appropriate to a creature made unto the image of God, called to be daughter or son of His. This implies not only a respect for all, without manipulations or maneuverings that are egotistic; but also to love each one truly, as is possible in every situation, starting with those who are closest to us and showing such concern with concrete works of service.

Having been exposed to the corporate culture of IESE for more than a year, I can attest to the fact that all persons involved in this great undertaking are making a conscious effort to live the teachings of St. Josemaria in their professional work and in their personal lives. Countless of times have I heard the MBA students and those attending executive education programs that what they appreciate most at IESE is their being treated as individual persons with much respect, understanding, and affection. What impresses me most is that many of those who express these views are non-Christians, including Muslims, Jews, Buddhists and Hindus. Thanks to the spirit that it inherited from St. Josemaria Escriva, IESE will always turn out global leaders who can make an important impact society by first treating each person in his intrinsic dignity and as a daughter or a son of God. For comments, my email address is HYPERLINK "mailto:bvillegas@uap.edu.ph" __bvillegas@uap.edu.ph_.