English
Saint Josemaria
I will help you more from heaven
No sooner said than done
E. Quintanilla, El Salvador
December 25, 2008
I found another house within 30 minutes
Hi. Thanks be to God. Yesterday I pleaded St. Josemaria and Father Alvaro to intercede for me to secure another rental housing because I'm having problems with the caretaker who is so stubborn, he doesn't want to solve them. I went on a search and within 30 minutes I had secured one. Thank you for your intercession including for the others which have never been published. I'm also hoping to secure a better job by next year, please pray with me. May we by God's power learn to lead holy and acceptable lives. God bless and may His peace be with you.
RM, Kenya
December 23, 2008
Different ways of invoking St Josemaria
Over the past year I invoked St Josemaria’s help on several occasions. I did it in different ways: praying the novena, reciting the prayer from the card which I always have on me, or simply asking him to help me in my own words. Now that 2008 is almost ended I feel I have to let everyone know how much the Founder of Opus Dei has helped me, how he has guided me on my way, and how significant his presence has been at home, among my family. If I started to tell all the favors (or miracles, as I fervently believe they are) that he has obtained for me, this message would be far too long. But I just want to encourage everyone who is thinking of invoking St Josemaria’s help, to do so with the utmost confidence that they will be heard. Happy Christmas! Happy New Year!
Alejandro Prodan, Argentina
December 16, 2008
A wedding-present from Our Lord
I got to know about St Josemaria about six years ago, through a friend in the Neo-Catechumenates. He invited us to his house one evening to see a video about the Founder of Opus Dei. I think it was the year he was canonized. I didn’t like Opus Dei at all at that point.
I had come back to the Church a couple of years earlier, thanks to a community of the Neo-Catechumenal Way. Simply because of my affection for this brother in the community, I agreed to watch his video about St Josemaria. That day my opinion of him and Opus Dei changed completely. I saw that St Josemaria was a normal person, and the things he said seemed completely reasonable, not at all the way he’d been described to me, which was the reason for my previous dislike. I loved the video. I felt it touched my soul and I decided to buy more videos of him and find out about who he was, what sort of life he lived, and so on. I began to pray to him and everything changed for the better.
He’s helped me a lot in these years, with both little things and big, and has taught me to love Jesus. We went to Rome for our honeymoon, and visited the prelatic church of Our Lady of Peace
. There I prayed to him to help me on this new stage of my life. Being able to pray at St Josemaria’s tomb was a wedding-present to us from Our Lord.
Some of the favors he has obtained for us are:
For his work, my husband was posted to Aguilar de la Frontera (Spain). We moved to the nearby town of Lucena, in Cordoba. There was a school run by nuns where I wanted to work. I asked St Josemaria for this favor and the following year I was given a job there.
In 2008 my husband asked to be transferred to La Linea, and he was, so I moved with him, which meant leaving my job at the school, much to my regret. Near La Linea, in Algeciras, there is a school where Opus Dei priests provide spiritual direction. I wanted to get a job at that school, and I wanted my sister to work there too. Around that time I’d found St Josemaria’s Novena for Work on the web, and I began to do this novena. We were both offered one-year contracts at the school on the same day. Currently only I am working there as my sister couldn’t manage the timetable they proposed to her. I am very happy because I’ve experienced St Josemaria’s help every day at school and at home, in the little things, in the details I find so hard. I have also obtained favors through Don Alvaro del Portillo. For example, I’ve always had the reputation of dressing badly, wearing things that don’t go together. I prayed to him for help when it came to choosing clothes, and I really have started to look more elegant, as several people have remarked.
Carmen Maria Moncada Lacera, Spain
December 14, 2008
He asked for St Josemaria’s help
I would like to share that a favor was granted to us through the intercession of St. Josemaria. My brother successfully passed the Board Exam for Certified Public Accountants, he asked for St. Josemaria's help through the prayer card.
Ivy, Philippines
December 12, 2008
As I finished saying the Glory Be, my call went through
I was working at a motel in Albuquerque, New Mexico, since the end of February 2008. Before that I’d been unemployed for four months. I prayed and prayed to God first, to St Josemaria Escriva and the Servant of God Alvaro del Portillo to find a job so I could support my husband. He had a heart attack six years ago and can no longer work; his only income is a social security check for incapacity benefit, which is not very much but does help. The company provided an apartment in the motel itself for us to live. It wasn’t very pleasant, but at least I had somewhere to live with my husband and a paycheck every two weeks. Then in October I was made redundant.
November 2, I began to fill out my unemployment benefit claim online. As we had moved out of our apartment we had no computer, but my son and his wife offered us the use of their house and their computers. At the end of November I saw that my claim was marked ‘incomplete’. In desperation, a few days later I went to the unemployment office. The person on duty said I could only get an answer by telephone or internet. I explained that I had no telephone at home, only a mobile and I had no money on it. He let me use the telephone on his desk. When I got through I was told I’d have to wait at least an hour to be able to speak to someone. I took out of my pocket the prayer-card of Bishop Alvaro del Portillo, and just as I finished saying the Glory Be, my call was put through. It had only been twenty minutes. Now I am about to receive three checks. This will really help. I keep praying to God, our Blessed Lady, St Josemaria and Bishop Alvaro, to help me get a job. I want to tell all those who read this that we must never give up our faith in God, our Lady, St Josemaria and Bishop Alvaro. They do intercede for us. My mom always encourages me to pray with great faith and devotion because God is great.
M. G. R., US
December 7, 2008
He sorted out my difficulties
Last month the founder of Opus Dei sorted out my difficulties three times. I had a very important appointment, but I couldn’t leave the house until someone else arrived, St Josemaria helped me to keep calm, and also to get to my appointment on time.
Another day I had to go to the dentist, who had asked me to get there early in case I needed a root filling, as appeared possible. The X-ray suggested that the decay had gone deep, and it was certainly painful. I didn’t have either time or money to spend, so I prayed to St Josemaria to sort out everything in the best possible way. I also offered up all the difficulties involved. In the end, after a few minutes the dentist told me there was no problem: the decay was only on the surface and the whole thing was over very quickly. I am grateful to the founder of Opus Dei for all he does for me. Best wishes to everyone.
H. P., France
December 2, 2008
Spiritual batteries also need recharging
I am deeply grateful to Opus Dei for its Christian formational activities. Week by week I am recharging my spiritual batteries. I’m helped by the example they give of sanctification in daily life, like the early times of Opus Dei, like the first people who encountered St Josemaria. In short, lifelong thanks!
GLMF, Ecuador
December 1, 2008
I got a bit mad with St Josemaria, but I hope he forgave me
We’ll soon be celebrating my small daughter Lucia’s fifth birthday. She was born at 26 weeks weighing just 1.1 kilo. They put tubes in her for everything. She was so tiny she fitted in the palm of my hand. I’ll never forget seeing her in intensive care, at 6 in the morning when she'd just been born. I called a neighbor of ours who is an Opus Dei priest to baptize her in the pediatric intensive care unit. I had been praying for her to St Josemaria and I did so with still more force and confidence when I saw how she looked.
Some days later, after different complications including a cerebral hemorrhage, the doctors told us that she had “enterocolitis” and the next 9 – 10 days would be very, very bad. They said the course of the infection would be extremely severe and liable to still worse complications. When I got home I told my father, who is an obstetrician who has brought hundreds of babies into the world. He encouraged me to hope, although he knew the seriousness of the case – in fact he said to my mother to stop kidding herself as the baby would almost certainly die.
That evening I got a bit (seriously) mad with St Josemaria, reproaching him for the suffering our little girl was going through, especially because I’d entrusted her to his care when she was born. As I say, I got mad with him (I hope he forgave me) and prayed that if God took her, he would give us the strength and acceptance to bear our loss. I remember it as a very hard time, but a time of very intense conversation with him.
The next day, just before our 12 noon visit, the doctor in the intensive care unit asked us to go and see her. We feared the worst. But the moment we went in we could see our baby who was all pink (when we left the night before she’d been as white as a sheet) and looking wonderful. The doctor just wanted to tell us that “surprisingly” the baby had recovered that same night: at about 3 in the morning her color had returned and they did two analyses and an ultrasound which confirmed there was no trace of any enterocolitis. As an agnostic, she called it a “miracle of nature”. My father and I call it a miracle of St Josemaria, through God’s grace.
I always meant to send this in to add to St Josemaria’s cases, but never found the time. For some reason I got to thinking of it this evening and so at last I’m writing to you. Warmest greetings to Opus Dei and all its sympathizers. I pray a lot for you all.
Enrique Cuenca, Spain
December 1, 2008
A vacancy for me
I want to write this testimony down because I found it so amazing. A year ago I began praying the Novena for Work, for St Josemaria to help me find a job or at least guide me in my search. After more than 13 novenas a vacancy turned up for me, in my professional field. I don’t think I prayed with that much faith, but I never thought for a moment that St Josemaria would fail to help. I’m quite sure that getting this job at a time of recession in my country is a miracle of St Josemaria. I will pray for everything to work out well and that many other people who are also suffering from unemployment may receive St Josemaria’s miraculous help.
Grateful, Argentina
November 28, 2008
A half-day job for the time being
My company was undergoing restructuring, and in 2007 I began to realize that my post was at risk. From that moment on, my wife and I began praying St Josemaria’s Novena for Work. My fears were justified and I was made redundant two months ago, together with many of my colleagues. It was the worst possible time to lose my job, in the middle of the economic crisis, with all the firms in my line of business cutting back on their staff. So we kept on praying still more insistently, with the strength we got from often praying the Rosary. Family members and friends also prayed for me, as they were concerned about the difficult situation I and my family – my wife and two daughters – were in. And so, thanks to our Merciful Jesus, and the intercession of Our Lady and St Josemaria, I found a job. It’s a half-day job, which will bring in half the income I need, but I’m very happy and grateful, because I know it’s a miracle. I’ll keep praying to get a job for the rest of my time, and also to be able to do my new work well, efficiently and, above all, for love of God. Thank-you, St Josemaria!
