I will be posting in the coming day or so a recent trip (with plenty of photos) that we just took to Torreciudad, including a stop off at Barbastro to see some of the sites where Saint Josemaria Escriva lived.

Another reason I haven't posted too much lately was that I was a bit tied up writing an article for the National Catholic Register on Spain's new education law and in particular its Citizenship course, which teaches amongst other things that there are around 30 different family types and that the terms "male and female" are antiquated, and should be replaced with the term gender (of which there are seven types of genders according to the new educational material).

Two persons who have been helped by St. Josemaría from heaven. St. Josemaría intercedes before God for anyone who asks him for help in their family, professional, apostolic or personal needs.


Sol María Nava (Venezuela): When I was three months pregnant, I had a very serious hemorrage. I went to see the doctor, and I was very anxious. When the doctor saw how anxious I was, he asked me if I was a Catholic. I said I was, and then he gave me a card with the prayer for asking the help of the Founder of Opus Dei. He suggested that I pray it with faith. I did so every night with so much faith that one month later the hemorrage has disappeared. May 11, 2007.

J. R. (Germany): I am a pilot with a German airline. When my residence was set for Frankfurt, I asked for a change to Dusseldorf, because I had found a house there for my family: my wife and the son we were expecting. Everything seemed to be going well, and we had actually moved into the new house when suddenly, because of a personnel shortage, they denied the change in residence. I spoke first with one and then with another director, but no one seemed to understand the situation or take any interest in my problems. Not even the union would help me. The only solution left to me was to go to St. Josemaria and entrust him with the problem. And suddenly everyone made a big effort and they found a solution so that we could move as we had planned. April 10, 2007.

Archbishop Donald Wuerl celebrated the Mass for the feast day of Saint Josemaria in Washington, D.C. In his homily he declared that Saint Josemaría reminds us to rejoice in the challenge of transforming the world. Here is the text of Archbishop Wuerl's homily.

Most Reverend Donald W. Wuerl, S.T.D.
Archbishop of Washington

In beginning these reflections on the life, ministry and legacy of Saint Escrivá I want to turn to the homily of Pope John Paul II at the canonization of Saint Josemaría on October 6, 2002. I had the joy and privilege of being present at that extraordinary outpouring of faith as Saint Peter’s Square and the Via della Conciliazione all the way down to the Tiber was engulfed in tens and tens of thousands of the faithful, reflecting the Work of God.

This historic moment of grace followed some twenty seven years on the death of the saint who was so affectionately and respectfully referred to as “El Padre.” I remember accompanying Cardinal John Wright, then-prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Clergy, to the headquarters of Opus Dei in Rome so that he might pay his respects. It was a long line. Even then it was clear that Saint Josemaría’s personal sanctity was well recognized and acclaimed.

Twenty seven years later, in his homily at the canonization, Pope John Paul II reminded us that “God comes close to us and we can cooperate with his plan and salvation.” He then went on to recount Saint Josemaría Escrivá’s conviction that “it is possible to elevate the world to God and to transform it from within.” Pope John Paul II affirmed “that this is the ideal the holy founder points out to you.”

In the readings chosen for this liturgy we are reminded in the Book of Genesis that God brought all things into being. In the first creation, God formed out of the clay of the earth man whom he settled in the garden of Eden to cultivate and care for it.

Already in the first creation, God entrusts to us, in fact turns over his own handiwork to man so that it can be made to blossom, to flower, to come to true fruition.

Only later in the unfolding of events do we come to understand that this first creation was to be surpassed by an even greater and more magnificent one – a new creation in grace. As in the case of the first creation, God would turn over to us, to human beings, the capability, the possibility of realizing the fullness of the new creation.

In his letter to the Romans, Saint Paul goes right to the heart of the mystery – the plan of salvation. We are to receive an outpouring of the Spirit that makes it possible for us to become children of God, adopted children of God, but nonetheless, children of God.

Pope Saint Leo the Great reminds us of our extraordinary dignity: “Christian, recognize your dignity and, now that you share in God’s own nature, . . . remember who is your head and of whose body you are a member.”

It is in this mystery of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that we come to understand what it means to say that Christ comes to give new life. “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” (Jn 10:10). He offers us a richer life than any we could ever otherwise have, a life so radically new that we must be born again to receive it (cf. Jn 3:3-8).

