By CAROLE BRESLIN
Part 1
God, in His loving Providence and perfect timing, gives the Church holy men and women to guide the Mystical Body of Christ. During the chaos of the Protestant revolt, he provided St. Ignatius and St. Teresa of Avila. At the beginning of the 20th century, as the lay faithful were being called to participate in a more prayerful and active way in the work of the Catholic Church, God sent a young Spanish man to found an order dedicated to enriching the lives and the work of the laity: St. Josemaria Escriva.
On January 9, 1902, in Barbastro — a city located in northeastern Spain — Josemaria Escriva was born to José Escriva and Dolores Albas. Four days later the devout parents — who practiced both frequent Confession and Holy Communion — had José baptized. They led lives filled with prayer and devotion to the Blessed Virgin, as well as with helping the needy.
José, the second of six children, had a loving and trusting relationship with both his father and mother. People remembered him as being fun-loving, honest, studious, intelligent, and observant. His father encouraged him to be open about his feelings and worries, answering the concerns of his son with patience and compassion rather than with ridicule and derision.
José learned at an early age the weight of the cross. When he was at the tender age of eight, his sisters began to die. He lost three younger ones between 1910 and 1913. The next year, the family experienced the devastation of family ruin when all their wealth was lost.
In 1915, the family moved to Logrono, where Mr. Escriva found work to support his family. Then, two years later, the vocation of young José began to form. During the winter of 1917-1918, José was walking out in the deep snow when he noticed the footprints of a discalced Carmelite. It was Christmas and the uncommonly reflective 16-year-old boy pondered the evidence of the religious: “If others sacrifice so much for God and their neighbor, why couldn’t I do something, too?”
Although José did not know God’s will for him, he yearned to do whatever it was with all his heart. He thought that by becoming a priest, he would better be able to carry out God’s will for him.
However, he had a lot to do before he could be ordained. Although he had completed his secondary education, he still had to finish his preparation for the priesthood. So José entered the Seminary of Logrono, about 225 miles west of Barbastro, after which, in 1920 he transferred to the Seminary of Saragossa between Logrono and Barbastro.
He not only studied theology but also studied law at the suggestion of his father and with the permission of his archbishop, Juan Soldevilla y Romano, the ordinary of Saragossa. After José completed his studies at the University of Saragossa and then finished his courses for Ordination, he was recognized by the same archbishop for his cheerful demeanor, surrender to divine Providence, and uncommon piety. The archbishop named him the prefect in the Seminary of Saragossa.
As prefect, José spent many hours in front of the Blessed Sacrament, laying the foundation of a life deeply rooted in the Real Presence. In addition, he fostered his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary by daily visits to her shrine at the Basilica of Our Lady of Pilar. Each time he beseeched Mary that she would ask her Son what He wanted José to do. He would later explain how Mary answered these prayers for direction.
Four months before José’s Ordination, his father died suddenly on November 27, 1924. On March 28, 1925, he was ordained to the priesthood. Two days later, on March 30, he celebrated his first Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Pilar. The next day he left for Perdiguera to serve as assistant regent to the parish, located about 20 miles northeast of Saragossa.
Shortly thereafter, José received permission to move to Madrid, where he studied for a doctorate in civil law. In addition to his academics, Jose spent time ministering to both priests and laity, the rich and the poor, the educated and the illiterate. Furthermore, he taught law so that he could earn enough money to support his mother, sister, and brother. This selfless service and openness to do all that God requested earned José graces for the great plans God had for him.
While on retreat, when José meditated on the inspirations he had received during the previous year, he saw what God wanted him to do: “to open in the Church a new vocational path, aimed at spreading the quest for holiness and the practice of apostolate through the sanctification of ordinary work in the middle of the world, without changing one’s place.” It was October 2, 1928. On February 14, 1930, he understood that this work of God, this Opus Dei, included women.
From then on, through his missionary zeal — by God’s grace — he sought to enliven the Church. His first disciples came from the university, both teachers and students. He taught — again by God’s grace — that they would sanctify both themselves and those for whom their work was done.
By getting to know Jesus more intimately through prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, he said, they could take Him everywhere and help others to know Jesus.
In 1933 he established the DYA Academy. Msgr. Escriva saw that knowledge of the world and the culture within which people lived was essential for effective evangelization.
In 1934, he published his first book, Spiritual Considerations. Since that first publication, he changed the title to The Way. This book of maxims for the spiritual life has been republished in 44 languages with more than 4.5 million copies in print.
As in the case of all of God’s work, the cross came. Not only were there critics of his academy, but some thought the organization was too secretive.
Furthermore, the Spanish Civil War broke out in 1936, leading many Catholics to undergo persecution and even martyrdom. The Church virtually went underground until the end of the war in 1939.
During this time, Msgr. Escriva did not hesitate to push forward with his work and what he “saw” that God wanted him to do. There was still much more to be done for God’s Kingdom.
Next week that work and the final days of the founder of Opus Dei will be covered.
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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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