M. T., Chile
November 27, 2008
I am grateful to my mom for teaching me devotion to St Josemaria
I want to talk about my marvelous experience that happened thanks to God, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and St Josemaria Escriva. Less than a month ago my husband was diagnosed with cancer. It came as a terrible shock to us all, but thinking it over calmly and objectively, I entrusted it all to God, our Blessed Lady, and St Josemaria, and prayed every day with great faith. As time went on things began to look more favorable. First the operation, and then the checks and tests, which showed that it was going well. Two days ago he had a scan to check for any metastasis, but the hand of God was there, with our Lady and St Josemaria, because today we got the results and they are fine. I am so moved to realize how powerful they are! I will absolutely never stop thanking them for hearing our prayers. I am grateful to my mom, who taught me what a miracle-worker St Josemaria is. Thank-you also to those who helped us to get all the arrangements made; and those who joined their prayers to ours, for everything to turn out well. There is only one more step to go, and I am certain that if we continue praying with as much faith as we have done up till now, everything will be all right. Infinite thanks to God, the Blessed Virgin Mary and the founder of Opus Dei for their healing, salvation and goodness.
MDM, Chile
November 21, 2008
After receiving the Anointing of the Sick
I am writing to say thank-you for St Josemaria’s intercession, because on September 23 a friend of mine who is a doctor, and quite young, collapsed while in his surgery. He was taken into hospital and diagnosed with a major stroke. He was in coma and the doctors didn’t hold out any hope. They told his wife that if she wished she could take steps to prepare for his death. She asked a priest to come and give him the Anointing of the Sick. A few hours after receiving it, he began to move his left hand. We kept on praying, and on October 24 he began to respond by moving his hand. A week later he was able to eat a few spoonfuls of yoghurt. He is still unable to speak, but he recognizes all of us, and has recovered movement on the left side. I just wanted to write and thank St Josemaria for helping us once again.
Inmaculada, Spain
November 2, 2008
The gift of a job
Thank you for the gift... of a job. Reading some of the testimonies a year back encouraged me to pray and make a commitment to work harder. My reward is here and whenever I kneel to say a thank-you prayer, I think of those in my situation a year ago, and so I wish to encourage them.
Charles, South Africa
October 29, 2008
Optimism in tackling difficulties
I went through a period of deep depression because of some family difficulties. I prayed insistently to St Josemaria, founder of Opus Dei, and immediately received light for my path. The difficulties have not completely disappeared, but my heart is healed and I see everything optimistically. I am so very happy! Thank-you, St Josemaria!
Luigi, Italy
October 24, 2008
The job I dreamed of
I want to thank St Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer very especially for the grace of obtaining a wonderful job. The work has given me the opportunity of fulfilling what I dreamed of when I was at University. My thanks are not for that alone: he has often granted little petitions I made. I want to tell everyone to make known the graces received, their desires and hopes, or simply a word expressing how wonderful it is to live with Christ Jesus and our Blessed Mother Mary. But remember that we will achieve nothing without faith-filled prayer and our own effort. The founder of Opus Dei worked really hard too. May our Lord Jesus Christ, our Mother Mary and St Josemaria Escriva bless us in everything, always. Warmest greetings,
Daniel Ozaki, Brazil
October 23, 2008
Let God have his way
I have been under pressure due to financial, personal and work crises in my life, as well as a crisis of faith. After prayers and Novenas to St.Josemaria, I've now decided to let God have his way. In His time, I will receive another fulfilling job, with excellent terms and conditions, that suits my personality and experience. Praise be to God, I rely on you. Amen.
Auma, Kenya
October 21, 2008
No medication!
Hi, I had a baby 20 years ago. She was born with convulsions, went from doctor to doctor, from hospital to hospital, from one diagnosis to another. Some said it was epilepsy and prescribed medicines to treat it, but she still had convulsions. Time went by and my daughter was no better. Then I was given the prayer of St Josemaria Escriva, founder of Opus Dei, and I prayed to him with all my heart to intercede before God our Lord for our daughter to be cured. He brought about a meeting with another neurologist who saw Karen’s case and told me: “No medication.” He cured my daughter by therapy. Her last convulsion was on February 11, 1990. Now my daughter is studying for a degree in communications, and leads a normal life. Thank you, St Josemaria Escriva, for interceding before God our Lord and bringing about my meeting with a great neurologist. After Karen’s recovery we never had any further news from him; I tried to find him and couldn’t. I believe he only crossed my path in order to heal my daughter. Thank you!
M. S. M. O., Mexico
October 17, 2008
I can’t thank him enough
I am writing to you in gratitude to Saint Josemaria for an incredible event I lived through and that I have no doubt is a miracle becuase there is no explanation, medical, technological or scientific. I prayed the prayer requesting Saint Josemaria’s mediation and my prayer was heard. It was a health problem which I was very worried about, and thanks to the blessed and holy founder of Opus Dei, Saint Josemaria, and his intercession before our loving God, I obtained a cure. I can’t thank him enough for this, and all I can say is I hope that the whole of Saint Josemaria’s path in life becomes really well known and loved by all, and that more people like me find consolation in trusting prayer through his intercession. Thank you once again. God bless you.
A. P. P., Spain
October 10, 2008
A number of favors
Once again I wish to thank our St. Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer for all the miracles granted through his intercession. First I prayed to him for a negotiation in favor of a friend of mine who is in a position of authority. It got complicated, but by a miracle everything worked out well. That happened in July this year. After that, as everyone knows, the world entered on a crisis and my country was also affected. I risked losing my job, and my only recourse was to pray to St. Josemaria Escriva for the miracle of keeping my job because the situation was very difficult. I prayed the novena, and my prayer was heard. I am still working now even though my contract expired on August 30, 2008. And that is not all. My youngest daughter was pregnant, and the unborn baby developed health complications. I asked my family if we could all pray to St. Josemaria, and for the birth, which was by caesarian section on September 11, we took the prayer-card to the hospital, and he protected them. My daughter and the baby are both doing well. In the hospital we gave out some leaflets with the novena for work which I had printed out for people who are going through difficult times like me so that they can obtain peace of mind, hope and the miracles that I obtained from St. Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer. Now the picture of St. Josemaria has a permanent place on the baby’s cradle. Thank you St. Josemaria for all your miracles!
J. H. C. C., Peru
October 9, 2008
Thank you a million times
I want to express my very sincere gratitude to God for giving me a job. In a very special way I also want to say thank you a million times to St Josemaria and Bishop Alvaro for persistently praying and interceding for me. For some time I asked God to grant me a job where I can grow in all ways and he answered my prayer. I just want to say a very big thank you for everything and for the many favours I have received and continue to receive through the intercession of the two saints, my very best friends.
Christine, Nairobi
October 14, 2008
A job that seemed impossible to get
I am not a great devotee of St Josemaria Escriva, but, encouraged by my mother’s faith in him I decided to do his novena for work for a good friend of mine to get a job. The situation was not very promising because of the type of post that he was applying for, and because of the time of year – he’s a teacher, and after the first week in September it’s very difficult to find a job because schools generally have all their staff by then. Being unemployed was a real problem for him, both personally and financially. The very day I finished the novena, he got a call from a school asking him to go for an interview and the very next day he started on his current job. I have not the slightest doubt that it was St Josemaria’s intercession that secured him this job, which seemed impossible to get.
Ines Perez, Spain
October 7, 2008
Accepting God’s will is also a favor from St Josemaria
J.M.C., Spain
October 6, 2008
Our friends the Saints
I want to give infinite thanks to St Josemaria for helping two people whom I know and love very much. One of them is a five-month-old baby, who was in a car crash with her parents and suffered internal traumas to the head. She was in intensive care with lots of complications. My husband, children and I began a prayer-chain, and invited our relations, friends, neighbors and anyone else who wanted to join in. We prayed to God and the Blessed Virgin Mary through the marvelous intercession of our blessed St Josemaria. The baby came through the operation and is now feeding and smiling. Many thanks to God and our Saint. As well as this, last year one of the members of my catechism group had to have 29 operations within the space of two months. During this period she was in intensive care. She recovered, but then needed a further operation to remove the drainage system that had been inserted. So she traveled to Antofagasta to see if she could have the operation there, but without much hope as there were no beds available. I prayed hard to St Josemaria the night before she left, asking that all the doors might open and she could get the drainage system removed, which was very uncomfortable for her, and she’s very young. And it worked. Everything was sorted out, just as I had asked St Josemaria. I will never tire of giving thanks for all the blessings that God our Heavenly Father has granted us, for those two marvelous miracles: the one of the baby and the one of our young friend. Thank you, our loving Father God; thank you, our Lady, and thank you, St Josemaria for your intercession. I also prayed a lot to Don Alvaro del Portillo to support us in our crusade of love and prayer for these two cures. They matter a lot in my life and in my family’s. I am still praying to them for my husband and children, to support them in their work and study. May the love of God our Father never leave us, and likewise our holy Mother Mary and our friends the Saints. Thank you, St Josemaria, for all you do for us.
E. J. L. C., Chile
October 4, 2008
The prayer of faith is the best
I am writing to thank St Josemaria Escriva, the founder of Opus Dei, for the favors received by my husband and me. We were unemployed and thanks to prayer we both now have jobs. I think it is really important to make this known and pass it on, so that people hear about it and begin to believe that when you pray with faith it’s the best prayer. How much better the world would be if everyone prayed more often and put our Lord’s words into practice. Thank you a thousand times, St Josemaria, and thank you for the wonderful son you sent me.
M. F. M., Argentina
October 3, 2008
A baby on the way
I am writing about a favor granted to a friend of mine. I gave her a prayer-card of St Josemaria, and told her to pray it with great faith to become pregnant, as she wished to. Five months went by and the prayer-card was still in her bag. In September she says they took the prayer-card out of her bag and placed it in their living-room at home. When she did the pregnancy test, as she did every month, it was negative. She did it again two days later and said to St Josemaria, “If you like children so much, why don’t you send me one?” She checked the result and it was positive. She says she owes her pregnancy to this Saint, who encouraged people not to be afraid to have children. She had been hoping for a baby for two years.
R. M., Spain
September 26, 2008
Eight months later, Mom is still alive and a believer
Greetings, and have a great day! This is the third post I sent you. My mom was diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer. When I heard the news I did some research into this type of cancer and all the information I came up with is equally disheartening. However, I also started reading about the miracles God works, and that’s how I discovered St Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer. I really identify with some of the stories by people who have been through what I’m going through now. So I placed all my Faith, Hope and Love in God, praying the prayer to the founder of Opus Dei. Eight months later, my Mom is still alive, conscious and full of strength and great faith in God and the intercession of St Josemaria. She prays his prayer-card every day asking God to grant her better quality of life and a rapid recovery. She is currently stable, but on the verge of death, so only a miracle can save her.