Perhaps the most dramatic statement of the intensity of our new life in Christ is found in Saint Paul’s letter to the Galatians. Here echoing the words of his letter to the Romans, he tells us that when the fullness of time came, God send his Son: “So that we might receive adoption.” (Gal 4:5). By the utter graciousness of God’s goodness, God chose to take us fallen, frail creatures and raise us to a level of unique relationship with himself that reflects his unity with and love for his own son. All this was done through the power of the Holy Spirit.

What we are called to announce and to live is a whole new way of life that makes it possible for us to live in a communion with God that transforms us.

Saint Josemaría spoke of drawing close to Christ in order to experience the cross and its transforming power. He saw in each person’s call from God a vocation to draw closer to Christ, and him crucified, in order to obtain the spiritual strength to be an agent of transforming spiritual power in this world. For this reason, he highlighted so often the importance of recognizing that one is truly called by God.

God calls each of us. In one way or another the call comes. It is God who invites us to respond generously and so to find true joy in opening our hearts to God’s grace. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9).

In a way, Saint Josemaría anticipated the Second Vatican Council’s emphasis on our personal call to communion with God. The Council speaks of the universal call to holiness, that each of us has as our vocation in life. Ultimately we are called to union with God.

In this great Basilica on the bas-relief at the far end of the nave is a depiction of the universal call to holiness. The artist presents the Holy Spirit being poured out on us in our walk in the light of Christ and his Gospel. It is in the transforming power of the Spirit that we are capable of changing this world, elevating this creation, transforming it from within.

As we understand the call to holiness, we recognize that none of us make our way through life alone. God is with us, beckoning us, prompting us, urging us in the Holy Spirit to respond to Jesus’ gracious invitation to become his adopted brother or sister so that with our yes of faith he can so change our lives that we are worthy to be presented to the Father as part of his family.

Our vocation to follow Christ differentiates us from the world. To some extent we will always find ourselves in opposition to the “world.” Today this is particularly true when every believer is challenged to confront our culture and our times. In an ever increasingly secular and materialistic age, those who live by the Spirit are challenged to set an example that will bear testimony to the goodness of Christ and his way of life in an age that seems so uncomfortable with the things of the Spirit.

One of the insights of Saint Josemaría that I have found particularly encouraging is the recognition that all that we do, day in and day out, has its own transforming spiritual energy. Our activity to cultivate and care for this world where we are created in the image and likeness of God can have an enduring spiritual value. We do not live somehow spiritually abstracted from the first creation that is a sign of God’s love. Rather in this world, with all of its temporality, we find the means by which the Kingdom of God, the realm of grace, the dominion of the Spirit comes to be.

Each of us can take consolation in that vision that so much of what we do takes on enduring validity. The day in and day out labors that constitute the substance of our activities become not just the work of our hands, the earning of our daily bread, the manifestation of the human condition, all of which they are, but even more. Our work, our daily effort becomes the Work of God to the extent that we and what we do are united to Christ and his cross.

The Gospel chosen for today is a reminder of how our work which can seem at times to be lacking fruit can in fact be transformed into a bountiful catch. What it takes is openness to the Word. Jesus told them “Put out into the deep water, and let your nets down for a catch .”

At his command they did this and “caught a great number of fish.”

Jesus then says to Peter: “Do not be afraid. From now on you will be catching men.”

The words of Christ and his Gospel present for us a challenge that allows us to believe that what we are doing in our daily lives, the activity of our livelihood, the work that is the part of the human condition, can actually be a transforming, life giving, world altering action.

Empowered by the Holy Spirit, enlightened by the word of Jesus, strengthened by his cross, we now see a far richer reality. Our lives and what we do become in the power of the Holy Spirit transforming instruments of the new creation.

As God brought into being all that is, in the first creation, so he now empowers us in a universal call to holiness, in a challenge to an all embracing response to the Spirit, to become the means of the new creation.

Today, as Pope John Paul II in his homily at the canonization of Saint Josemaría reminded us, the challenge, “Duc in Altum,” put out into the deep is extended to all of us.

