Josemaria becomes a PriestA Priest of Jesus ChristThe long-awaited day arrived. March 28, 1925, in the church of St Charles Seminary, Josemaria, aged 23, received ordination to the priesthood. His little family, in their best clothes, witnessed the ceremony from the front bench: Mrs Dolores Escriva, Carmen, and little Santiago, who was just six. Mrs Escriva felt the absence of her husband, Jose Escriva, on this great occasion. They had planned for this day together, but Mr Escriva died seven months before . Mrs Escriva had grown stronger, and she would not allow his absence to throw a shadow over this beautiful ceremony. And she knew that her husband was somehow present, close to the tabernacle, accompanying his son. The Bishop opened the ceremony. The Little Watch-Mender was full of expectation. The moment of the imposition of hands was drawing near, and the Holy Spirit was about to come down to fill Josemaria, and the other men being ordained, with his light and his love. And to grant them the great power of bringing Christ onto the altar at Mass. “O Heaven!” exclaimed the Little Watch-Mender, as he saw the measureless glory and majesty of God coming to rest on the hands of the newly-ordained priest. Josemaria was now a priest of Jesus Christ, and in time everyone would call him “Father”. Josemaria’s First Mass Two days later, Father Josemaria celebrated his first Mass in a chapel of the Basilica of Our Lady of Pilar. He offered the Mass with love and deep respect for the repose of his father’s soul. Very few people were present, which didn’t upset the Little Watch-Mender. He had gathered a long procession of angels in Heaven to be there with Father Josemaria and adore Jesus in the Eucharist. Josemaria’s faith was so great and so vivid that his hands trembled when he took up the Sacred Host. “Lord, don’t ever let me get used to being a priest!” Three months earlier, when he was ordained a deacon, he had given Holy Communion to his mother. Now, at his first Mass, Father Josemaria wanted her to be the first person to receive Holy Communion from his hands. But at the last moment a woman stepped in before Mrs Escriva, and he had no option but to begin with her. Father Josemaria looked at his mother... Jesus was asking them to offer up that little joy too. He offered the little sacrifice to our Lord cheerfully. Yet another to add to the huge pile of sacrifices he was offering up day by day for his intention: to see what it was that God was asking of him. The Little Watch-Mender already knew what it was, and encouraged Josemaria to persevere with still greater determination if possible, because in three years’ time, 1928, God was going to let him know his Will. Extract translated from Vida y venturas de un borrico de noria… y su Relojerico (“The Life and Adventures of a Water-Wheel Donkey and His Little Watch-Mender”) © Paulina Mönkeberg, 2004 © Ediciones Palabra S.A., 2004 Download A Priest of Jesus Christ in pdf format http://www.josemariaescriva.info/article/a-priest-of-jesus-christ |