Science and medicine can make their own diagnosis of a disease, but it’s God who decides. I have great faith and love placed in Him. I put all my trust in this Saint and I promised that on October 28, God wiling, I will be in the crypt of the prelatic Church of Our Lady of Peace, at the Opus Dei headquarters in Rome. This journey involves a lot of sacrifice by way of time and distance, but I have great faith and I know my Mom won’t die. Please help me with your prayers. This is the one thing I ask for: a real miracle from God.
I have told all my family and friends in Chile about this Saint.
A.A.S., Chile
September 19, 2008
Irrecoverable system error
Hello, I’m writing about a little everyday favor. I was working on our family computer and it froze. I shut it down correctly, and when I started it up again a very worrying message appeared: “Irrecoverable system error”. Nothing worked. I prayed to St Josemaria not to lose any data, and fortunately, everything returned to normal. Thank you, Father!
Hélène, France
September 24, 2008
Overcoming all the obstacles
I received a favor I will always be grateful for. My daughter needed help in order to accomplish a very big job in a city that was a long way from home. With the spiritual help I obtained for her through prayers, she managed to overcome significant obstacles and achieve her objectives.
C.S.S., Brazil
September 18, 2008
He works wonders
Praise God, I am writing to testify the goodness of the Lord to me through the intercession of Saint Josemaria. I was having a problem at work which could cost me my job and the situation of work in Spain now is very very bad – everyone is fighting to keep the job he has, as many people are out of work due to the economic situation, so on the very day that this problem started at work, I was saying the prayer on the prayer-card for the intercession of Saint Josemaria as I already know it by heart and suddenly I got a call from my elder sister who is a daughter of Saint Josemaria from my country of origin. I quickly told her what was happening and she asked if I had prayed to Saint Josemaria. I said yes, and she said we should continue praying to God through the intercession of Saint Josemaria for one more week. So we prayed together that my work should continue without the problem affecting it, and it happened just that way, my work has continued and without any problems whatsoever! I am so grateful to Saint Josemaria for his wonderful intercession and I thank God from the bottom of my heart for this mercy and many other mercies which I have obtained through Saint Josemaria's intercession. May I encourage those who are going through one problem or another to pray with faith to God through the intercession of Saint Josemaria, for he works wonders.
Anselm, Spain
September 21, 2008
He brought us back safely
I would like to thank God through the intercession of St Josemaria for making it possible for my son and I to attend my dad’s burial in Nigeria in June 2008 despite several problems with our passports that made it seem almost impossible for us to travel. Also, for bringing us back safely to the UK despite the continuing problems with the passports in Nigeria. I was given a prayer card with a relic of the founder in the Opus Dei centre, and I believe this really helped me a lot.
Y. A., United Kingdom
September 17, 2008
A visa
When I took my school-leaving exams I did a novena to St Josemaria. With his valuable help, I passed. That was in 2006. As I have not yet had the chance to thank him and publish this favor, I do so now. At present I am applying for a visa to study in France. A short time ago I did another novena to our beloved Saint, and on the second day I dreamed that he had granted me the favor. I hope this is a true premonition, and I pray to him for his constant help: to obtain for me the grace of getting a visa. I shall write again soon to relate what he has done for me. May the grace of God abound in your lives, Amen.
Audrey, Côte d’Ivoire
September 17, 2008
Two white roses
I went to do a retreat in Marilauquen two years ago, and learnt how people in Opus Dei relate to God. I confess that, although I am a practicing Catholic, I had mistaken ideas about it. During that retreat I experienced the Catholic Faith as it really is, without any fanaticism but with clear teachings. I felt fulfilled. There I also learned about St Josemaria and recently I asked him for two graces: one for my children and the second for my mother. Miraculously – because to me it seemed like a sign – the next day, on a rose-bush in my garden, there were two white roses blooming on the same stem, although it’s not yet time for them to flower. Right now they are still the only roses that have come out – they are a symbol of Mary, and the kind of flower that St Josemaria found as a sign on his path. My children and my mother have now received the graces I prayed for. Thank you, St Josemaria!
A. R., Argentina
September 15, 2008
I found my ring
My name is Concetta and I’m a teacher. My parents are very simple people and everything they do is the fruit of sacrifices and saving. Ten years ago, when I graduated, they gave me a ring, but some time later I lost it. An Opus Dei priest suggested I should pray through St Josemaria’s intercession to find it, and I did! It is true that it took several months, but he heard my prayer. Although it is a material thing, not a spiritual grace, that is the favor I received.
Concetta, Italy
September 9, 2008
In less than a minute
There are many saints who could claim to be “Patron Saint for finding lost objects”, since it is a speciality of such saints to help a needy person in urgent situations such as: “My train leaves in less than an hour, I’ve lost my ticket and haven’t even finished packing my suitcase; I might miss the train to the airport, which could mean missing my flight as well.” Their help enables the petitioner to keep calm, and leads him – her, in this case – to find the thing she is looking for, inexplicably, in the very place she had already checked three or for times in the past minute. This is what happened to me, with a friend of mine, when we were returning to Spain after a trip abroad. We couldn’t find our train ticket and the situation was that described above. After we had said the prayer to St Josemaria, the ticket appeared in less than a minute’s extra search-time – we were praying as if everything depended on God, and searching as if everything depended on us. I thank him publicly, and would encourage everyone to have recourse to this helpful intercessor.
M.E.G.L., Spain
September 5, 2008
Against all odds
My mom, sister and her four kids planned a trip to Macau from the Philippines on August 23. The day before that, all flights to Macau and Hong Kong were canceled due to a strong typhoon. The weather improved on the 23rd, but due to an "operational error" of the airline, my mother, sister, nephews and niece were left stranded at Clark International Airport, Manila. After going through an ordeal and staying overnight at Clark, their hopes of going to Macau were almost gone. On the 24th, before deciding to go home, my sister pleaded again and again with the airline staff to find a way to rebook their flight. Praying to St. Josemaria, I told him to please help them to get to Macau. Against all odds, finally, they were able to take the flight on the 24th to be with me in Macau. I also asked the Servant of God Don Alvaro del Portillo to solve the hotel booking problem of the first day caused by the cancelled flight. Solving this problem meant my sister need not pay an additional night for an extended stay until the 26th. And yes! In the end, Don Alvaro interceded for me. Many thanks to St. Josemaria and Don Alvaro!
Z.U., Macau
August 26, 2008
Six months before
For several years, my husband worked in Brasilia, the capital of our country. It was an important position, but caused him a lot of difficulties and involved long separations from the family, since our home is in Rio de Janeiro. Six months before the end of his project, I began praying the Novena for Work. And in spite of his workload he managed to complete his doctoral thesis and return to his former job, nearer home. What was more, further consultant projects turned up.
Now that these projects are also coming to an end, I am again praying to St Josemaría to enable my husband to keep working in his chosen profession and get a fair salary.
This is only one of the countless favours that “our Father”, as I love to call him, has obtained for our family.
Maria Teresa V. S., Brazil
August 25, 2008
Near the beginning of the academic year
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ: peace and goodwill. I have known about St Josemaría for some time, but I only became one of his devotees quite recently. I resisted the idea because I was concerned about what people would think. But lately I have felt close to him, I ask him for help and I get the feeling that he listens to me and is there for me. I teach at two colleges, and now that we are near the beginning of the school year, I am once again filled with fear and stress, especially at the thought of going back to one of them in particular. I am praying that St Josemaria will help me, either by making my fear disappear, or by obtaining as a grace from our Lord that I don’t have to go back to that college. Please help me with your prayers. I have promised our Lord that I will say the Rosary every day, because that is something I have always found difficult and I’ve always ended up leaving it on one side. Thank you for reading this. I pray for God’s blessing on you all.
Juan Carlos, Spain
August 16, 2008
An express favor
I want to write down the favor St Josemaría worked for me in just one night. I was having physiotherapy for a sprained ankle. One day when I got home I realized that my wrist had also begun to hurt for no reason. I began to pray to St Josemaría that the next morning I wouldn’t have to go back to the clinic. The next day was Friday and my weekend was already very full. I slept for a few hours, but then the pain woke me. I continued praying to St Josemaría, repeating the prayer of the prayer-card and telling him again and again that I wanted to be free of pain when I got up. And I was! I thanked him, and the pain has not returned. When I told people about it that day, I said he had granted me an express favor!
A. M., Argentina
August 12, 2008
That card is so powerful
I attended many interviews after my graduation from the university with no positive results from any prospective employers. After a particular interview, a friend gave me St Josemaria's prayer-card, and I prayed that I could get that job. After some weeks, I was called and given the job. God is so good. Please praise Him with me. That card is so powerful.
U. C., Nigeria
August 6, 2008
Just one petition
I have just one petition to Saint Josemaría Escrivá: to intercede before God for my boyfriend, for God to enlighten him and that he fights to keep our relationship going. And that God may also grant us the grace of marriage. We have been seeing each other for eight years and I know he is the love of my life.
A. R., Mexico
August 5, 2008
In time for his departure for World Youth Day
On 9th June, my son accidentally sent his trousers to wash with his passport inside. It was ruined and the worry was whether he could get a new one in time for his departure for World Youth Day on 12th July.
The Immigration Department told him it would take anything between two to four weeks and would not commit to a more definite date. My son came back quite discouraged.
I was quite calm from the beginning because I was sure that if God wanted him to go to World Youth Day, the problem would be solved in time. I told my daughter and son to pray the prayer card to St Josemaria. My daughter pulled a face and asked how could I force my son to pray.
I don’t know if they prayed but I did. And on the morning of 26th June, I told them that this was a day of many graces and to pray especially hard to get the passport.
That day, my son came back early from work. When I asked him why, he said he had been called by the Immigration Department to go to collect his passport. He had left work and collected his passport already before coming home. There was just enough time for him to get his visa for Australia before the scheduled departure.
I was jubilant and my children and husband duly impressed. Now both my children have the prayer card to St Josemaria pinned at eye level in front of their desks.
Maria Loo, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
August 1, 2008
Father, it's for the Father
We were preparing for the trip of the Father - Bishop Javier Echevarría, Prelate of Opus Dei - to our country. A few days before a large-scale scheduled meeting with him, it was decided to change the venue. This meant a completely different set-up. We could only check the place the day before the event. I started to pray to Saint Josemaría that we manage to arrange everything - and arrange it well.
