English
Documentation
Jolly Good Saint
Atty Sison
This spiritual crisis and what the world needs now was foreseen by a Saint whose footsteps trod this earth for seventy three years. He is St. Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer. St Josemaría had a clear vision of the current intensifying conflict between the worldly and the unworldly, of man's role of "being in this world but not of this world". He founded the Opus Dei (the "work of God") on October 2,1928. As our late daughter Joyce used to tell people, "when St. Josemaría founded Opus Dei, he had only three things: 26 years of age, the grace of God and a good sense of humor". His main message is that people from all walks of life can sanctify themselves and, in the process sanctify others, by doing their work well (with the greatest possible human perfection) just as Jesus of Nazareth, the carpenter's son, has done everything well. It is through his ordinary work and the fulfillment of his personal, family and social duties that man sanctifies himself and glorifies God. This spirit of Opus Dei is mainly set forth in St. Josemaría's books, particularly "The Way", the best among the best sellers.
Opus Dei is a personal prelature of the Catholic Church composed of lay people, both men and women, and priests. All members have a "plan of life" under the guidance of a spiritual director precisely to fully equip them in resisting the growing tentacles of secularism and paganism as they live out God's call in this world and as they participate in the many ministries of the work. This plan entails the daily Rosary prayers, daily mass, spiritual reading, regular confessions and mental prayer.
Twenty nine years ago tomorrow, June 26, 2004, St. Josemaría, the Opus Dei founder left this world to be with God forever. Indeed, during his lifetime he "turned all the circumstances and events of his life into opportunities to love God and to serve the Church, the Pope and all souls with joy and simplicity". In 1998, on this same occasion, our late daughter Joyce who was then already stricken with cancer, wrote an article entitled "Divine Caress" to honor Jolly Good Saint Josemaría. Joyce said: "I am writing to honor our beloved founder Blessed Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer, whose birthday in heaven - his death - we celebrate on June 26. And what better way to do this than to lay open how he helped/helps me go through this sickness. Being in Opus Dei for 17 years now, I have inhaled the pure air of his fatherly vigilance and have drunk the clean waters of his teachings. And these come in handy - like second nature - when I go through trials in my life, like this divine caress which comes in the form of cancer".
Thanks to St. Josemaría for leaving us with a plan of life during these troubled times.
A Law Each Day, Friday, June 25, 2004
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