A Priest and Gifted Writer
Father Francisco Fernández Carvajal, a beloved spiritual guide and author, died in Madrid, Spain on March 6, 2026, at the age of 88. A priest of Opus Dei and gifted writer, he dedicated his life to helping countless faithful to deepen their life of prayer through the encounter with God in the midst of daily life.
Born on January 24, 1938, in Albolote, Spain, Fernández Carvajal pursued studies in Liberal Arts and History at the University of Navarra in Spain before completing doctoral studies in canon law at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome.
He requested admission to Opus Dei in 1957 and was ordained a priest in 1964. From the earliest years of his priesthood, from Barcelona to Madrid, his pastoral heart was especially directed toward young people and university students.
Alongside his pastoral work, Fernández Carvajal contributed significantly to Catholic intellectual and spiritual life through publishing. From the early 1980s to the mid-1990s he served as editor of the Spanish magazine Palabra, where he edited and wrote numerous articles and interviews aimed at forming readers in faith and Christian life.
Hablar Con Dios - In Conversation with God
Yet he will be remembered above all for his monumental spiritual classic, Hablar con Dios (known in English as In Conversation with God). This beloved collection offers reflections for every day of the year and for the Sunday liturgical cycle of the Catholic lectionary. Translated into numerous languages—including English, French, Italian, Portuguese, German, Dutch, Romanian, Slovak, Polish, Croatian, Russian, and Hungarian—Hablar con Dios remains one of the most widely read works of contemporary Catholic spirituality having sold more than two million copies worldwide. Its pages reflect Fernández Carvajal’s pastoral voice centered toward helping readers pray and speak personally with Our Lord in their daily life in the middle of the world.
In addition to this spiritual classic, Fernández Carvajal authored many other spiritual and biblical works, including Life of Jesus, Children of God, Lukewarmness, and Through Wind and Waves.
With Gratitude
Fr. Fernández Carvajal will be remembered as a man devoted to the priestly work of spiritual direction, confession, and preaching. Whether through personal ministry or through the written word, his goal was always to help souls discover that prayer can permeate every moment of one's life.
At Midwest Theological Forum, we give thanks to God for the life and work of Fr. Francisco Fernández Carvajal, whose writings will continue to accompany countless faithful in prayer for generations to come. May he now enjoy the eternal conversation with God to which he invited so many others.