On the day of the activity, some things were still missing. I decided to go the flower market right after breakfast. I was not sure if the shops will be open. Since many of them close late at night, they also open late in the morning. I started to plead to St Josemaria saying, 'Father, it's for the Father!'
When I arrived at the flower market, true enough, most of the shops were closed. I needed three things. One shop which had one thing that I needed was open. I went there and purchased what I needed. As I finished that, the other shop opened. And then I entered a third shop which had the last thing I needed.
As I stood by the curb with all my purchases, looking at my watch, I made it in time. So I told St Josemaria, 'Ok Father, I got all I needed - all I need now is a taxi.' No sooner had I finished saying that, an empty taxi came up behind me. I got in and we were able to arrange everything.
I am sure Saint Josemaría was helping us immensely during these days. I thank him and continue to ask him for a million and one things - small and big.
Josephine de Leon, Hong Kong
July 19, 2008
A favour from Buenos Aires
I am writing to thank St Josemaria Escriva for interceding for my baby daughter. At just 12 days old she had to have a heart operation to correct a narrowing of the aorta and a hole in the septum between the two ventricles. We took her to the Austral University Hospital in Pilar, Buenos Aires, and in the hospital chapel, on the day of her operation, I prayed for our baby through St Josemaria’s intercession. The operation was successful. A week later we were able to take her home, and she made an excellent recovery. Thank you, St Josemaria!
Nasarena Montiel, Argentina
July 2008
Only because of the prayers
By means of this message I wish to publish a favor received. My husband needed a heart operation which included the insertion of a very expensive device, and our medical insurance company would not consent to the operation. According to the doctor this device was essential for the success of the operation because my husband has had previous heart operations and the artery to be operated on now is the one that keeps him alive. Twenty days went by, and only because of the prayers that I made to God through Saint Josemaria Escriva, the insurance company approved the procedure and my husband had the operation. Now he is well again, for the honor and glory of our Lord, Amen.
Madalena Cândida de Sousa da Silva, Brazil
July 24, 2008
A job for my husband
I began a Novena for Work to St. Josemaria, and I pray that he will hear me. My husband is out of work and I would like St. Josemaria to help him get a job, I promise to visit the church of Our Lady of Peace as soon as he finds a job.
Angeles, Spain
July 23, 2008
St Josemaria will be with me from now on
My name is Gricelda Paredes, and I am from Santiago del Estero, Argentina. I live in the provincial capital, and work as a primary school teacher. This year, after a long time, I began to study for a Diploma in Educational Management at the National University of Santiago del Estero. The first exam, Introduction to Sociology, was on June 21. Keeping up my studies means a considerable sacrifice for me, since I can’t spent much time on it as I have a job and two children, one of whom is severely disabled and needs a lot of care. I came across this web-page by chance, went to the prayer for St Josemaria’s intercession and prayed it with so much faith. Some days later I went to get my exam results and found that I’d passed it with an 8!!! Thank you St Josemaria Escriva! I’m sure that he will be with me from now on in everything. Thank you with all my heart!!
Gricelda Paredes, Argentina
July 2008
Help me find a job
St. Josemaria: help me find a job. I beg you to help me to get a worthwhile job where I can find professional and personal fulfilment. And when I get it, help me to do it as well as possible.
Mercedes, Peru
July 21, 2008
Step by step
I have been trying to carry on with my life despite suffering from depression that doesn’t seem to go away. However, when I pray to Saint Josemaria I find such great calm. I know he can help me carry on. Today I’m beginning a novena to ask him to guide me step by step along this path, leaving the depression behind.
Pilar L., Peru
July 18, 2008
I will try to be more careful in the future, but help me now…
I had a terrible shock when my computer, which contains a huge amount of information, crashed and stopped working suddenly and went completely dead. There were some documents that I would be able to re-create, with a lot of work, but many others would be impossible to re-do even if I spent hours on it, because they were accounts and balances whose only back-up was in the same computer. I was very worried and prayed a novena to St Josemaria, trusting his intercession to obtain for me the favour of being able to use the computer again as soon as possible and without losing my files. And that’s what happened… I am really happy – and I take it as a wake-up call to back up my data properly from now on. Thank you very much, St Josemaria.
Maria Jose, Chile
July 15, 2008
Thank you
I want to say thank-you to Saint Josemaría Escrivá for hearing my request, for making me feel so calm when I pray his prayer. Thank-you, dear Saint, for coming into my life and my family’s life too.
Marisol M., Argentina
July 14, 2008
A Novena
Today I began a novena to St Josemaria, I want him to set aside a little time for me, to listen to me. I have a small child and difficulties with my husband, although we do love each other. I would like St Josemaria to help us. I’m going to offer up not smoking, and pray his prayer every day.
Pilar, Spain
July 12, 2008
Peace at home
My home and my family were affected by people who dedicate themselves to esoteric practices and causing harm. In the face of all this, by God’s grace I prayed to St. Josemaria very devoutly to intercede for my family and me. Very especially since June 26th I began to feel peace at hom and also where I work. Thank you St. Josemaria for interceding for us in God’s presence.
Luis G., Peru
July 11, 2008
After numerous hurdles I was readmitted
I was deregistered from my Master's program just before the graduation date. Numb with shock and disappointment, I prayed using St. Josemaria's prayer and after numerous hurdles I was readmitted. Now I'm working on completing my internship report, which I hope will be approved in time for graduation. Thank you St. Josemaria!
ps: Please continue to pray for God's assistance for my crops to grow at the farm, and with my cash flow and work problems. God bless you.
Lina, Kenya
July 9, 2008
A new job as soon as possible
I would like to thank St Josemaria for his intercession in my jobsearch. I prayed the Novena for Work. The first time I prayed it, a former colleague told me about a job offer in his company. I was really excited and applied for the job. However, I was not called for an interview. I went on praying the Novena for Work, but to be honest I was beginning to get a bit discouraged. I asked St Josemaria to help me find a job and to pray to God that I would get a new job as soon as possible, specifically, when I got back home after a short period away. I also asked Don Alvaro to pray for me. I came home on Saturday, had an interview on Monday, and that very same day I was offered the job! A big thank-you to St Josemaria and Don Alvaro for their intercession; and please keep praying for me that I do my new job well. But most important of all, that God is always my No. 1 priority.
Jocelyn, Singapore
July 2, 2008
My “traveling companion”
St Josemaria has been my “traveling companion” since I was small, long before his beatification. This is the first time I have written to bear witness about him, so that one letter isn’t enough to tell the many favors I have been granted through his intercession. Big favors and little, for me and people in my family. I always have recourse to him. Sometimes I’m ashamed to “involve” him in the worldly happenings of my daily life, but he is always there to help me. And I can state with absolute certainty that I haven’t achieved a single thing of importance in my life without having prayed at least one prayer-card. I have such faith in and love for him! I’m writing to publish my gratitude for the most recent favor (not the last – I will continue to ask him for more!). I had been out of work for many months and my efforts to find work were all useless. I decided to pray a novena to St Josemaria, to “organize” the many scattered prayers I’d said to him up till then. And the favor I asked was granted on June 26, no less – what better day could there be? I will keep praying so that all my work projects turn out as I wish and need them to, and to do this job in an organized way, diligently and enthusiastically. Thank-you St Josemaria!
M.C.G., Chile
June 30, 2008
My son passed both exams
My son failed two subjects in high school and was going to be asked to leave his Catholic HS unless he passed. I went to confession and the priest suggested that I pray to St. Josemaria for his intercession, I did and went to Mass on 6/26 his feast day at St. Patrick's Cathedral, NYC. My son passed both exams in summer school and will be allowed to stay. Thanks to St. Josemaria's intercession to Our Lady and Jesus. God bless you all.
Don Pfail Garden City, NY
July 4, 2008
Father and guide
Saint Josemaria is for me a holy and loving father and guide. In all difficult situations in my life, he makes me feel his presence, he’s there to support me, and gives me a pointer to make me realise that he is attentive to me. I’m sure he has always interceded for the good of my family and for me. No words can express the tremendous affection I feel for this holy father of mine. I am really happy to be going to the Mass in his honour tomorrow, on his feast-day, to thank the Lord God for the spiritual father he has given me.
B. A., Spain
June 25, 2008
Home again
With a thousand different problems, depressed and lonely, I made many mistakes and went badly astray. I stopped taking my medication and that led me to jeopardize my studies and everything I had fought to achieve, because I had a relapse. I led an evil life, cheated many people and lost friends. But then I prayed to St Josemaria to help me get out of the mess I was in, and he did. Now at last I am home again, trying to do a little better every day. He freed me from many trials and brought me into contact with people who could help me, because I was nearly in trouble with the law. Now I try to be happy every day: happiness and holiness are to be found in daily life, as St Josemaria always said.
P. L., Peru
June 23, 2008
I trust in his intercession
Hi, I first heard about St Josemaria shortly before his canonization. A friend at my local church invited me to some Christian formational talks in an Opus Dei center, and I began to receive spiritual direction. I can see what a good thing this was in my life!
Halfway through November 2002 I began applying for jobs and prayed frequently to St Josemaria for a job in my area. In January 2003 my petition was answered.
At the end of 2005 I became pregnant, and two months later there was a risk of miscarriage. I prayed again through St Josemaria’s intercession, and once again my prayer was heard! Today my son is a year and ten months old, and perfectly healthy. I try to give St Josemaria’s prayer-card to my friends and acquaintances. I trust in his intercession, for I know he is in the presence of God our Lord, close to our Blessed Lady.
Juliana J. B., Brazil
June 21, 2008
She came through with flying colors
Once again I want to thank our Saint Josemaria Escriva for so many blessings. My wife had an appraisal at work to decide on her continuing there, since they were cutting down on staff. That morning she entrusted it to Josemaria Escriva and came out of the appraisal with flying colors and every chance of reappointment. In my own job, thanks to the protection of our Saint as I shall never get tired of saying, I am held in great esteem, although there are also opponents and I know my Saint Josemaria Escriva will defend me from them. Please bless my daughter who is expecting a baby, and my son in his studies, both of them devotees of Saint Josemaria Escriva. Thank you again, we will always rely on your light, teachings and protection for our earthly journey. Grant us your blessings. *We are holding a Mass in honor of the founder of Opus Dei for June 26 this year. We’ll let you know the place and time.