With the example of Saint Josemaría before us, we can through his intercession renew the vision of a new order of grace. We can reconnect to the new creation, coming to be in and through all that Christ calls us to be.

The manifesting of the Kingdom begins with our openness to the word, our commitment in faith and our courage each day to do the work of God. In this way all that we do allows the grace of the Spirit in and through us to bring about a true manifestation of the Kingdom. In this we become the agents of the new creation.

While this is an exalted vocation, it is nonetheless that to which we are called. Today we celebrate the legacy of Saint Josemaría who not only recognized the call and lived it, but provided an inspiration for all engaged in the Work of God to rejoice in who we are and the challenge of transforming this world.

Most Reverend Donald W. Wuerl, S.T.D.
Archbishop of Washington

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
Washington, D.C.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007


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A statue of St Josemaría Escrivá was blessed and installed in the Sacred Heart Cathedral in New Delhi (India) on Tuesday 26 June, the feast day of the saint.

By Santificarnos.com

Archbishop Vincent Concessao was the main celebrant of the evening Mass in honor of the Founder of Opus Dei.

Quoting Pope Pius X in his homily, Archbishop Concessao told those assembled that the most pressing need of the Church is that we need more saints – and that this was the central message of St. Josemaría: all of the baptized are called to be saints – “not only saints in niches,” said the Archbishop, “but sweating in the factories, working in the offices…” carrying out professions of all kinds, that shouldn’t be seen as obstacles to holiness but rather as a means to achieve it.

“No matter what your work is,” the Archbishop said, “you are serving other people, and if you do it for love, aware of God’s plans for you, you can identify yourself with Christ in your work and draw closer to God.”

All of the baptized are called to be saints “not only saints in niches but sweating in the factories, working in the offices…”, said the Archbishop.Mr. Bernard Alick, an Indian artist painted the 1.1 meter resin statue which was made according to the original sculpture by Baldessari. Followed by the Archbishop and the other five concelebrants, Mr Alick was proud to be among those carrying the new statue in procession at the end of the Mass from the presbytery to the Baptistery Chapel of the Cathedral, where the statue has been placed.

Some participants placed a bouquet of flowers by the statue just after the installation ceremony. Leena Khalko, a housekeeper from Jharkhand, said she plans to bring fresh flowers regularly and address her petitions to God, through the intercession of St. Josemaría, at the Cathedral of Delhi.

Josemaría Escrivá died in 1975. He met some of the first Indian men and women who joined Opus Dei. Full of admiration and love for India when he was alive, St. Josemaría, ‘the saint of the ordinary’ (in words of Pope John Paul II) had this country with its people very much in his heart and prayers.

Certainly now he keeps doing the same from Heaven, always ready to intercede before God for those who ask him for help.

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26th June is the anniversary of Saint Josemaría's death in 1975 and is now his feastday

Below is a list of the major Masses being celebrated in the United States for the feast of St. Josemaria. A more complete list can be found at the website of the St. Josemaria Institute.

UNITED STATES

Alabama

St. Peter’s Catholic Church
219 Adams Avenue
Montgomery, Alabama 36101
(334) 262-7304
June 26, 2007
6:00 PM

Arizona

St. Daniel the Prophet
1030 N. Hayden Road
Scottsdale, Arizona
480-945-8437
http://www.sdtp.net/parish/parish_home.htm
Celebrant: Fr. Matthew Bloomer
June 30th, 2007
10:30 AM

California

Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption
1111 Gough Street
San Francisco, CA 94109-6686
Saturday, June 30, 2007
10 a.m.
Main Celebrant: Msgr. Thomas Bohlin, Vicar of Opus Dei for the United States
Reconciliation begins at 9:30 AM

St. Joachim Church
1964 Orange Avenue
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
(949) 574-7400
Teresa@stjoachimparish.com
Celebrant: Father Enrique Sera
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
8:30 AM

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels
555 West Temple St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012-2707
Saturday, June 23, 2007
10 AM
Celebrant: Bishop Oscar Solis
Cathedral parking available for $5.00 Info contact: Tilden Study Center
310-208-0941
www.tildensc.org

Founders Chapel, University of San Diego
5998 Alcalá Park
San Diego, California
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
7:00 PM
westerfam@yahoo.com
Main celebrant: Bishop Savatore, Cordilione Auxillary of San Diego
A reception including a barbeque dinner will be served after Mass.
For further information contact: Dr. Mark Murphy @ 760-803-4872

Colorado

St. Vincent De Paul Church
2375 E. Arizona Avenue
Denver, CO
Friday, June 22, 2007
7 PM
Principal Celebrant: Father James Socias
Confessions starting at 6:30 PM

Connecticut

St. Michael's
469 North Street
Greenwich, CT
Saturday, June 23, 2007
10 AM
203-869-5421
Principal Celebrant and homilist: Msgr. Javier Garcia
Confessions will be heard 1/2 hour prior to Mass

D.C.

