By CAROLE BRESLIN
Part 2
With the outbreak of civil war in Spain and the attack on the Catholic Church, many priests and religious were martyred. The existing government changed the constitution to legalize persecution of the Church by closing Catholic schools, ceasing reparation payments, and suppressing religious discussion.
Among other things, this helped lead to the secularization of society and to the rise of chaos in Spain. On April 20, 1931, José Escriva wrote in his journal that Madrid had experienced 24 hours of violence: “Madrid is one huge madhouse.”
On May 10 fresh attacks on the Church broke out. Escriva rushed to the chapel to rescue the Blessed Sacrament. He removed our Lord from the tabernacle, wrapped the ciborium filled with Hosts in his cassock and carried our Lord to the home of a friend.
In the fall of 1931, the government ordered that any public manifestation of religion had to have government approval. Furthermore, it ruled that only civil marriage would be considered legal, making the Catholic ceremony meaningless before the state even when it was valid before God.
Josemaria escaped the brutal attack on the Church by fleeing to France. When the war finally ended in 1939, Fr. Escriva returned to Spain, taking residence in Burgos. Upon his return, he witnessed the bitterness still present and wrote, “Never put up a Cross just to keep alive the memory that some people killed others. . . . Christ’s Cross is to keep silent, to forgive, and to pray for those on both sides, so that all may attain peace.”
Josemaria again took up the work of spreading the work of God. He traveled throughout Spain, giving retreats at the requests of the bishops. These retreats he gave to priests, to encourage them in doing the will of God.
Soon another, larger war broke out. During World War II, the work of Opus Dei continued to grow as it spread to other Spanish cities. In 1941, Bishop Leopoldo Eijo y Garay gave the first official, formal approval of Opus Dei.
Two years later, while celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in 1943, Fr. Escriva received the inspiration to found the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross. This facilitated the Ordination of laymen of Opus Dei to become priests.
Priests of the new foundation were to cooperate with the local bishops and to submit to them in obedience. While diocesan priests could join as well, they would do so while remaining in their positions in their local diocese.
Once the war was over in 1945, the work spread to other countries in Europe. In 1946, Fr. Escriva moved to Rome from where he spent many years traveling throughout Europe establishing the work of Opus Dei. By locating the main office in Rome, Opus Dei confirmed that it was to serve the Church as the Church wishes.
On February 24, 1947, the Holy See granted its first pontifical approval to the new organization. Then, three years later, Pope Pius XII gave Opus Dei definitive pontifical approval, meaning that both priests and married persons could join the group. The same Pope granted a special honor to Escriva meaning that he would now be a monsignor.
During the next 19 years, Josemaria traveled to Asia, Africa, and South and North America to spread the work of Opus Dei. When Pope John XXIII called for a Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Escriva quickly urged both priests and laity to pray for a “happy outcome of this great initiative.” He was present to foster the Church’s understanding and pursuit of engaging the laity in spreading the Good News.
The documents of the council on the laity mirrored the work of Opus Dei. Both agreed that the laity is included in the universal call to holiness, that professional work is a means to holiness and apostolic work, and that the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the center and source of the interior life.
As the membership in Opus Dei spread around the world and the number of members increased rapidly, so did the criticism of Msgr. Escriva. Some theologians attacked his hugely popular book, The Way, as being simplistic and lacking any depth beneficial to the spiritual life. Others claimed he had a temper and was secretive.
If some find his book simplistic, perhaps they would also find the spirituality of the Blessed Mother, St. Therese of Lisieux, or Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta simplistic as well. It is not in great discourse or much knowledge that God is well pleased, but when we do His will. Even saints are not perfect and, as has been said about other saints, they are relentless in seeking the will of God, which many find offensive.
Escriva bore yet another cross through his severe diabetes. However, he was suddenly cured in 1954.
Furthermore, he suffered financially. The costs involved in organizing, forming, and establishing such a large work for God are considerable. But as one woman once said, “God has lots of money.”
Despite the difficulties he faced, he remained cheerful and dedicated to doing God’s work. The people of Opus Dei established colleges for professional training, schools for agricultural training, universities, hospitals, and medical centers, as well as primary and secondary schools. Needs of citizens were to be met on a local level by ordinary people doing extraordinary things for the love of God.
Not surprisingly, St. Josemaria died in his workroom while gazing at an image of our Lady. On June 26, 1975, he experienced a massive heart attack and died. Pope St. John Paul II beatified him on May 17, 1992 and canonized him on October 6, 2002 at St. Peter’s Square.
St. Josemaria Escriva lived to do God’s will. He believed the Lord called the laity to be more than pew sitters. Each person is called to holiness, and is called to evangelization and catechesis. Hence, he also developed a system by which the members of Opus Dei would study the faith. There would be both spiritual and doctrinal formation.
Dear St. Josemaria, you loved God with a burning flame nurtured by your love for Mary and the Real Presence. Help us to see that there is always work to be done not only by religious, but by the laity as well. Obtain for us the grace to consistently and continually seek to know God’s will and to receive the grace to do His will in all things at all times. Amen.
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(Carole Breslin home-schooled her four daughters and served as treasurer of the Michigan Catholic Home Educators for eight years. For over ten years, she was national coordinator for the Marian Catechists, founded by Fr. John A. Hardon, SJ.)
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