John Catacora, Peru
June 8, 2008
Moving house
I wanted to ask that as it is the month of St Josemaria’s feast-day and my family is trying to move to a bigger house, if more people could join us in our prayers. Just as I pray to the founder of Opus Dei for the needs of all those who appeal to his intercession, please could everyone pray that we get a contract signed for the new house before the end of the month and manage to sell our apartment without any problems from the bank. It’s a difficult process because of the current economic situation in Spain. If everything works out well I will write and tell you. Many thanks for your prayers.
Rocio, Spain
June 9, 2008
Quite unbelievable
I always have a prayer-card of Josemaría in my pocket. Everything I do turns into something powerful and incredible when I sincerely work for the good of others. Yesterday my Muslim and Sikh colleagues, who are from India, fellow-countrymen of Gandhi, prayed together for a little church of Our Lady which is collapsing. I have only just realised how extraordinary that is. For some time we have been sanctifying our work together with these friends of other religions – it seems quite unbelievable!
Sandro, Italy
June 7, 2008
That same year I recovered
I would like to bear witness to what Saint Josemaria Escriva did for me. I was very sick after an operation for cancer. My kidney was not draining. I was fitted with a catheter and sent home. I was in a wheelchair and suffering a lot of pain when a lady came up to me, holding her daughter who had cancer. She gave me a prayer-card of Saint Josemaria. I read it with great fervor and the pain disappeared instantly. After that I prayed through his intercession for my health, and, with the help of the doctors, that same year I recovered. That was in 1992. Thank you!
CZ, Mexico
May 27, 2008
Today my son has a job
Dear brothers and sisters, I asked for prayers for my son Juan who couldn’t find a job. He got one and I am writing to give thanks with all my heart to my beloved Lord Jesus and his Blessed Mother and ours, Mary, and for the intercession of St Josemaria that today my son has a job. Thank you, Father, thank you, thank you.
Beatriz Martin, Argentina
May 16, 2008
I was a bit scared
I had an operation on my knee one week ago. Basically it was quite a simple operation but I was a bit scared. I prayed a lot to Saint Josemaria and, thank God, everything went well.
Alfonso, Spain
May 14, 2008
It was impossible for me to land a position in the same company
I promised to Saint Josemaria Escriva that if my prayer was granted, I would write this testimony about his wonderful intercession that never seems to fail. I was laid off from my company where I had worked for the past 15 years. It was the most painful thing that ever happened in my career. I prayed very, very hard to St. Josemaria Escriva and Father Alvaro del Portillo for a specific position, and a few days later, this particular position was posted in our company's website. I applied and was invited for an interview, and a week later, was offered the job. Now, I am back working in the same company with no lapse in service. I attribute this to their intercession, as it was impossible for me to land a position in the same company, considering that there were more than a hundred employees who were laid off that same month, and who were trying to get back into the same company. God is merciful and He is so good. Thank you to St. Josemaria Escriva and Father Alvaro del Portillo for their strong intercession.
Carolyn, USA
May 11, 2008
A permanent job
On April 4 I got a call from the University to take up a post that had fallen vacant due to maternity leave. The cover was for three months. It’s hard getting a University post here. As we say in Nicaragua, you need good contacts. Well, my great contact was God and, of course, St Josemaria Escriva, whom I asked to find me a job, and he did. I have every chance of being given the job and I want it with all my heart. If I get the permanent job I’ll let you know.
M. A. M. G., Nicaragua
May 5, 2008
He heard my prayer
I have to thank St Josemaría for hearing my prayer and enabling my eldest son to find an employee for a business that belongs to me but of which he is manager. I hope they will stay in the business. Thank you for your protection, and help my children.
Delia, Spain
May 3, 2008
From the bottom of my heart, I’m sorry and thank you
Dear Sirs, I am writing to inform you of a favor granted by St Josemaria Escriva. For the whole of last year my wife and I were looking for work and could only get very low-paid jobs. The situation was getting steadily worse and our marriage was suffering. Then in January this year, my wife was offered a job that was more in keeping with her qualifications and better paid. Some days after that I was offered a good post, with similar conditions and in the profession I had trained for.
However, things then became rather unclear because for different reasons neither of the posts were confirmed. After some weeks I received notification that I was not going to get the post I’d been hoping for and my wife’s job offer didn’t materialize either.
In this situation our arguments became more and more frequent and serious. We couldn’t bear the sight of each other and there was a lot of friction. In the end, driven to desperation, I went to the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe in San José, to pray and beg God for help. I was in there praying and weeping, not knowing what to do, when I felt that someone was looking at me. I turned to see who it was and saw the statue of St Josemaria smiling at me. I felt that I could have recourse to him and trust in his intercession. So I prayed for his intercession as follows: “Saint Josemaria, holy builder of the goodness and will of God for the world, the family, work and the human person. Grant me through your holy intercession a job where I can honor God day by day, dedicating it to him and his will just as you did in your life, in your work and deeds.”
I felt a sensation of great peace, and I followed up my prayer with 7 Our Father’s, 7 Hail Mary’s and 7 Glory Be’s. A few days later my wife’s job offer was confirmed and the following week I was offered a job which had seemed uncertain before because I did not meet some of the requirements. Two weeks later the job was mine.
I am writing this message to thank St Josemaria. I am also writing it to beg forgiveness of St Josemaria and Opus Dei, because for a long time I opposed his ideas and criticized them in many ways, without really knowing anything about the organization. I let myself be influenced by other people’s gossip and because of a personal setback which, for no reason, I blamed on people of Opus Dei. So I wish to beg forgiveness of all the members of Opus Dei, promising that I’ll never criticize them again. From the bottom of my heart, I’m sorry, and thank you.
G. M. M., San Jose de Costa Rica
April 23, 2008
Each time I prayed there was another step forward
I started praying a novena because I was worried about continually asking my boss to continue funding the company I work for. It’s been running in the red for the last few years so I feel very guilty about having to ask my boss each quarter for yet more money to keep the company running. My English boss is the sort who lives by his work. And because of his steadfastness, I trust him and his promise that he intends to be in Asia for a long time yet but with no money coming in, I began to worry and my faith faltered. Plus I feel bad about having to ask him for money from his own pocket. The day or the day after I started the novena, during my martial arts practice, entirely out of the blue, the lady i was practising with asked me if I was interested in doing some training for bank trainees. I said my company doesn’t usually do that although we have the expertise to do so but I was happy to take a look at it. So one thing led to another and three novenas later, the contract worth $20K was signed last Friday. There were some quite major hiccups along the way including one which threatened the heart of the relationship my company had with the middleman that would have jeopardised everything and created a lot of mistrust, but each time I prayed another novena asking for St Josemaria’s help and each time within days of my starting the novena, there would be a clear step forward with the middleman coming forth with another concrete step. He himself is Christian although I don’t know whether he is Catholic and sometimes I wonder if it is also that because he was open to God’s leading that this was able to be. So a really *big* thank you to St Josemaria for being so patient and helping me each time. The money will tide my company over for a couple of months and certainly makes me feel better about the whole company. And I also hope it will draw us as colleagues working on a project closer together.
Anne, Singapore
May 4, 2008
Sharing the prayer card
Having just moved across the province into a new city, knowing that Don Alvaro had arranged all so perfectly (the sale, purchase and move), I felt a deeper faith in the intercession of Don Alvaro and St. Josemaria in my life. I decided to make sure I had a prayer card in my purse to share with someone else as a means of thanking God for his intervention in my life through these intercessors.
One day when I was shopping for clothes for the children, I overheard the store owner saying that her husband was out of work and that things were a little difficult. Never having met her, not knowing her faith and being a little nervous, I gave her the prayer card and told her St. Josemaria had always helped me when I prayed to him. She thanked me, indicating that she was a Christian. I got the impression that she thanked me as a formality and that the prayer card would be filed away. When I drove home, I decided to pray the prayer card anyway on their behalf. This must have been around February/March 2007.
Several weeks later, I was once again in the store. It was now June 2007. I shyly asked her how things were going, indicating that I was the lady that had given her the prayer card. She said her husband had found a good job with good colleagues. It was a nice solution for the whole family. I told her that June 26th was the anniversary of St. Josemaria’s death and that there was a special Mass on that day. She then said “Now I know why my husband got his job in June”.
K, Canada
April 22, 2008
Patience and cheerfulness
I have asked St Josemaria for many things and he has always taken the trouble to hear me and help me. Recently I got a job that I really wanted. Now I am asking him to give me patience and cheerfulness every day. Thank you St Josemaria! Thank you Jesus!
Karim, Peru
Two inseparable friends
It would be selfish if I only wrote about one of the miracles that St Josemaría has obtained for me from Jesus, because he has helped me so much in my life that it would be impossible to keep the whole account short - beginning from the story of my conversion when a friend invited me to an Opus Dei center, and going on to the countless petitions that I put to him at every point in my life and that he lovingly attends to in order to help me with his intercession. At work it’s just incredible how much he helps me. I’m a lawyer and recently I was dealing with a very complicated case, which we thought we would never reach any agreement on. We had meeting after meeting with no result. Finally I started saying an aspiration inside myself: “St Josemaria, get me out of this agony!” And lo and behold, we got the matter sorted!
To say nothing of Don Alvaro – thanks to his intercession we received payment for a case that we had handled and we thought we would never be paid for. I just can’t describe how St Josemaría and Don Alvaro help me and my colleague day after day. I bless and praise God for these two great saints He has given us, who are witnesses of Christ’s love for mankind. St Josemaria and Don Alvaro: two inseparable friends of Christ. Thank you for them, Jesus!
Maria Alvarez, Venezuela
April 16, 2008
A verdict of not guilty
I wish to thank the favor granted by God thanks to St Josemaria’s intercession. I asked him to help me obtain a verdict of not guilty in a legal case that was brought against me unjustly. Thanks to St Josemaria, it was finally proved that someone had forged my signature on a contract that I knew nothing about.
A. A., Costa Rica
April 10, 2008
The driving test
Before I took my driving test I was very nervous and worried because I wasn’t good at parking and I didn’t think I would pass. The night before I took the test I searched on the internet for prayers to enlighten me for the test, and I found the one of St Josemaria Escriva. I prayed to him with great faith and I passed the test. As I promised I would testify about his help, I do so by writing to your website. Thank you, Father!
Cristina, Spain
April 11, 2008
Five years ago today
I want to send you this e-mail to say that in 2003 I obtained, while having recourse to the intercession of St Josemaria Escriva, what I was asking for as my most important intention. After receiving what I asked him for with so much anguish, five years ago today, I still keep his picture with me and I thought I ought to write about the grace obtained through his intercession. Many thanks to the founder of Opus Dei: I carry him always in my heart.
