"A Lesson of Love"

Angelique Ferrali is a Cooperator of Opus Dei who lives in Switzerland and teaches tennis. She recalls a Mass celebrated by Don Alvaro when she was a university student that left a deep impression on her soul.

“My name is Angelique Ferrali. I’m 46 and live in Switzerland, and I’m happily married and have three children. I work as a tennis instructor. I’m a Catholic Cooperator of Opus Dei.

It’s hard to define such a special person in just a few words, especially since I only saw him a few times, when I was a young university student.

Something personal? I was in Geneva for a family reunion. I went to Le Rocher Center for Mass in the morning, since I knew Mass was celebrated there every day. I didn’t realize that Don Alvaro was also in Geneva. On his way back from a long trip, he had to spend the night in our country. He was the one who celebrated Mass that morning in the center. There were only a few of us present and right away I realized how lucky I was, since by all rights I shouldn’t have beeen there. I remember that Don Alvaro was praying intently, while Don Javier assisted him, very attentive to every detail. It was an unforgettable experience.

But what really left a deep imprint on my soul was seeing, when the Holy Mass was over, how Don Alvaro returned to the small chapel with Don Javier and began praying out loud, thanking God for the great gift of the Mass. It was as though he had forgotten about everyone else there and was alone with the Master. And at the same time, he didn’t forget about anyone, since he prayed for all of us. For me it was a lesson of love the remained deeply engraved on my soul.”