I belong to the generation whose childhood, youth and early adulthood were spent in the Soviet Union era

Irina Sapronova, Lecturer in Russian at Kazakhstan National University

March 2, 2009

In order to understand my generation (and not only mine) you have to bear in mind that we had been robbed of the possibility of learning about God, being with him and believing in him.

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Engagement and marriage are a wonderful adventure

Mariana and German Iramendi, teacher and bank clerk

March 1, 2009

Saint Josemaria is “guilty” of having made our lives, first as fiancés and now as a married couple, into a “wonderful adventure”.

During our engagement we followed his advice: “Love each other, talk to each other, get to know each other; I tell you, respect each other, as though each were a treasure that belongs to the other…”.

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Now my life has a meaning

Ngozi Okpara, teacher, Lagos, Nigeria

March 1, 2009

I always wanted to live a correct life, that could fulfill myself, but I was realizing that there was a gap between my ordinary life and my life of prayer. Now I cannot distinguish the difference between prayer and ordinary activities: I am aware of God's presence, and I cannot look at the world without doing anything. Now I have to participate actively in what is happening in the society. It is a challenge. I realize how much God loves me and of His infinite mercy, my life has a meaning and I want other people to have the same experience.

A Professional Outlook On the Work Of The Home

Kathie Hunt, HomeAdvantage Plus

February 28, 2009

HomeAdvantage Plus, LLC is a corporation launched in late 1997 to provide educational resources and practical Information for creating a home that enhances the quality of life for individuals and families.

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Sadness is an ally of the enemy

Vesna Ostoic, Namibia

February 28, 2009

My name is Vesna Ostoic and I’m from Chile, in South America. I am married with three children: Camila (9), Barbara (7) and Trini (4). My husband’s name is Milton, and he works for a mining company. In January 2007, because of his job, we moved from London to a mining town in the south of Namibia called Rosh Pinah. The closest cities to us are Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, and Cape Town in South Africa, both over 900 km from Rosh Pinah.

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Defending Life in Public Opinion

Paul Swope is a founding member of Pro-Life Youth International, Harvard-Raddiff Students for Life, and has served as Executive Director of Massachusetts Citizens For Life and Director of “The Caring Foundation” (now Vitae Caring).

February 28, 2009

I work for an organization, started in the United States, called The Caring Foundation. This is a right to life group with a unique approach to the issue of legalized abortion. Rather than try to outlaw abortion through legislative and political means, we create television ads that appeal to the inner voice of conscience of the women facing the abortion decision.

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The change in my husband

Kay Kiernan, Ireland

February 13, 2009

I am 82 years of age and have 8 children, 25 grandchildren and 2 great grand children. I have been a supernumerary for over 30 years and I give thanks to God every day for my own vocation to Opus Dei, and for that of two of my children.”

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Preparing dinner acquires infinite value

Marie Cantin, Graduate in Medicine, home maker, Quebec, Canada

February 7, 2009

I was impressed by Josemaria Escriva’s love for the Sacraments. The Mass “the center and root of the Christian life,” is more and more for me, as it was for Josemaria Escriva, the center of my days.

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I try to finish my jobs on time so I can spend longer with my family

K. V. Jacob, New Delhi, India

February 6, 2009

St Josemaria’s books have helped me to understand the riches and meaning of various aspects of our Catholic faith, with a deeper perspective.
I think that the effort to spread them more widely will do good to many people by helping them come closer to God. As a civil servant, I have to take many decisions that affect people around me, apply governmental decrees, and keep in contact with many people.

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The Church’s social teaching will get across when people practice it

Fr. Enrique Colom, lecturer in moral theology at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Rome.

February 5, 2009

Fr. Enrique Colom lectures in moral theology (justice and the social teaching of the Church) at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Rome. He first met St Josemaria in October 1960, a few months after joining Opus Dei.

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Unite, understand, forgive

Yuri A. Simonov, theoretical physicist, director of the Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Physics, Moscow, Russia

February 2, 2009

Josemaria Escriva calls us to be holy and exemplary. In contrast to some tendencies in Christianity, which were strong especially in the Middle Ages, Josemaria Escriva, who lived through civil war and saw people die with his own eyes – always called for peace. He said: ‘We must unite people, we must understand others, we must forgive. Never put up a cross just to keep alive the memory that some people killed others. Such a cross would betoken the devil. Christ’s Cross is to keep silent, to forgive and to pray for those on both sides, so that all may attain peace.’ We must all attain peace. Hence, the urge to unify people under the protection of the Cross. I think this is very important, especially in our time, especially in our country.

I’m a husband and a father. I have a vocation, too

Joe Keefler, husband, father, software engineer, Massachusetts

February 1, 2009

Joe Keefler plays soccer to win. Not because he is especially good at it or because he is paid to do so, but because that’s how he lives his life: by throwing all his effort into his activities to offer them to God.

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