St. Josemaria Escriva

St. Josemaria Escriva (1902-1975) was born in Spain, one of six children of a devout Catholic family. Observing his parents faithfully endure painful family trials—the death of three of their young children and devastating financial setbacks—had a deepening effect on his own faith. As a teenager he discovered his vocation to the priesthood when he saw the path of bare footprints in the snow left by a Carmelite friar. He then experienced a radical conversion; he gave up his intended career as an architect and entered the seminary. He spent most of his life studying and teaching in universities, earning a doctorate in civil law and theology. Saint Josemaria Escriva's lasting impact lies in the foundation of Opus Dei (“The Work of God”), an organization of laity and priests dedicated to the universal call of holiness and the belief that ordinary, daily life is an authentic path to sanctity. Today Opus Dei has over 80,000 members worldwide. His famous written work is "The Way," a collection of his spiritual and pastoral reflections on the Gospels and their application to everyday life. On June 26, 1975, after glancing at an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe in his Rome office, St. Josemaría died suddenly of cardiac arrest. He was canonized by Pope St. John Paul II. St. Josemaria Escriva's feast day is June 26th.