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
400 Michigan Avenue, N.E,
Washington, DC
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
7:30PM
Principal Celebrant:
His Excellency Most Reverend Donald W. Wuerl, S.T.D.
Archbishop of Washington

Florida

Saint Brendan Catholic Church
8725 SW 32nd Street
Miami, FL 33165
Saturday, June 23
11 a.m.
(305) 551-7956

Cathedral of Saint Augustine
35 Treasury Street
St. Augustine, FL 32084
Tuesday, June 26
11 a.m.

Christ the King Catholic Church
821 South Dale Mabry Highway
Tampa, Florida 33609
www.ctk-tampa.org
Celebrating Priest: Father Blum
Concelebrating: Father Michael A. Scheip
June 26th at 7:00 pm.

Our Lady of Lourdes
1301 Center Road
Venice, FL 34292
Celebrating Priest: Rafael S. Padilla J.C.L
Concelebrating: Michael A. Scheip
managerjan@comcast.net
June 26th at 8:00 am.

Georgia

Holy Spirit Church
4465 Northside Drive
Atlanta, GA
678-393-9207
pedro_villacorta@bellsouth.net
www.hsccatl.com
Fr. Malcolm Kennedy
16 June 2007
12:00 PM

Illinois

St. Mary of the Angels Church
1850 N. Hermitage
Chicago, IL
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
7:30 PM
Principal Celebrant: Most Rev. Francis J. Kane, Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago
Confessions available beginning at 6:45 PM

Faith Hope and Charity
191 Linden St
Winnetka, IL 60093
847-446-7646
June 26, 2007
8am
Celebrant: Fr. Joseph Nam Dao
http://www.faithhope.org/

Maine

Holy Martyr’s Parish
266 Foreside Rd.
Falmouth, ME 04105
Thursday, June 28, 2007
6PM

Massachusetts

Corpus Christi Parish
324 Quaker Meeting House Road
East Sandwich
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
7 PM
Celebrant: Fr. George Crafts
pastor@corpuschrisiparish.org
508-888-0209
www.CorpusChristiParish.org
Confessions available beginning at 6:00 PM

Cathedral of St. Paul
15 Chatham St.
Worcester, MA
Celebrant: Bishop Robert J. McManus
Monday, June 25, 2007
7 PM

Cathedral of the Holy Cross
1400 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02118
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
7:30 p.m.
Celebrant: Most Rev. Robert F. Hennessey, Auxiliary Bishop of Boston
(617) 354-3204

Minnesota

Holy Family Catholic Church
5900 West Lake Street
St. Louis Park, MN
(952) 929-0113
June 26, 2007
7:30 PM
Celebrant: Father Charles Ferrer
http://www.hfcmn.org/

Missouri

Our Lady of Good Counsel Church
3934 Washington
Kansas City, Missouri 64222
816-561-0400
Wednesday, June 27, 7PM
Celebrant: Bishop Robert Finn, Bishop of the Diocese of Kansas City/St. Joseph.

