The Canonization of St. Josemaria Escriva: Another October 6 Celebration

Today is the anniversary of St. Josemaria Escriva's canonization. Every time there's a big feast day, we always turn to prayer as our Founder taught us. Prayers of thanksgiving for the many undeserved favors and graces granted to us. Prayers of petition for what we need materially and spiritually. Prayers of contrition for what we have committed which hurt Our Lord and the ones around us. Prayers for our own conversion and transformation, because we want to merit to stay with God forever in heaven.

With the deep spiritual life of St. Josemaria, he managed to transmit to us the love of God in more ways than one. I highlight here the kind of fraternity and family spirit he wants everyone to live --- full of warmth, affection, service and attention to what others need. We may have come from different families and backgrounds, but as we all share one baptism in Christ, we belong to one big supernatural family, the Church.

Our Father was a happy man --- always cheerful --- according to his successor, Blessed Alvaro del Portillo. He was always happy because he lived like a child before God always. While it is true that we are plagued with our own wretchedness, imperfections and sins, St. Josemaria taught us to have confidence! Because for a Christian, a son or daughter of God, we can always rise from our miseries provided we are contrite and humble --- that we struggle to rid ourselves of pride which is the main obstacle we must battle against if we want to grow closer to God. Pride is our enemy because it is the devil's nature to be proud. And the enemy of our soul wants us to be proud so as not to let the light and strength of grace from God enter our soul. Each time we fall into sin, after a good examination of conscience, we are taught to go running to confession and show our wounds. For the Lord comes to heal us --- always, if we allow Him.

Today, as we celebrate the canonization of this holy man, may we resolve to live as true children of God, always happy and optimistic because, even with our miseries, we are assured of true joy and peace as long as we are contrite and humble of heart. What is more, along with this, we enjoy the freedom that the children of God possess --- free to love all mankind and free to direct ourselves on the path of righteousness.

For more information about Opus Dei and St. Josemaria Escriva, please visit: www.opusdei.org and http://josemariaescriva.info/   

Bumping Into St. Josemaria Escriva and Opus Dei

Today is the birthday in heaven of St. Josemaria Escriva, the founder of Opus Dei. He died in the room where he worked in Villa Tevere in Bruno Buozzi, Rome, Italy,  a little after praying the Angelus. He was 73 years old when he passed away. I first heard about Opus Dei when I was in second year high school, when an alumna of my school, who happens to have the same name as I do, visited the campus one afternoon. Our guidance counselor told me that Michelle, who is around seven years older, is a member of Opus Dei.

The first prayer card that I received was not that of St. Josemaria, it was Bishop Alvaro del Portillo's, St. Josemaria's first successor who passed away in March 1994. It was my Communication professor at UP Manila who gave it to me while I was taking the final exam for his subject. Now that professor of mine, I learned later on, is also a member of Opus Dei. As in any occurrence, I cultivated the habit of asking why about situations and circumstances I find myself in, trying my best to do so in God's presence. So I asked myself why I often bump into members of Opus Dei every so often. And what is Opus Dei all about? And then one day, when I got home, I saw 3 prayer cards of St. Josemaria on our glass vitrina in the living room. It was my father who brought it home, a taxi passenger of his gave it to him.

Today, as I wish that St. Josemaria's fame of being very close to God i.e. his holiness, reach far and wide, I would like to write about one of the recent favors I received through his intercession. I have already submitted this favor to the Office of the Causes of Saints, hoping that it be included among so many that St. Josemaria has granted to countless individuals, so that God's glory may be seen and felt through this faithful servant of his.

Saint Josemaría and our Mother of Fair Love

John Paul II stated on Sunday, 6 October 2002, after the Angelus greetings: "Love for our Lady is a constant characteristic of the life of Josemaría Escrivá and is an eminent part of the legacy that he left to his spiritual sons and daughters". The Pope also said that "St. Josemaría wrote a beautiful small book called The Holy Rosary which presents spiritual childhood, a real disposition of spirit of those who wish to attain total abandonment to the divine will".

Since he was 10–11 years old, he already had the habit of carrying the Rosary in his pocket. As a priest, he would ordinarily end his homilies and his personal prayer with a conversation with the Blessed Virgin. He instructed that all rooms in the centres of Opus Dei should have an image of the Virgin. He encouraged his spiritual children to greet these images when they entered a room. He pushed for a Marian apostolate, preaching that "To Jesus we go and to Him we return through Mary". While looking at a picture of the Virgin of Guadalupe giving a rose to Juan Diego, he commented: "I would like to die that way". On June 26, 1975, after entering his work room, which had a painting of the Virgin of Guadalupe, he slumped on the floor and died.

Prayer

Oh, Mother of Fair Love,

you who have loved your Son Jesus Christ

with a most pure Love

obtain for us, from God,

a supernatural life

so that we could have

here on earth

facing God,

a clean human love

that will protect

and uphold

the sanctity of marriage

and celibacy.

Amen.