Blazing a new trail to holiness

Yesterday, October 6,2002, a man who journeyed into this valley of tears for more than seventy three years, blazing a new trail to holiness – and to heaven – has been officially declared by the Catholic Church as a saint. He came into this world at the start of the twentieth century, on January 9, 1902. Four days later, on January 13, 1902, his parents, Jose Escriva and Dolores Albas, both devout Catholics, had him baptized as Josemaria.He was only two years old when he first encountered the first of the many blows in life. He became critically ill such that his doctor, after doing everything humanly possible, told his father"he won’t last through the night". But the next morning when the doctor returned to find out what time the boy had died,was so amazed to learn that little Josemaria not only survived but seemed to have completely recovered. The first sign that God had something in store for him in this life.

There were so many other difficult, adverse and distressing events in the life of Saint Josemaria. But through them all, he came out with a stronger faith and greater desire to serve our Lord. He felt deep in his heart that God wanted him to do some special work for Him on this earth;and with a childlike belief, he kept on praying and waiting for an answer on what his calling was.He first dreamed of being an Architect when he was in High School, but somehow he felt he would be better prepared if he became a priest.So he ruled out studying architecture. But as he pursued his priestly vocation, he also tried to study civil law, upon advice of his father.By present standards, being a priest and a lawyer would seem to be rather an odd combination.But not to Saint Josemaria.He went on with his studies and was ordained priest on March 28, 1925.His first assignment was at an out of the way village where he served as a substitute Parish Priest.Once through with his assignment, he continued to finish his law degree and later on pursued his doctorate in Law in Madrid.There, he immersed himself in caring for the poor, the sick and the dying. While he completely gave his all to these works of charity,somehow he felt that God had other plans for him.

Three years after ordination, on October 2,1928, the feast of the Guardian Angels, amidst the sounds of the church bells after the mass, a vision finally came upon St. Josemaria.He saw the long awaited will of God. He saw "people of every nation and race, of every age and culture, seeking and finding God right in the middle of their ordinary life, their work, their family, their friendships.People who looked for Jesus inorder to love Him and to live His holy life until they were completely transformed into saints.Saints in the world.A tailor saint, a baker saint, an office saint, a factory worker saint. A saint, seemingly like everyone else around him, but deeply identified with Jesus Christ.A person who directs all his activity to God, who sanctifies his work and sanctifies others through it.A person who Christianizes his surroundings, who with warm simple friendships also helps his neighbor to come closer to Jesus-someone whose Christian faith is contagious." Out of this vision was "Opus Dei" conceived and born.

Realizing his vision was a formidable task.He lacked resources and the needed support of the Church.But he set out on his mission with childlike trust.No matter how dismal and insurmountable it looks, he remained unfazed and serene, never faltering in his belief that everything works well for those who love God. When he first tried to start courses of spiritual formation to impart the spirit of Opus Dei in a more systematic way, he invited many, but only three came.He nevertheless blessed those three,and then he saw in them "three hundred, three hundred thousand, thirty million, three billion..."

Today, only a little over 69 years later, what he saw then is already fast becoming a reality. Opus Dei centers for the spiritual formation of people from all walks of life and of all ages, are sprouting all over the world, in Europe, the Americas, in Asia and the Pacific. When St. Josemaria left this world on June 26,1975, Opus Dei, already recognized by the Church as a personal Prelature, has spread to five continents with over 60,000 members of 80 nationalities serving the Church by living up to his vision.The road between those years was never smooth. There were so many obstacles, failures, and even intrigues. But St. Josemaria has learned to accept all of them.Because his role model was Jesus who became triumphant on the Cross.Indeed because of the many ordeals, setbacks and sorrows that he experienced in life, one writer has said that St. Josemaria was already an "expert on the science of the cross." Hence, in every center of the Work, as one enters the oratory, a replica of the cross (not a crucifix) is usually displayed.To remind all those who see it, the redeeming value in lovingly embracing the crosses in life. A cross is usually associated with sorrows and sufferings, but in those Opus Dei centers with that replica of a cross,there are only smiling faces exuding inner joy and happiness that are so contagious. These are the faces St. Josemaria saw when he first envisioned Opus Dei.

The writings of St. Josemaria reveal another facet of his life.His special and intimate relationship with Jesus.It is a relationship that is so personal, deep and intense as to convey an impression of Christ’s real presence in their conversation during his visits to the Blessed Sacrament and in the celebrations of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.And the fruits of this relationship are clearly manifested in his whole hearted and unwavering devotion to the mother of Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary; and his loyalty and commitment to the Vicar of Christ on earth, the Pope; the same relationship with Christ, devotion to the Blessed Mother and commitment to the Pope that are so evident in all members, cooperators and friends of Opus Dei.

And so the profound holiness of this man has been formally recognized by the Church only 27 years after his death.The Congregation for the Causes of the Saints has approved miracles attributed to his intercession; medical cures that defy scientific explanations.Of course, such miracles are important in order to prove Supernatural intervention through his intercession.Closer to home, I can say that there are also a number of unheralded medical cures of those who prayed to him. But aside from these miraculous cures, his sainthood is vindicated by the new path to sanctity he has opened to numberless people from all walks of life, the men and women in the common workplace, in the corridors of power and even on the streets.