Saint Clement of Rome Church
1510 Bopp Road
Des Peres, MO 63131
(314) 965-0709
Celebrant: Rev. Edward Richard

Nevada

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church
2300 Sunridge Heights Parkway
Henderson, NV 89052
(702) 914-2175
July 7, 2007, 11 AM
Celebrant: Msgr. James Kelly
http://www.sfahdnv.org/home.htm

New Jersey

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
One Passaic Street
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
973-763-8397
Saturday, June 23, 9:30 am
Celebrant: Msgr. Thomas Bohlin, Vicar of Opus Dei in the United States
Confessions will be heard 1/2 hour prior to Mass

New York

Church of Our Saviour
59 Park Avenue at 38th St.
New York City, New York 10016
Tuesday, June 26, 2007, 6:30 pm
Principal Celebrant and homilist: Rev. Arne Panula
Confessions will be heard 1/2 hour prior to Mass

St. John Fischer College's Harold Coleman Chapel
Rochester, NY
Tuesday, June 26, at at 4:40 PM.
Celebrant: Father Joe

Nebraska

St. Rose of Lima
405 East Elk Street
P.O. Box 443
Hooper, NE 68031
402-654-3449
Celebrant: Fr. Vitalis Anyanike
June 26th
8 am

St. Lawrence Catholic Church
910 Grant Street
Scribner, NE 68057
402-664-3283
Celebrant: Fr. Vitalis Anyanike
June 30th
8 am

North Carolina

St. Joseph's Catholic Church
2817 Poole Road
Raleigh, North Carolina 27610
(919) 231-6364
stjoseph@mindspring.com
Msgr. John Williams, Pastor
Saturday, June 23, 2007
11:00am

Oregon

St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church
2727 NE 54th Avenue
Portland,OR
Msgr. James Kelly
July 14, 2007
12:15 pm

Pennsylvania

Sacred Heart Church
310 Shady Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
412.683.8448 ext. 304
rene@warwickhouse.org
warwickhouse.org
Celebrant: Fr. Rene Schatteman
Saturday, June 23, 2007, 10:00 am

Rhode Island

Church of St. Sebastian
67 Cole Ave.
Providence, RI 02906
Thursday, June 21, 7:00 pm
Celebrant: Fr. George Crafts.
Confessions 6:15-6:45

Texas

St. John Neumann
5455 Bee Caves Rd
Austin, TX 78746
(512) 328-3220
KGarner@sjnaustin.org
http://www.sjnaustin.org/home/home.asp
Rev. Kirby Garner
June 26, 2007, 7:00 pm.

Christ the King Church
8017 Preston Road
Dallas, TX
Tuesday, June 26, 7 p.m.
Celebrant: Fr. Jack Solarski

Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral
1111 Pierce Street
Houston, TX
Saturday, June 30 , 10 a.m.
Main Celebrant: Most Rev. Daniel DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston


St Anthony Mary Claret
6150 Roft Road
San Antonio. TX 78253
210-688-9033
saclaret@swbell.net
Celebrant: Archbishop Jose H. Gomez
8:00 am, June 26, 2007
10:30 am, June 30, 2007

Virginia

St. Benedict Catholic Church
300 N. Shepherd Street
Richmond, Virginia 23221
(804) 254-8810
info@saintbenedictparish.org
www.saintbenedictparish.org
Rev. James F. Kauffmann, Pastor
Friday, June 22, 2007, 7:30pm

Washington

Holy Family Parish
9622 -20th Avenue SW
Seattle, WA 98106
June 26, 2007, 7pm
Celebrant: Archbishop Alexander J Brunette

Wisconsin

139 S Madison St
Green Bay, WI 54301
920-432-4348
June 26, 2007, 7:30PM
Dessert Reception for follow the Mass
Celebrant: Monsignor Roy Klister, the rector of the Cathedral

Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist
812 North Jackson Street
Milwaukee, WI
Celebrant: Most Rev. Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison
Sunday, June 24, 6 p.m.

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Following is an account of St Josemaria Escriva's canonization as written by Russian poet Aleksandr Ivanovich Zorin, an Orthodox Christian who discovered in “The Way” the secret for finding God “here, sitting in front of my desk.”

The square in front of Saint Peter’s Basilica holds 300,000 people. Today there will be more than 400,000. Half of them will be young men and women in their twenties. The canonization of Josemaría Escrivá has brought people from around the world to Rome. Volunteers - some 1,800 mostly young people and by no means all Italians - will be on hand. They arrived in Rome two weeks early for special training. And now, in the ebb and flow of the throng, they are able to channel the flood like experienced sea captains. They have command posts – at the airport, in the streets of the city and in Saint Peter’s Square.

