“The task for a Christian is to drown evil in an abundance of good. We should live positively, full of optimism, with youthfulness, joy and peace.”
“Never correct anyone while you are still indignant about a fault committed. If you have so many defects, why are you surprised to find defects in others?”
Josemaria was born in Barbastro, Spain in 1902. He was the 2nd of 6 children in a devout family. The death of 3 younger sisters and the bankruptcy of his father’s business taught him the meaning of suffering and brought maturity to his outgoing and cheerful temperament. They moved to Logrono for new employment.
When he was 16, he sensed that God was asking something of him but he didn’t know what it was. He became a priest as to remain available for the Lord. With his father’s and the superior’s suggestion, he began to study civil law. For his graduate, he moved to Madrid and after his father’s passing, he struggled to maintain his family, his studies and pastoral duties.
When he was 26, while making a retreat, God showed him his mission and he founded Opus Dei, an institution within the Catholic Church to help others find God in work and family. Even with all of his hard work, the development was impeded by religious persecution due to the Spanish Civil War. He traveled throughout the country giving retreats and after WWII, he began in other countries.
He received approval from the Pope to accept non-Catholics and even non-Christians as cooperators-persons to assist and they launched professional schools, agricultural training centers, universities, hospitals and clinics that were open to people of all races, religions and social backgrounds with a Christian inspiration.
While celebrating Mass, he received a new foundational grace to establish the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross, making it possible for some of the Opus Dei’s lay faithful to be ordained as priests. He moved to Rome and by 1950, the Work had received pontifical approvals.
He died suddenly in 1975 and Opus Dei had spread to 30 nations on 6 continents. By his canonization in 2002, there were more than 84,000 members in 60 countries.
“Do not neglect your spiritual reading. Reading has made many saints.”
His feast day is June 26.
For God’s Glory.
