Josemaría Escrivá was born in Spain in 1902. Exactly 100 years later, he was canonized by John Paul II in 2002 before a massive crowd in St. Peter’s Square.
The saint only died in 1975, so there are a number of videos of him available as personal testimonies. He is succinct with his spiritual advice, as well as practical: His best-known works – The Way, The Furrow and The Forge – are compilations of these pieces of helpful advice.
As a parish priest, Fr. Josemaría started Opus Dei in Madrid in 1928. The beginnings of the movement survived the Spanish Civil War, and afterwards Escrivá gave retreats and further developed the charism of Opus Dei. Escrivá took seriously the work of evangelizing to everyone in their ordinary lives.
This is illustrated by a story: When Opus Dei was starting out, it consisted of all men who were non-smokers. Noting this, Escrivá said that one of the men better pick up the habit – presumably so that he could develop apostolic friendship with smokers by being one of them.
Here are some of the brief reflections that St. Josemaria has shared about Our Lady, which can be particularly helpful when we are going through difficulties.
1Perfect refuge
A woman of courage, fortitude, humility ... also a woman of loneliness and tears. Our Lady of Sorrow is the perfect refuge when life is difficult.
2In loneliness
Mary's loneliness. Alone! She weeps, forsakenly.
You and I should keep our Lady company, and weep also, for Jesus has been fixed to the wood, with nails — our sins.
3Look into her heart
The Virgin of Sorrows. When you contemplate her, look into her Heart; she is a Mother with two sons, face to face: Him ... and you.
4Where is she?
The humility of my holy Mother Mary! She is not to be seen amid the palms of Jerusalem, nor at the hour of the great miracles — except at that first one at Cana.
But she doesn't escape from the contempt at Golgotha; there she stands, juxta crucem Jesu, the Mother of Jesus, beside his Cross.
5Ask for her strength
Marvel at Mary's courage: at the foot of the Cross, with the greatest of human sorrows — there is no sorrow like her sorrow — filled with fortitude.
And ask her for that same strength, so that you too can remain beside the Cross.