A dense phalanx of carabinieri, at once forbidding and courteous, shut down the approaches to the Basilica. Wheelchairs are allowed to pass. In countless numbers, they group around the colonnade very close to the altar. One of the wheelchairs carries a priest. Thirty years ago he had a serious car accident and became paralysed for life. The trauma does not prevent him from serving as a pastor, helping people, and celebrating daily Mass…

The sun is already shining on the Basilica’s dome, the portrait of Josemaría Escrivá, and the cross atop the obelisk; Saint Peter’s Square -cool and fresh like a mountain valley - is slowly filling up with pilgrims.

On the roof of the right and left arms of the colonnade, I had the impression there were many bushy plants. These are common in central Rome. Down below there is not a blade of grass - only asphalt and cobblestones, but on the rooftops there is luxuriant growth in boxes and flowerpots. But on closer inspection I realized that these were not plants, but journalists with their branch-like electronic equipment.

Sitting behind me were two older ladies, who appeared to be housewives. Someone had apparently told them that we were Russians. With raised eyebrows and gesticulating animatedly, they said: “We are praying for the spread of the books of Josemaría in Russia.”

And just in front of me was the massive back of a Nigerian. I ask him - “Are there lots of you?” “Yes, eight hundred.” And pointing to his group, he says, “There we are.”

His back, however, was no hindrance. Gigantic screens at several points in the plaza will allow everyone to see what is going on.

A white marble slab in front of the high altar is decorated with flowers - the gift of a Latin American florist - arranged in the form of broad, colorful palm fronds.

The throng swells, and the sun continues its ascent, shining on the icon of the Mother of God high above the right arm of the colonnade. It was put there during the reign of the present Pope. It had been brought to his attention that Saint Peter’s Square lacked an image of the Mother of God. “This situation must be corrected,” he said.

A flaxen-haired, mulatto woman is wearing a red cross around her neck. We are in section 4, or more precisely, the part of the section under her supervision. As the volunteers working in the plaza do not carry megaphones or walkie-talkies, she must call out in a loud voice that she is a doctor, and that people should come to her for even the slightest necessity. She can only offer first aid, and hand out candy for whatever ails you. At the word candy, the older people in the crowd laugh and applaud - a healthy reaction.

The day promises to be sultry, and no one brought umbrellas. Caps, berets - and when it turns really hot – scarves and maps of Rome are used to provide protection from the sun. We did not bring anything and that evening the left side of everyone’s face- cheeks and necks – had turned brown in contrast to the right side.

The bells of the Basilica ring out - a soft, melodious sound.

Suddenly, the whole square becomes agitated, everyone rises in his place: a white car heaves into view in the road flanking the plaza. In it is the Pope - hunched, concentrated. He raises his head, and, with a trembling hand, blesses the crowd.

The car drives up to the podium. The Pope walks to the altar unaided, leaning on his crozier.

Last night, young people, gathered in front of the Pope’s apartment, formed a sea of chanting voices: Viva il Papa! “The whole world loves you!”

Did everyone always feel that way? The shot that long ago rang out in Saint Peter’s Square gives rise to doubts. I perfectly remember that day in May…. We – a group of Orthodox laymen – were gathered for prayer in a Moscow apartment. The telephone rang, bringing us the horrifying news….

In the unadulterated Buonarroti sky a helicopter circles. Timid, pneumatic clattering. Descending from above the plaza, it emerges from behind the dome, then disappears behind the roofs of the Vatican. What was it doing? Shooting a film, keeping on eye on security?

On the giant television screen appears a shot of the crowd taken from a great height. A mass of heads. Forgive me for this comparison, but they look like the densely packed roe of caviar. I turn around and notice that each caviar egg represents an absorbed, intelligent face.

Above the Pope, above the canopy shading the altar, from the pediment of the Basilica hangs a large portrait of Josemaría Escrivá. The image of a saint: a kindly face wearing glasses against an azure background, like a sky by Michelangelo Buonarroti.

The Mass begins.

At the beginning, before the liturgy of the Word, the Cardinal who is the head of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints addresses the Pope with the request to canonize Escrivá. And the Pope reads out a statement extolling him.

To help people follow the ceremony, the day’s liturgy has been printed in a number of languages and distributed. The Pope proclaims the Eucharistic canon, initiating the most important part of the liturgy. Saint Peter’s Square, full of hundreds of thousands of people united in the sacramental prayer, falls as silent as an empty room.

