Was I born for something in particular?

Edward, river-boat pilot, Kazakhstan

December 3, 2002

My earliest childhood memories are of living in a small yurt (Kazakh tent) on the steppe, in a family of shepherds. On hot days in June I used to like to lie on the cool banks of the River Volga and think about life, asking myself questions, while I looked over the top of the yurt at the birds flying high up in the sky.

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S is for Suffering

Dr. Tshilolo, pediatrician and hematologist, director of Monkole Hospital, D. R. Congo.

December 2, 2002

In Congo, there is a hereditary blood disease that affects close to 2% of newborn babies, which is called Drepanocytic Anemia or Sickle Cell Anemia (SSA). This disease is characterized principally by bouts of pain, severe anemia and serious infections, and has a very high mortality rate, especially among newborns.

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God is not to be sought in the clouds

Aleksandr Zorin, poet and member of the Russian Union of Writers

December 2, 2002

Escriva refutes the persistent cliché according to which family life and work are mutually exclusive spheres from which we supposedly drop out, exhausted, like a spent shell. Relentlessly optimistic, this author of best-selling books full of useful lessons, reminded us in the 20th century that public and private life can be transformed into service and defend the highest values on the road to eternal life. It is no accident that the Work of God has thousands of members around the world.

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One day I too received the gift of a vocation

Irene de Santos, craftswoman and mother of nine, San Antonio Aguas Calientes, Guatemala

December 2, 2002

I came across Opus Dei through a letter that arrived at our local school about the Zunil School of Home and Hotel Management. My daughter Mirna was interested. We went to visit the school, we liked it and she decided to study there. Then the Christian renewal of the whole family started. I never thought I could be a member of Opus Dei. I watched our Lord calling each one of my daughters and for me it was like a dream. I saw that they were happy, helpful, hard-working… Until one day, I too received the gift of a vocation from God. Because the members of Opus Dei are people called by God. I have given myself to God, and it’s hard to live this self-giving every day; but I have learnt from Saint Josemaria that it’s here in the middle of the world, in the things of every day, where we are earning our sanctification, because to earn heaven is not easy, it’s difficult, but God helps us.

In The Way I found the answer to many things I hadn’t understood before

Carlos Bordolli of Uruguay recounts his journey from atheism to faith, begun when a coincidence brought St. Josemaria’s book The Way into his hands.

December 1, 2002

What can I say about Msgr. Escriva and Opus Dei? I can’t begin to put it into words without first giving a bit of my history. I was born in the year of Maracana, on the day of Maracana. (Ed. Note: Uruguay beat Brazil in the 1950 World Cup finals at Maracana, a 200,000 seat stadium built in Brazil for the tournament.) They baptized me in front of the Uruguayan Soccer Association, in the Parish of Cordón, at the moment of the final party. It was all orchestrated by my Italian grandmother, Dofia Annunziata Molinari of Fattoruso. But in my parent’s house, they had closed the door on God.

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At age 35 the wheelchair came into my life

Susana Chavez, Buenos Aires, Argentina

December 1, 2002

I rediscovered the value of living in the grace of God from the teachings of the Founder of Opus Dei.
Years ago I saw a filmed encounter with the Founder of Opus Dei in the Teatro Coliseo in Buenos Aires, and I still remember the impact made on me by a question from a woman in a wheelchair. I felt totally identified with her because, like me, in that situation she wanted to know what people with disabilities could do for Opus Dei, apart from praying and offering up our limitations to God.

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Life is such a gift

Wendy O’Bar, wife, mother, marriage mentor, Houston, USA,

December 1, 2002

Vince and Wendy O’Bar live in Houston with their three sons. Vince is a salesman who enjoys spending time with his kids, playing basketball with the guys, and drinking a cold beer on a hot afternoon. Wendy has named herself “Secretary of Interior” at the “O’Bar mansion” and cares for their children full-time. After visiting their cheerful and lively home, one would never know that the family has encountered tremendous hardships in the past few years. In addition to two miscarriages, Wendy has given birth to two children with a fatal genetic disorder. Both children passed away within a week of their birth. Showing great faith in God, Vince and Wendy have come to view these tragedies as opportunities to grow closer together and appreciate the wonderful gift of life.

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I had never been to anything like it in my life

Julius Ogallo, Mechanical Engineer, Nairobi, Kenya

December 1, 2002

A friend invited me to go to a morning of recollection. I had never been to anything like that in my whole life… I started to read the Gospel and to pray with The Way. It was a totally different world. One of the ideas that had impressed me is the advice that lay people should read the Gospel. Now I see that the reason that Saint Josemaria gave it has a lot of sense: it is about having a clear image of our Lord, and imagining what He would do in the different circumstances of our life. In the apostolic letter Novo Millennio Ineunte it says, “the paths to holiness are personal and call for a genuine training in holiness adapted to people’s needs”. That is exactly what I have found in the formational activities offered by Opus Dei.

I realized that I could be a good Christian, a football fan and a party member

Jorge Barrera, lawyer and member of parliament, Uruguay

November 1, 2002

I have to acknowledge the fact that I come from a very idealistic family. I was born and brought up in politics, and arguing about ideas and ideals has always been part of my life. I’ve always considered myself an idealist, and so I defend the conviction instilled in me by my parents, that life has a meaning if you are committed to an ideal.

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Pope John Paul II

Homily, Monday, October 7, 2002

October 7, 2002

The tender face of a Father

The Lord made him understand deeply the gift of our divine filiation. Saint Josemaria taught how to contemplate the tender face of a Father in God, who speaks to us through the most varied vicissitudes of life. A Father who loves us, who follows us step by step and protects us, understands us and waits for a response of love from each one of us. The consideration of this paternal presence, which accompanies him everywhere, gives the Christian an unshakable confidence; at every moment he should confide in the heavenly Father. He never feels alone, nor is he afraid. In the Cross, when it appears, he does not see a punishment but rather a mission entrusted by the Lord himself. The Christian is necessarily optimistic, because he knows that he is a son of God in Christ.

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There is no room for sadness

Pierluigi Bartolomei, professor of the Elis Center Training School, Rome

October 6, 2002

Interviewer: Josemaria Escriva was a happy man. It is enough to see the film clips where he is willing to offer a smile and some words of encouragement to those present. But what is the secret of his constant good humor?

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A flame to set the world on fire with new life

Nadine Chirizzi and Bruno Mastroianni

October 6, 2002

Bruno: We got to know each other during our school years and it was Nadine who gave me the idea of attending a spiritual retreat. It was from there that I wanted to know more about the teachings of Josemaria Escriva.

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