Josemaría Escrivá
Spanish priest who founded Opus Dei, teaching holiness through sanctification of work.
Patronage
Opus Dei members, seekers of holiness in ordinary work, Catholic youth
Virtues & Traits
Biography
Josemaría Escrivá (1902–1975) was a Spanish Catholic priest who founded Opus Dei (Work of God) in 1928, a personal prelature dedicated to promoting holiness through ordinary professional work. Born in Barbastro, Spain, Escrivá experienced a profound spiritual calling to demonstrate that sanctity was attainable for all lay people, not only clergy and religious. During the Spanish Civil War, he escaped persecution and worked clandestinely. After relocating to Rome, Opus Dei expanded globally, gaining papal recognition. Escrivá's teaching revolutionized lay Catholic spirituality by emphasizing that secular work constituted genuine spiritual vocation when performed with right intention. He authored The Way, a collection of aphorisms guiding spiritual development. His insistence that ordinary activities—professional, familial, domestic—could become paths to holiness transformed Catholic understanding of laity's role. Escrivá was beatified in 1992 and canonized in 2002.
Prayer
Prayer to St. Josemaría Escrivá
O God, who called Saint Josemaría Escrivá to proclaim the universal call to holiness and the sanctification of ordinary work, grant us through his intercession the grace to see the divine presence in all our daily activities. Help us to transform our work into prayer and to serve You with dedication and love in the midst of the world. May we follow his example of fidelity to the Church and commitment to spreading the message that all are called to sanctity. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Generated by Find My Saint for personal reflection. Not an official Church prayer.