By Leon Bent –
Saint Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer y Albás (9 January 1902 – 26 June 1975) was a Spanish Roman Catholic priest who founded Opus Dei, an organization of lay people and priests, dedicated to the teaching that, everyone is called to holiness, and ordinary life can result in sanctity. He was canonized in 2002 by Pope John Paul II, who declared Saint Josemaría should be “counted among the great witnesses of Christianity.” His feast is celebrated on June 26.
Escrivá and Opus Dei have aroused controversy, primarily concerning allegations of secrecy, elitism, cult-like practices, and political involvement with right-wing causes, such as the rule of Francisco Franco in Spain (1939–1975). After his death, his canonization attracted considerable attention and controversy, by some Catholics and the worldwide press. Several journalists who have investigated the history of Opus Dei, among them Vatican analyst John L. Allen, Jr., have argued that many of these accusations are unproven, or have grown from allegations by enemies of Escrivá and his organization.
Popes John Paul, John Paul II, Benedict XVI, Francis, St. Archbishop Óscar Romero, and many Catholic leaders have endorsed Escrivá’s teaching concerning the universal call to holiness the role of the laity, and sanctification of ordinary work. According to Allen, among Catholics, Escrivá is “reviled by some and venerated by millions”.
A prayerful retreat helped Josemaria to discern more definitely, what he considered to be God’s will for him, and, on 2 October, 1928, he “saw” Opus Dei (English: Work of God), a way by which Catholics might learn to sanctify themselves by their secular work. He founded it during 1928, and Pius XII gave it final approval in 1950. From the beginning his was a very wide-ranging apostolate in social environments of all kinds. He worked especially among the poor and the sick, languishing in the slums and hospitals of Madrid.
“A saint for the whole Church” — that is how John Paul II described him on the day following his canonization, in 2002: “St. Josemaría was chosen by the Lord to announce the universal call to holiness, and to point out that daily life and ordinary activities are a path to holiness. One could say that he was the saint of ordinary life. In fact, he was convinced that for those who live with a perspective of faith, anything is an opportunity to meet God; everything can be an incentive for prayer. Seen in this light, daily life reveals an unexpected greatness. Holiness is truly within everyone’s reach” (St. Pope JP II).
“Today, more than ever, he is acknowledged as an authentic master of the Christian life; he reached the heights of contemplation through continuous prayer, constant mortification, and the daily effort to do his work with exemplary docility to the Holy Spirit, always with the aim of “serving the Church as the Church wants to be served” (St. Pope JP II).
Now, this gold nugget! The Holy Father St. Pope John Paul II referred to the saint’s apostolic vision when he said: “To elevate the world to God and transform it from within: this is the ideal the holy founder points out to you”. Or, as Saint Josemaría himself put it, “Your human vocation is a part – an important part – of your Divine vocation”.
And, this final flourish! Saint Josemaría always recommended: “in the first place, prayer; then, expiation; and very much in third place, action” (The Way, 82). The fruitfulness of the apostolate lies above all in prayer and in intense and constant sacramental life. This, in essence, is the secret of the holiness and the true success of all the saints.
The punch lines! Josemaria transmitted to his entire spiritual family the invitation of Jesus to Peter: “Put out into the deep”, the divine Teacher said to Peter, “and let down your nets for a catch” (Lk.5:4). The Founder of Opus Dei transmitted this approach to his entire spiritual family, so that, it might offer the Church a valid contribution of communion and apostolic service.”
These words are sprinkled with silver dust: Those who want to serve the cause of the Gospel faithfully will certainly encounter misunderstandings and difficulties. The Lord purifies and shapes all those he calls to follow him with the mysterious power of the Cross; but “in the Cross”, the new saint, Josemaria, repeated, “we find light, peace and joy”.
The last word! “The ordinary life of a Christian who has faith”, Josemaria used to say, “when he works or rests, when he prays or sleeps, at all times, is a life in which God is always present” (Meditations, March 3, 1954).