Online Encyclopedia
Josemaría Escrivá
Saint Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer (January 9, 1902 - June 26, 1975), priest and founder of the controversial Catholic prelature Opus Dei.
| Contents |
Biography
One of six children of Jose and Dolores Escrivá, Josemaría Escrivá first felt a calling to the priesthood after observing the footprints left in the snow by a passing monk. After studies in both Logrono and Zaragoza, Josemaría Escrivá 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 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 anticlerical 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 as 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. The same pope granted Opus Dei his approval on June 16, 1950. After that, Josemaría Escrivá strove tirelessly 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.
Intercession
It was the apparently miraculous cure of Sister Concepcion Boullon Rubio's lipomatosis, following prayers from members of her family to Josemaría Escrivá, which led to his Cause for Canonization being introduced in Rome on February 19 1981. On April 9, 1990, Pope John Paul II declared that Josemaría Escrivá possessed Christian virtues to a "heroic degree", and the Board of Physicians for the Congregation of the Causes of Saints unanimously approved the cure of Sister Rubio on July 6, 1991. A second reported miracle apparently resulting from Josemaría Escrivá's intervention was ruled valid by the Congregation and approved by Pope John Paul II in December 2001.
Canonization and legacy
Saint 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:
- "With supernatural intuition, Blessed Josemaria untiringly preached the universal call to holiness and apostolate. Christ calls everyone to become holy in the realities of everyday life. Hence work too is a means of personal holiness and apostolate, when it is done in union with Jesus Christ."
Criticism
A vocal defender in life of Catholic orthodoxy and devotion, Saint Josemaría continues - despite his canonization - to attract criticism from some quarters.
Some critics have described his character as less than saintly, particularly in his attitude towards women.
Some have criticised Escrivá's apparently excessive enthusiasm for the practices of flagellation and mortification of the flesh; he is recorded as having whipped himself until the wall of the room was splattered with blood. In his writings, he stated: "Blessed be pain. Loved be pain. Sanctified be pain. . . Glorified be pain!" (The Way, 208). His supporters think this is a fair and holy virtue (mortification), while critics have suggested that this behavior was more indicative of the paraphilia of algolagnia than sanctity.
Accusations of right-wing tendencies, based largely on Saint Josemaría's criticisms of the crimes of Republican forces during the Spanish Civil War, are common. Critics also point to a presumable Fascist link saying that he was a supporter of Francisco Franco.
Reading list
- Josemaría Escrivá: Furrow, Scepter Publications, 1992. ISBN 0933932553
- Josemaría Escrivá: The Way, Scepter Publications, 1992. ISBN 0933932545
- Josemaría Escrivá De Balaguer: Conversations with Monsignor Josemaría Escrivá, Scepter Publications, 2003. ISBN 1889334588
- Francis Fernandez: In Conversation with God, Scepter Publications, 1993. ISBN 0906138191 (7 volume set)
External links
- Patron Saints Index: St Josemaría Escrivá (primary source)
- Saint Josemaría Escrivá
- Writings of the Founder
- A letter from Josemaría Escrivá to Francisco Franco