E. E. A. B., Argentina
April 9, 2008
Testimony of a miracle
A few years ago I went to the doctor about a constant headache and swelling in my cheeks. I had an X-ray and the first diagnosis was sinusitis and frontal infection. I had some treatment but no improvement. Then I was sent for more tests including an encephalogram which showed a fronto-parietal mass. The doctors were still not sure, and they sent me for a magnetic resonance scan. It showed a pea-sized meningioma. The doctor explained to me what would happen as this tumour grew: swelling of my head, face, and eyes, and continual headaches. It was very hard hearing what was going to happen to me. I started on the treatment prescribed by the neurologists but it didn’t make any difference. Then I remembered that some days before I read the book about St Josemaría Escrivá and his miracles, and I really clung on to this. I began praying through his intercession and soon realized I was getting better. Then it was the day for my next appointment, and I was sent for another magnetic resonance scan. The doctor was so surprised and so was I to see that the meningioma had disappeared. If I didn’t have the proof from the previous tests, nobody would believe this miracle. So I am writing to share it with you so that you can publish it, and tell me what I have to do to send it to Rome. Thank you for your time.
I attribute this miracle to St Josemaria, priest and founder of Opus Dei, and I still pray through his intercession.
Luz Mery, Colombia
April 2, 2008
Through the Novena for Work
I prayed to St Josemaria that I could get more than 70% in my final exams at university, and with his help I did. I am enormously grateful to him, and I know that now he will get me a good job through the Novena for Work.
Patrice, D.R. Congo
March 31, 2008
Before the end of the same day
I received a favor from St. Josemaria and Bishop Alvaro del Portillo yesterday, March 28, which was also the anniversary of the ordination of St Josemaria. I’m scheduled to attend an international conference at the University of Illinois in Chicago this coming June and I need funding for both the conference registration and airfare. I’ve written the organizers at least two times requesting for a waiver of the fee which is a sizable amount. However, those previous emails - one of them was even sent last year - were unanswered. All along this time, I have been asking St. Josemaria and Bishop Alvaro to intercede for my plea. I decided to write the organizers again on March 28. And before the end of the day, I got the fee waiver that I asked for. Many thanks to St Josemaria’s and Bishop Alvaro’s intercession!
Z.U., Macau SAR
March 29, 2008
I found a buyer for my business
I am writing to thank Saint Josemaria Escriva who heard my petition. I prayed to find a buyer for my business. And although I thought it impossible, one of my own sons decided to buy it himself. This was the simple solution for something I thought was going to be very problematic. Thank you, Father, for listening to me.
Delia, Spain
March 27, 2008
Yet another miracle
Thank you and bless you, St Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer. On February 26 I wrote about the complications I was encountering in applying for an extension of my work contract. I entrusted the matter to St Josemaria again, and I was called to head office to sign the contract extension on March 13. This is yet another miracle granted to me by Josemaria, because it was through his intercession that I got the job, which is well paid, and through his protection I am able to keep it. I also want to thank all those who supported me with their prayers to our Saint Josemaria, as I asked the last time I wrote. To show my gratitude I am having some big calendars made to spread the knowledge of his miracles, so that more people may be blessed by them. In this part of my country we need it, because it is the poorest part of Latin America. I will never stop being grateful. My wife and children are faithful followers of St Josemaria. Bless them. Thank you, and please guide me to continue doing my work well.
J. C., Peru
March 19, 2008
Light at the end of the tunnel
I got my job through the Novena for Work to St Josemaria. It wasn’t instantaneous, but praying the Novena for Work definitely did help me. I went through it twice. In the first round, I started praying on my own. But then I heard of another woman who also was looking for work. I started sending parts of the prayer to her. I decided on the second round that I would invite my whole family to pray with me. I typed up the prayers for each day, and e-mailed them to my family, who are all over the world. I’d then read the prayer again. Knowing that my mum, my dad and my other siblings and some friends were a community in prayer with me, helped me be confident that there was a light at the end of the tunnel and helped buoy me up when I came out of a bad interview.
The fact that I even had the opportunity for this job at all was miraculous. The company had already closed their search. It was originally a posting for four junior people, but somehow they opened it up at the last minute, so I managed to get through at a more senior level. By that time I was in the final stages of taking another short-contract job, which I didn’t really want to do because it possibly would involve travelling out to the countryside, and I have two young children. So from the new application, I needed a fairly quick yea or nay.
The application process was fairly rigorous. I had to go through aptitude tests a couple of weeks back, and for the quantitative part, my calculator wasn’t working (I thought it was part of the test). I had to get over that incident and still go through the verbal and then inductive reasoning exams. It was like being in high school and doing the college entrance exams all over again. Needless to say I didn’t pass the quantitative test, but those administering the test were understanding and allowed me to take it again. On my second round, the lady gave me 2 calculators. I think this incident may have turned to a positive, because it helped me stand out from the rest of the crowd. Supposedly I did really well afterwards when I was allowed to retake it. So from mathematical dunce I think in their eyes I suddenly because the mathematical genius.
The second part of the application process was again fairly rigorous – an interview and an hour-long presentation. Apparently I must have really excelled at the tasks, because they offered me the job on the very day of the interview – exactly what I needed!
All in all, it is a position better than many of the others that I looked into. It is near where I used to work, and being still new to this country, for me the familiar is very nice. I’ll still be able to meet up for coffee with colleagues from a previous job.
I intend to continue praying the novena – to help me to do well in my new job and to continue to pray for others in their search for new work/careers or fulfilment in their current work.
Y. D., Ireland
March 11, 2008
More than I ever dared to hope for
After receiving an email from my sister about Opus Dei, I came to this web site. My business was in very bad shape and was ready to fail. I had lost all hope. On top of it all, I am newly married and my wife depends on me completely, she is from overseas. I asked Saint Josemaria for his intercession on my behalf. I asked for just a little help, but I received much more than I ever hoped or dared to ask for! All was provided, my young family and my business saved. I also asked to be worthy of the love that my wife has for me. I know this was all granted by our Savior and our Holy Mother at the behest of our most beloved Saint. Thank you! I make this testimony because of this answered prayer.
D. C., USA
March 15, 2008
While I was looking for something else
This is not the first time I have written to thank St Josemaria for so many graces he has granted. A year ago I lost a piece of jewelry that was of sentimental rather than monetary value. I was really sad I couldn’t find it. When I received your newsletter a few days ago, it occurred to me to ask St Josemaria to help me to find it. Great was my surprise when last night, while I was looking for something else, it appeared miraculously! Thank you, St Josemaria, for your intercession.
Azucena, Switzerland
March 14, 2008
A daughter of 44
I have a daughter aged 44. After suffering an infection which the doctors said was completely cured, she continued to feel very unwell, with severe muscle pains, headaches, and palpitations, and she kept getting weaker and weaker.
She was living the life of a recluse, unable to bear noise or bright light, or to keep up a conversation.
No-one in the family could find out how to get on with her. We were concerned about her, and felt sorry for her. We couldn’t find any way to approach her without upsetting her.
We still didn’t have a proper diagnosis for her illness. Finally we decided to take her to a different city, where, after endless tests, she was diagnosed with a very rare disease. Even then we didn’t know how it would develop, because in some cases it progresses very quickly and in others more slowly. Our daughter was already in an advanced stage of the disease.
As well as my unhappiness about her illness I was extremely worried about the fact that, although she is a wonderful person, very generous and very deep, she has not practised her faith or been to Confession for many years.
I appealed to St Josemaria’s intercession and, imitating him, I went on pilgrimage to Lourdes, Fatima, Torreciudad and many other shrines of Our Lady, pleading with him and the Blessed Virgin for my daughter’s cure and conversion.
In October 2007 I realised that she was slightly more receptive, because when I was talking to her, we would discuss things connected with the faith.
Around that time, towards the end of 2007, one of my nephews got married. At the wedding, I was immensely surprised, as I went up to receive Holy Communion, to see that my daughter was coming too. I just can’t express my emotion. I gave her a hug there and then.
From then on she has tried to get to Mass and receive Holy Communion every day. She prays and does some spiritual reading, if the pain in her head and eyes permits. I can talk to her about God. She tells me that she doesn’t feel lonely, that she is happy and thanks God for the wonderful things her illness has led her to discover.
I am doubly grateful to St Josemaria, because through his intercession another serious problem has been solved.
My daughter used to work as an administrator at a university. Normally, in her circumstances, she would have been made redundant, meaning that she would be left with not enough money to live on. I kept praying to St Josemaria, and one day, without any warning, she got a letter from the university saying that she had been granted total incapacity status, meaning that she would continue to receive her full salary.
Her illness continues just as bad as before, but now she is always cheerful. She is on excellent terms with the rest of the family, and has a close, warm relationship with all of us.
I am very grateful to our Blessed Lady, who, through the intercession of St Josemaria who was so devoted to her, has granted me all these graces.
Thank you, Father, for having taken care of your children’s children!
Isabel G., Granada, Spain
Thank you, and now to work!
My son needed to obtain a grant to continue his studies. After we prayed a novena to St Josemaria, the grant application was successful, and I think him with all my heart in the name of the whole family. But best of all was to see how he listened to us while we were praying. From that smile on his prayer-card there came forth a warmth that flooded one’s soul and filled us with hope. Now I’m sure that my son will value the help received and make the most of it. Thank you, – and now to work!
G. S. S., Spain
March 11, 2008
He would surely listen to my prayers
I was a student in class 9th and had just finished my final exams. I was under great pressure and tension, as my exams hadn’t gone that well. Just then I remembered a statue in my church, which I was aware of but had no details or knowledge about. That statue was of saint Josemaria Escriva. Now I was so intrigued by this statue, that I wanted know who was he, what were his works and mainly what was the meaning of Opus Dei. I got on the net and read about his works and got all the answers I needed. Just then I saw another column of testimonies and I don’t know why but I got this feeling that he was the one who could help me out and would surely listen to my prayers. I immediately had an immense faith and trust in him and started praying to him. I promised him that I would write a testimony, if I passed to class 10th. And today, on 10th March 2008, I have successfully been passed to class 10th. All thanks to Lord Jesus and saint Josemaria Escriva. I feel blessed and happy. Praise the Lord!
