Anything Under the Sun
St. Josemaria Escriva
On October 6, 2002, St. Josemaria Escriva was canonized by Pope John Paul II in Rome. What kind of man is St. Josemaria Escriva?
In his homily, the late Pope John Paul II started by saying: "All who are led by the Spirit of God are Sons of God" (Rom. 8,14). These words of Apostle Paul help us understand better the significant message of today's canonization of Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer. With docility he allowed himself to be led by the Spirit, convinced that only in this way can one fully accomplish God's will."
The pope continues: "He never stopped inviting his spiritual children to invoke the Holy Spirit to ensure that their interior life, namely, their life of relationship with God and their family, professional and social life, totally made up of small earthly realities, would not be separated but would form one like that was 'holy and full of God'. He wrote, 'We find the invisible God in the most visible and material things' (Conversations with Josemaria Escriva n. 114)"
The pope still continues: "To raise the world to God and transform it from within: this is the ideal the holy founder (of Opus Dei) points out to you"
And mandating them to "spread in society the consciousness that we are all called to holiness whatever our race, class, society or age. In the first place, struggle to be saints yourselves, cultivating an evangelical style of humility and service, abandonment to providence and constant listening to the voice of the Spirit. In this way you will be the 'salt of the earth' (cf. Mt. 5, 13) and 'your light to shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven' (ibid. 5, 16).
The pope further says: "St. Josemaria Escriva was a master of prayer which he considered to be an extraordinary 'weapon' to redeem the world. He always recommended" 'In the place, prayer; then expiation; in the third place, but very much in third, action' (The Way, n. 82).
Speaking on Marian devotion, the pope says: "May Mary sustain you, whom the holy founder invoked as 'Spes nostra, Sedes Sapientiae, Ancilla Domini' (Our Hope, Seat of Wisdom, Handmaid of the Lord).
Lastly, the pope concluded with this exhortation: "May the example and teaching of St. Josemaria be an incentive to us so that at the end of the earthly pilgrimage, we too may be able to share in the blessed inheritance of heaven! There, together with the angels and all the saints, we will contemplate the face of God and sing his glory for all eternity."