Tracing a fluent cardiogram of silence, a butterfly flits about.

The voice of the Pope, the voice of the organ, the voice of common prayers. Communion….

One thousand priests flow in three currents out towards the motionless ranks waiting in the square. In their hands are chalices containing the holy gifts, and opened out above them, like lilies of the field, are white umbrellas. Each one knows exactly the spot he should occupy.

It is surprising to see this perfect order, which for members of Opus Dei is customary. Even amid the endless ranks of chairs, the communicants - and, I repeat, there were hundreds of thousands of them - did not jostle one another, but rather approached the chalice-bearing priests serenely.

The shadow of the obelisk, like the hands of a watch, reaches the row in which we are sitting. The obelisk - this ancient monument brought here from Heliopolis - commemorates the deaths of the first martyrs…. In the days of the Roman Empire, Nero’s circus was located on this very spot. They threw Christians as living meat to hungry dogs and wild animals. Now on this spot a bloodless sacrifice is taking place.

The hands of a watch can be seen in the portrait of the saint above the heads of the crowd. He also experienced great trials; he shared in the crucifixion of Christ in the ordinary circumstances of daily life. As the Pope said during an audience with the canonization participants the day after the ceremony: “The most important thing about the founder of Opus Dei was his love of the will of God. The faithful fulfillment of the will of God, no matter the consequences, is the true sign of holiness. The Lord has a plan for each and every individual; he gives everyone a specific mission on earth. The saint lives in order to fulfill this mission. It never occurs to him to live and act outside the bounds of God’s plan. Saint Josemaría was chosen by God to proclaim the universal call to holiness, to proclaim that the ordinary activities that make up daily life constitute the path to holiness. One can say that Saint Josemaría is the patron saint of daily life. Indeed, he was convinced that, for those who believe deeply in God, every circumstance of life is an occasion for encountering God and a stimulus to prayer. When we consider life from this point of view, we discover in it a grandeur we had not noticed before. We realize that everyone can attain sanctity.”

The next day, after the Mass, the recently canonized saint appears on the television screen…. A film shows him meeting with various groups. Here are the words of Escrivá himself. They ask him: “How can one love Jesus?” “Be with Him in the Word and in the Bread. Speak to Him all day. When Christ comes, however, he comes with a cross. Disease, betrayal – we have to be prepared for such things. When a person is ready, these things lift him up -- the cross exalts.” And more: “There is something divine about everyday life. You must discover this.” And yet more: “I have a great many friends who are not Catholic….”

We among them – we three from Russia. Yes, yes, just three of us among the hundreds of thousands who came from 84 countries.

The ecumenical spirit is part and parcel of the pontificate of Pope John Paul II. It came as a surprise, and as a priceless gift to everyone, when the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church appeared on the podium. Saint Peter’s Square exploded in joy!!!

There are two old men nearby. Who are they? Locals, Italians, probably. They have one hearing aid between them and share the earpiece, as well as a single pair of binoculars. Standing constantly nearby was a young woman volunteer with an outlandish ring in her nose. She helped them into chairs in order to see the Pope as his car passed by. It was funny to see her supporting them, unsteady as blades of grass.

A loudspeaker announces that it is forbidden to throw flowers and flags and messages at the Pope’s car. It is customary on such occasions that children are brought forward as the Pope passes by. The Pope blesses and sometimes kisses them. But suddenly, a child, falling from his mother’s arms, lands in the Pope’s lap…. A small message in the form of a child’s crying - from the 21st century....

Here is the third part of a talk that St Josemaria gave in Chile, and where he touches on parenting, abortion and many other subjects.



Part 1 and Part 2

Link To Original.

Here is the second part of a talk that St Josemaria gave in Chile in 1974 that touches on the need for confession and going to Mass, not to mention a few stories thrown in as well.



Part 1 and Part 3

Link To Original

Here is the first part of a decent documentary in English on Opus Dei, and Saint Josemaria. The talk was filmed in 1974 in Chile.

Besides seeing and hearing St. Josemaria's wonderful sense of humor, there is a great scene hear that should answer any questions with respect to what El Padre thought regarding Jews and indoctination ...



Part 2 and Part 3

Link To Original