L. S., India
March 10, 2008
The first time it’s happened to me
I was asked to take a reliquary and other objects for a future oratory back to my country with me. I was told that I had to show the invoices at the airport and they would refund the tax paid on them. Because of looking for the right office, I almost missed my flight. I had to run, and on the way I said to Josemaria, “Look what a mess I’ll be in if I miss the flight because of seeing to your affairs!” I was carrying a lot of hand-luggage. Ten minutes later he answered me with deeds: on both flights – one of eleven hours and one of five – I was transferred to first class for different reasons. I confess that I travel by plane a lot and that is the first time it’s happened to me. When I told a friend about it, she said, “That’s because God’s things merit nothing less than first class!”
C. L. C., Honduras
March 10, 2008
If it’s a girl we’ll call her Maria Jose, if it’s a boy we’ll call him Jose Maria
Hi, I’m from Piura in Peru. I’m writing to say that some months ago I prayed hard to Saint Josemaria. I have great faith in him. So much faith that I left in his hands the possibility of having children. He granted me that blessing some months ago. First I had a miscarriage but, five months afterwards, Saint Josemaria blessed me with a pregnancy that is going fine so far. I promised Saint Josemaria that if it’s a girl we’ll call her Maria Jose and if it’s a boy we’ll call him Jose Maria. That is why I am writing: to let you know about the miracle that Josemaria worked for me.
P. I. R. G., Peru
March 9, 2008
By “chance”
I just wanted to say that I was going through a bad time at work and by “chance” I found the web-page of St Josemaria and began to do the Novena for Work. It took a month, and he and the Blessed Virgin got me a better job with better pay. Someone told me, “Faith is there to be used.” Now I do that, and I give thanks that “chance” put me in the way of a saint. A thousand thanks to God, our Lady and St Josemaria who worked the miracle for me in record time.
A. C. H., Colombia
March 8, 2008
I’m used to it
Just when I needed to print out several documents that I had to take to work the next day, to complete a project I’d been given, my printer stopped working. That was when I had recourse to Saint Josemaria immediately, asking him please help me solve the problem. The following day a neighbor offered me a printer he wasn’t using for a very low price and with three full ink-cartridges included. To be honest, this grace granted by Saint Josemaria didn’t surprise me at all: I’m used to it!
A. P., Argentina
March 7, 2008
Another child
St Josemaria, thank you for granting me the favor I asked of you: that my husband would agree to us having another child. I am now two months pregnant. Thank you with all my heart.
Marie Christine, Belgium
March 4, 2008
I truly believe he is going to help
I was just introduced to Josemaria Escriva through a friend of mine yesterday and I have a desperate intention for him, but I already feel inspired just having his prayer and truly believe he is going to help my family and I in our hopeless situation. So I am already writing a note of thanks and will follow up when all is complete.
S. G., US
March 1, 2008
I have never felt so much peace
Praise be to God our Father who is forever so faithful to us. Praise be to God who created us so uniquely and the great saints like St. Josemaria through whom we are drawn close to our God. I have been fascinated by the Catholic faith, and 5 years ago when we were preparing for our marriage, I went through the various classes to become a Catholic and I was moved by the deep faith and teachings of the Church. I have had anxiety/depression problems for a long time and from August last year I sought the Lord but the anguish and mental and physical pain was so bad that I felt that God was very far from me. I went several times to the hospital and they kept giving me the same drugs. I met a young doctor who was always patient with me, and really took the time to talk to me. By this time I knew that I needed psychiatric help because I felt so sad, so down and so hopeless and helpless. I went to a mental doctor, and they started me on drugs that made me feel 10 times worse. One day I got this urge to go just once again to my regular doctor. He talked to me and asked me where I went to church. When he learned that I was a Catholic he told me about Saint Josemaria Escriva. I had really never heard of him – I have heard people talking about Opus Dei and all I knew is that they are VERY SERIOUS CATHOLICS! Anyway the doctor gave me the prayer card and told me to make use of it. At first I must say I was very sceptical because I have never understood why Catholics hold so much belief in saints. But all the same I went ahead and prayed and asked him to intercede for me that I would be healed of my depression and anxiety. Within 2 days I felt different, and I have never felt so much peace!! Praise be to God! I have also become a better practising Catholic, and I seek to do God’s will in my life. I have truly felt the hand of God in my life and I know that Saint Josemaria has drawn me to God!!
Jackie, Kenya
February 28, 2008
Crucial days
In January 2008 my younger brother had to go through a very delicate court case because of a piece of carelessness. He asked me for help. The first thing I did was invoke my St Josemaria Escriva’s intercession. We went to court and the outcome was favorable to my brother. I thank St Josemaria for the favor he granted us. I also wish to say that I am waiting for the extension of an employment contract, and the matter has been made more complicated because of one document. I am praying for a solution. Please support me in praying to our Saint, Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer; I got this job through his intercession and I want to keep it. These days are crucial. Thank you!
John Catacora, Peru
February 26, 2008
From Indonesia
Just before Christmas I went back to Indonesia for the celebration of my Mother's 80th birthday. The celebration for her long life was in the form of a 'family retreat' : daily Mass, talks given by a priest, some singing and praying, for 2 days. The place of the retreat was like a conference center, complete with a chapel (without the Blessed Sacrament, though) somewhere in the mountains. It was great to see that through the years many members of my family had become Catholic. I don't know when or how, but cousins with their entire family, the in-laws of my siblings, etc. etc. In that place I also met an old Polish priest (from SVD - Divine Word Missionaries) who has been in Indonesia for 42 years. He admired Saint Josemaría and Opus Dei very much, but never met any member (he lives in a remote place in the east of Indonesia, a forsaken corner where there is not even a proper phone line, meaning no internet, nothing....). So he asked me many things about the Work. Later on he gave me many books that he has written in Bahasa Indonesia: about Our Lady, the Sacred Heart, Prayers, the Angels... etc. When I went through those books, to my surprise I found many quotations from The Way ('Jalan' in Bahasa) in there.
February 4, 2008
Devotion to St Josemaria in Lebanon
Because of a carpet
I was looking for a carpet for my house in a shop belonging to someone I knew. As we were talking, he mentioned that after seven years of marriage, he and his wife did not yet have any children. I gave him a prayer-card of the founder of Opus Dei and talked about how he intercedes for people. He thanked me for it and put it carefully away. As I don’t often buy carpets I didn’t meet him again, until one day I saw him in a chemist’s shop. He came up to me with a broad smile saying that they now had a little daughter, and they had named her Maria José in honor of St Josemaria’s intervention, to which they have no hesitation in attributing her birth.
Patricia Boustany, Lebanon
January 10, 2008
In a “service”
On my way somewhere I got into a “service”, an automobile with five seats that is commonly used for public transport in Beirut. It’s usually easy to tell whether the driver is Christian or Muslim, from the pictures they have in the vehicle. This one was Muslim. As we talked, it became clear he was a devout believer, and also that he was undergoing various difficulties, so I gave him a prayer-card of the founder of Opus Dei. When we stopped, he read the Arabic text attentively, smiled, and asked me if I could let him have a second one.
Fina Bosch, Lebanon
January 15, 2008
Great serenity
Nadine, one of my neighbors, called me in a state of great anxiety saying that her mother had been diagnosed with the initial stages of cancer. After she had gotten over the first shock, her mother asked her to tell me, knowing that they could count on our prayers. I told her that I’d like to give her a prayer-card of St Josemaria, and they could pray through his intercession for serenity, and for her mother’s cure. Some months later in the parking-lot by our apartments, she stopped her car and greeted me excitedly to tell me how her mother always kept the prayer-card with her during her treatment, and talked to the nurses and other patients about his intercession, because, she said, ‘he has obtained great serenity and fortitude for me in these circumstances’.
Nadine’s mother has now finished her treatment and they went to the Opus Dei center to give thanks before the relic of St Josemaria that is in the chapel.
Marielena Gonzalez, Lebanon
January 1, 2008
A better and deeper understanding of work
I am writing to witness a favour granted by God through St. Josemaria Escriva. I have been praying to find a good job for several months, and a while ago I received a text of the Novena for Work from my spiritual director. Whenever I could I tried to say the rosary everyday.
On the 9th day of saying the novena, I got a call from an agency regarding some job, then after another 9 days of praying, I was invited for an interview (for this job), then on the 2 February (The Presentation of the Lord) I was offered a job, and I started working on 11 February (Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes).
I am fully convinced that Our Lady with the most wonderful 'co-operation' with Josemaria Escriva helped me to get this job - and I am so grateful to God for this.
More importantly, the words included in the novena prayers gave me a better and deeper understanding of work and now, being in my new job, I am still saying it (the second part) which helps me to perform my job better.
I want to recommend this novena to anyone who wants to find or/and do a good job.
Thanks be to God!
With kind regards,
M. A. S., U.K.
February 24, 2008
It seemed impossible
I had been praying through St Josemaria’s intercession for some time, to solve a rather complicated problem that affected my family. Thank God, a very important step has now been taken. It was a very difficult matter (to us it seemed almost impossible) to solve, and I prayed to St Josemaria for it every day. I am writing to give thanks for his intercession, as I promised him I would, and I hope he will continue helping us so that everything is resolved satisfactorily.
Q., Spain
February 21, 2008
Two reasons
I am writing this e-mail for two reasons. First, to give testimony of my life, because ever since Saint Josemaria entered in, everything is different. He has given me a lot of strength and fortitude to continue my life with my four children, since my husband walked out on us for and a half years ago, when I was expecting our fourth child. I had three daughters and then a son, Emilio Josemaria, who has brought me great happiness.
The second reason for writing is that I want to ask for your prayers so that I can get a good job that will offer stability so I can bring up my children decently without crises. Please pray with me for my situation, and my children’s, to improve. Thank you for being there, I know I can rely on you.
M. C. R., Ecuador
February 19, 2008
I feel like a new man
I was a non-practising Catholic. To make things worse I was a sociopath. I have committed the worst sort of sins without any remorse. I had a book on Opus Dei fall on my head (literally) and consequently received a prayer card. I'm not sure why at the time, but, I said the prayer that night. Well, the next day was the first day of the rest of my life. I was no longer a sociopath and I felt a deep desire to atone for all my sins. Also I have attended Mass almost daily and said the Rosary almost daily since. I feel like a new man and I owe it to St. Josemaria's intercession.
Alexander, Canada
February 21, 2008
The Novena for Work to St Josemaria
I sent my sister the Novena for Work and she has been doing it. She likes it so much that she has typed it out on the email and has been sending the prayers each day to family and friends. This is one way of spreading the Novena. Also, a friend of mine called Maria prayed the Novena for Work and got a job setting up a Human Resources department - so quite a good job.
