In his first message delivered from the Loggia of Saint Peter's Basilica, Pope Leo reminded us that the saints are the arms of the Church, embracing all of humanity with God's saving love, writes Father Philip Moss, priest of Opus Dei, upon the Feast of Saint Josemaria Escriva (1902 – 1975) who founded Opus Dei in 1928. But what is Opus Dei? Father Moss explains:
By virtue of our Baptism, all Christians are called to the fullness of the Christian life: to union with God and participation in His work of redemption.
But how is the ordinary Christian — amid the hustle and bustle of daily life, with its family responsibilities, careers, and social obligations — to respond to this call?
God raised up Saint Josemaría Escrivá (1902–1975), the founder of Opus Dei, to proclaim the universal call to holiness and to teach that the ordinary circumstances of everyday life are not obstacles to sanctity, but the very place where we are called to encounter Jesus Christ and to share His love with others. As Saint Josemaria once wrote:
“Our age needs to give back to matter and to the most trivial occurrences and situations their noble and original meaning. It needs to restore them to the service of the Kingdom of God, to spiritualize them, turning them into a means and an occasion for a continuous meeting with Jesus Christ.”
Saint Josemaria Escriva, pray for us!
* Father Philip Moss is based at a center of Opus Dei in South Bend, Indiana. He leads a monthly Evening of Recollection for Men and a monthly Morning of Recollection for Women at Old Saint Patrick parish in Ann Arbor. All are very welcome. For dates and times go to the parish calendar: https://stpatricka2.org/parish-calendar