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Josemaría EscriváSaint Josemaría Escrivá (January 9, 1902-June 26, 1975), (previously known as Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer y Albas) was a Catholic priest and founder of the Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei.
BiographyOne of six children born to José and Dolores Escribá (the original spelling of his name), Josemaría Escrivá first felt a calling to the priesthood when he saw the footprints left in the snow by a passing monk. After studying in both Logroño and Zaragoza, he was ordained in Zaragoza on March 28, 1925. After a brief appointment in the country he moved to Madrid in 1927 in order to pursue studies in law. A prayerful retreat helped him to further discern what he considered to be God's will for him, and on October 2 1928 Opus Dei (Latin for "Work of God") was born as a new lay movement through which Catholics might learn to sanctify themselves while remaining at the heart of the world and engaged in everyday activities. Religious persecution and anti-clerical massacres in the Spanish Civil War drove Escrivá into hiding, although he continued to risk his life in order to minister to faithful Catholics. When the conflict ended in 1939, he was able to resume his studies in Madrid and acquire a doctorate in law. The Priestly Society of the Holy Cross, attached to Opus Dei, was founded in 1943, and Escrivá himself moved to Rome in 1946. After earning a doctorate in theology from the Lateran University , he was appointed Consultor to two Vatican Congregations and made an honorary member of the Pontifical Academy of Theology. Pope Pius XII acknowledged Josemaría Escrivá's work by making him a prelate of honor and by granting Opus Dei his official approval on June 16, 1950. After that, Josemaría Escrivá worked hard to foster Opus Dei's work, so that when he died in 1975 Opus Dei covered five continents with in excess of 60,000 members of 80 nationalities. IntercessionHis cause for Canonization was introduced in Rome on February 19 1981 on the strength of the apparently miraculous cure in 1976 of a rare disease, lipomatosis , suffered by Sister Concepción Boullón Rubio, whose family had prayed to Josemaría Escrivá. On April 9, 1990, Pope John Paul II declared that Josemaría Escrivá possessed Christian virtues to a "heroic degree", and on July 6, 1991 the Board of Physicians for the Congregation of the Causes of Saints unanimously accepted the cure of Sister Rubio. A second reported miracle apparently brought about by Josemaría Escrivá's intervention was ruled valid by the Congregation and approved by Pope John Paul II in December 2001. Canonization and legacySaint Josemaría was canonized on 6 October 2002 by Pope John Paul II, who has frequently expressed public support for Opus Dei and its work. Saint Josemaría's books, including Furrow, The Way, Christ is Passing By, and The Forge, continue to be read widely both by members of Opus Dei and by other Catholics attracted to his distinctive spirituality, which emphasises the laity's calling to daily sanctification (a message also to be found in the documents of Vatican II). Pope John Paul II made the following observation in his homily at the beatification of Saint Josemaría:
CriticismA vocal defender in life of Catholic orthodoxy and devotion, Saint Josemaría continues to attract criticism from some quarters. Some critics have described his character as less than saintly, particularly in his attitude towards women, and have accused him of lacking humility: for example, he changed his name from Escribá to the more aristocratic Escrivá. He has also been criticised for his enthusiasm for the practices of flagellation and mortification of the flesh; he is recorded as having whipped himself until the walls of a bathroom were splattered with blood. He once wrote: "Blessed be pain. Loved be pain. Sanctified be pain...Glorified be pain!" (The Way, #208). However, his supporters and a number of theologians think this is a healthy and holy virtue (mortification) preached by Jesus Christ and St. Paul, and practiced by all saints. Accusations of right-wing tendencies, based largely on Saint Josemaría's criticisms of the crimes of Republican forces during the Spanish Civil War, are also common. Critics also point to a presumable Fascist link saying that he was a supporter of Francisco Franco. Escriva's followers and some historians have emphasized his personal effort to avoid partiality in politics. Prof. Peter Berglar, a German historian, affirms that Franco's falangists suspected Escriva of "internationalism, anti-Spainism and freemasonry" and that during "the first decade of Franco's regime, Opus Dei and Escriva were attacked with perseverance bordering on fanaticism, not by enemies but by supporters of the new Spanish state. Escriva was even reported to the 'Tribunal for the Fight against Freemasonry.'" (Berglar, Opus Dei: Life and Works of Josemaria Escriva 1994, p.180-181) Although there is a letter from Josemaría to Francisco Franco which shows this supposed link, Escrivá admired Franco. In the letter he also expresses some kind of Spanish patriotism. He actually said "Although alien to any political activity, I cannot help but rejoice as a priest and Spaniard" that Spain, through its Head of State, has officially accepted the law of God in accordance with the Catholic faith. And his Catholic supporters say that Catholicism's law and faith stands for human rights, human dignity and freedom. Escriva together with the Popes have preached that all citizens should practice patriotism and love for their country together with loving other nations as well. See alsoReading list
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Last updated: 05-07-2005 05:55:36
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