Irene, U.K.
February 12, 2008
“The job is yours.”
On January 30, 2008 I asked for prayers to find a job. That same evening I submitted a job application via the internet, not for the first time, as I’d already sent I don’t know how many applications to Texas and New Mexico. I was getting more and more depressed, and my Mom, who belongs to Opus Dei and lives in Torreon, Mexico, kept telling me, “Pray to Saint Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer with great faith.”
The next day, January 31, I got a call from Arizona, from the Human Resources offices of the hotel I’d applied to, saying I had a job interview on Monday February 4, 2008 at 2 p.m. I went. I talked to the District Manager who explained the whole system to me and said he’d contact me by Friday February 2. That day they called me from Arizona with the good news that “the job of resident manager in Albuquerque, New Mexico is yours.” I was enormously happy after being jobless for so long. And that was not all: my pay was going to be $10,000 more, plus an apartment to live in for my husband and myself. I thanked God, and Saint Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer for interceding for me before God in the desperate situation I was in. And I thank everyone who prayed for me. I wish to add that I also prayed to Bishop Alvaro for this favor.
Martha R., Albuquerque, New Mexico
February 11, 2008
Exactly the time I prayed the prayer-card
I sent a parcel from Italy to my friend in Malaysia on 4th December. The post office told me that it would take 12 days to arrive by registered post. I believed this, as I had sent a parcel before, and it arrived in 15 days.
After 15 days I began to get worried, as I had found out through internet that the parcel had been sent from Fiumicino on 19th December. Taking in account of the festive season it was reasonable. But Malaysia is a bit different as they only have holidays on 25th December and 1st January. I started to pray to St Josemaria on 31st December, asking him and firmly believing that it would arrive on his birthday, on 9th Jan. The curious thing was that I woke up on 9th January at 3.30 am and started to pray the prayer card. (Malaysia is 7 hrs. ahead of us) so the first thing in the morning, after breakfast, I went to check the e-mail. To my surprise there was an e-mail from my friend saying that the parcel had just arrived. Looking at the time the e-mail was sent, I saw it was 9.30 am!!!!!! This coincided exactly with the time when I prayed the prayer card, asking St Josemaría for this favour on his birthday.
C.T., Italy
February 9, 2008
To love God like St Josemaría
When I was young, at different points I felt lost, sad, and disorientated. My faith was a basic support for my life, because it enabled me to keep my balance during the bad times and concentrate on the good ones. St Josemaría Escrivá was always by my side. I felt him, and I still feel him, there every day, when I pray for people. And remembering what he said about “John the milkman”, I also tell God that I’m sorry I don’t love him like St Josemaría does. I pray for peace and well-being among people. Praying and doing good works is the Christian way to respond to this savage, crazy world we live in.
D.F.G.V.T., Portugal
February 1, 2008
Two jobs
I want to give thanks publicly for a favor from St Josemaría.
I am unemployed. Three years ago I terminated my contract because I neither wanted to nor could continue with a rhythm of life that was damaging my health and my family life. I have a very interesting possible job that may come about next June, but it is not yet certain. My résumé is a good one for the job, but my only ‘contact’ is St Josemaría. I have put the whole matter in his hands and I am confident it will work out.
Meanwhile as my unemployment benefit runs out in April, I asked St Josemaría to find me some job – any job at all. I prayed to him very hard. The following day an ex-colleague of mine called me to ask if she could give my contact details in connection with a job in my field of work (which is communication). I went for an interview. It is a temporary job, for just one month, but if it goes well there is the possibility of more opportunities. I asked for double the pay they offered, and they agreed! I entrusted the question of my job to St Josemaría, and I am sure he is going to help me.
Emanuela, Portugal
January 2008
I quarreled with my best friend
A few years ago I quarreled with my best friend. I prayed hard to St Josemaría, to be reconciled with him, and my petition was granted. Thank you, dear St Josemaría!
Louis M., France
January 30, 2008
Problems with my Ph.D.
My Ph.D. ran into difficulties because of problems with my supervisor. After various arguments I began to go ahead with it on my own. Not completely alone, because I asked St Josemaría for help in everything I did and, as usual, he spared no effort. Six months after I started working on my own, my supervisor himself suggested I should change to a different supervisor. This was totally unexpected: everyone told me he’d never do that. Finally, I submitted two papers for conferences, and one of them was accepted. As well as giving me a chance to travel to the Holy Land, the article will be published in a scientific journal. This last was completely unexpected. Thank you.
P. V.
January 29, 2008
The peace we always wanted
I give thanks to St Josemaría, because through his intercession my husband was selected for a job that has brought great benefits, a good salary and good working conditions, which has enabled him to have the peace we always wanted.
Diana L., Colombia
January 17, 2008
We thanked St. Josemaría in advance
I am a Hindu by religion. I have been working with an NGO; our Executive Director is a member of Opus Dei. Since I started to work here I have started to have a little devotion to St. Josemaria, and I have seen his prayer card. When my child was sick I prayed to him in several occasions. Now I want to testify something that happened in our office through St. Josemaria. We needed a very important permission from the Home Ministry to do our project well. We have been trying to get this permission for several years. After overcoming all the difficulties we submitted our papers to the Home Ministry six months ago and expected to get the permission soon. Months passed but nothing happened. Then my boss found out that all the papers we have submitted got lost – somehow it disappeared from the office of the home ministry. So we decided to submit again. Time passed bringing no good news for us. Then our boss told us to pray to St. Josemaria asking him to get our permission on his birthday as a present for us. We all started to pray, we even went to the Cathedral of Delhi where his statue is and took flowers for him with a thank-you card thanking him in advance. We continued praying to get our permission. On 9th our boss phoned the Home Ministry at 12.30, then the officer told her his boss had been on leave and had just come back and had not done anything about our permission. He had many pending jobs to do. He told her to call him again after 2-3 weeks. But surprisingly our boss got a phone call from the Home Ministry at 6pm, 7pm and 8pm the same day. She was not available to attend the phone calls. Finally our boss called him back at 9pm and he told her that he had some good news for her and to come and see him on 11th of January. I went with my boss to see him. He gave us our letter granting us the permission. While our boss was doing the formalities to get the paper I saw the date of the Permission granted. It was 9-01-08. The officer told us the paper was signed in the evening of 9th. Here the offices are closed at 5pm. I am sure it was a favour of St. Josemaria to our NGO and he advanced our permission and he wanted to us pray two days more. We are grateful to St. Josemaria.
M. S., India
January 16, 2008
Thank you for answering our prayers
Thank you Saint Josemaria for answering our prayers to have a baby. We continue to pray & seek your help for us to deliver a healthy baby.
E. W., Singapore
12 January 2008
Someone to be with me in times of difficulty
I’d like to start with something that happened to me with a little prayer-card of St Josemaría: the moment I looked at it, I felt his eyes gazing into my heart as if he was reading my whole life there. I was pregnant, and there was a risk that my baby would have a difficult birth. Every time I went for a check-up, I held tight to the prayer-card, and I felt like someone’s with you in times of difficulty. The day I gave birth I suffered a lot; it was a very difficult birth. I was very conscious of St Josemaría’s presence and I prayed to him and asked him to help me, and my daughter was born safely. Emily, my baby, is now very healthy and so am I. Ever since I first met St Josemaría I have had him in my heart and I pray and ask him to help me, and I know he’s listening to me and he won’t let me down. Thank you St Josemaría!
Elizabeth M., U.S.
January 10, 2008
Fear of a strike
Before Christmas we heard that the train-drivers were going on strike from January 7 if negotiations with the unions failed. I had a return ticket from Bavaria for January 8 so I was really afraid I might be unable to get home that day, as the normal journey-time is eight hours. I could see myself alone on empty stations in the middle of the night, or trying to find a hotel. I didn’t like the notion at all. Can St Josemaría influence politics? Without giving it another thought I put into practice my idea of doing a novena to him, beginning exactly nine days before my return trip. What encouraged me were the favors I often read about on this website. To cut a long story short, nothing further was heard of the strike, and I got home at the expected time. I have no doubt that St Josemaría interceded in this.
A. S., Germany
January 9, 2008
He always helps, even in little things
One day on returning from a snowy walk in the Alps I lost one of my earrings as I was taking off my hat. I found it again soon afterwards as someone had put it in a place where it was clearly visible. Unfortunately the little catch was missing. I looked for it but couldn’t find it. Then I decided to appeal to St Josemaría, and I told him that right then I only had those earrings, and I wanted to wear them for the remaining days of my stay. I knew that he also heeds tiny little matters like that. As I went into one of the rooms in the house, I saw what I was looking for on the floor. I thanked St Josemaría very much, and this confirmed me in my conviction that he never fails to hear us.
M. B., Germany
January 4, 2008
With trust and a bit of cheek
I need contact lenses to see properly, but sometimes this wonderful invention plays tricks on me. Last December I was in a hurry one morning and as I put the lens in my left eye I felt a slight, familiar discomfort: the scratch of a lens which is broken at the edge. I took it out, rinsed it, and located a tiny crack of about 1 mm – all that was routine. I put it back in my eye, and the same thing happened. And although there are always my glasses as a last resort, I remembered St Josemaría. Ever since I was small I’ve heard and read how he used to pray “Lord, that I may see!” and with real trust and a bit of cheek – after all, it was not that important – I asked him, “If you want me to see properly, fix my lens.” He must have been amused by my petition, because he sorted it. I took out the lens from my eye, looked at it again and couldn’t see the crack, and without even rinsing it, put it back in, without feeling the slightest discomfort. Falling prey to doubt I took it out once more and checked it again: the crack was no longer there. Some cautious reader may feel tempted to smile sardonically, thinking it must have been a tiny fibre or a speck of dust. But people with short sight like me can see very well close to, and there is a lot of difference between foreign bodies of that sort, and a crack. I hereby testify to the favor granted, with a grateful wink in the direction of St Josemaría.
E. G. L., Spain
January 4, 2008
- The intercession of the saints
- Pictures and statues of St Josemaria Escriva
- Pictures and statues of St Josemaria Escriva
- Iconography
- Accounts of favours obtained on 2010
- A much-needed award
- No sooner said than done
- Help to study for my degree
- Without serious consequences
- I have not drunk since that day
- A Personal Story
- In Zambia and Ossomala, Africa
Prayer
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