St. Josemaría Escrivá

St. Josemaría Escrivá taught that ordinary work, family life, and daily duties can become paths to holiness in Christ.

The story

Josemaría Escrivá was born in Barbastro, Spain, on January 9, 1902, to José Escrivá and Dolores Albás. Three of his younger sisters died in childhood, and the failure of his father's business brought the family serious financial hardship. After noticing the footprints of a barefoot Carmelite friar in the snow, Josemaría began to sense that God was asking something particular of him. He entered the seminary and was ordained a priest in Zaragoza on March 28, 1925.

After parish service and graduate studies, he moved to Madrid. On October 2, 1928, during a spiritual retreat, he founded Opus Dei. Its mission was to proclaim the universal call to holiness, especially through ordinary professional work and daily responsibilities. He understood more clearly in 1930 that women were also to belong to Opus Dei. His message anticipated an emphasis later expressed by the Second Vatican Council, which taught that all the faithful are called to holiness.

During the Spanish Civil War, violent persecution forced him to exercise his priesthood secretly in Madrid. In 1937 he escaped through the Pyrenees into Andorra and reached the part of Spain where he could minister openly. After the war he preached retreats and continued forming members of Opus Dei. In 1943 he established the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross, which made it possible for priests to be ordained for the pastoral needs of the work while sharing its spirituality.

Josemaría moved to Rome in 1946. The Holy See granted definitive approval to Opus Dei in 1950. He traveled widely, teaching that prayer, friendship, family life, suffering, and competent work could all be offered to God. His writings include The Way, Holy Rosary, Christ Is Passing By, and Friends of God. He died suddenly in Rome on June 26, 1975. St. John Paul II beatified him in 1992 and canonized him on October 6, 2002. In 1982, after his death, Opus Dei was established as a personal prelature. His liturgical memorial is observed on June 26.

What Josemaría teaches

Josemaría teaches that holiness is not restricted to monasteries, sanctuaries, or extraordinary deeds. Work done honestly and lovingly can become prayer and service. The universal call to holiness belongs to every Christian state of life (CCC 2013).

Patronage

ordinary work, lay apostolate, workers, Opus Dei.

Prayer

God our Father, you called St. Josemaría to teach the path of holiness in ordinary life. Help us offer you our work, relationships, joys, and difficulties with love. Through his intercession, make us faithful apostles in the places where you have planted us. Amen.