June 26 is the feast day of Saint Josemaria Escriva, the saint of ordinary life.
Saint Josemaria is the founder of Opus Dei, a Catholic organization that aims to spread the message that "every person is called to holiness and that every honest work can be sanctified."
Saint Josemaria founded Opus Dei while he was on a spiritual retreat in Madrid, Spain on October 2, 1928. The organization now has a presence in 66 countries, including the Philippines.
He believed in becoming holy through the ordinary, everyday things we do.
"Either we learn to find our Lord in ordinary, everyday life, or else we shall never find Him.” -- Saint Josemaria Escriva
Prayer for Saint Josemaría's intercession
O God, through the mediation of Mary our Mother, you granted your priest St. Josemaría countless graces, choosing him as a most faithful instrument to found Opus Dei, a way of sanctification in daily work and in the fulfillment of the Christian's ordinary duties.
Grant that I too may learn to turn all the circumstances and events of my life into occasions of loving You and serving the Church, the Pope and all souls with joy and simplicity, lighting up the pathways of this earth with faith and love.
Deign to grant me, through the intercession of St. Josemaría, the favor of ... (make your request). Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be to the Father.
Biography of Saint Josemaria Escriva
Saint Josemaria was born in Barbastro, Spain on January 9, 1902. At age two, he contracted a grave illness but was miraculously cured. In thanksgiving, his parents brought him to the Shrine of Our Lady of Torreciudad near their residence.
At age 17, he began studying for priesthood at a seminary in Logroño, where his family moved after their father's business in Barbastro failed.
Photo: By Oficina de Información de la Prelatura del Opus Dei en España
A year later, he moves again, this time to Saragossa to enter the Seminary of San Carlos.
At age 21, while studying at the seminary, he also enrolled in Civil Law at the University of Saragossa.
In 1925 at 23 years old, he was ordained a priest and in 1927, he finished law.
In the same year, he moved to Madrid, the capital of Spain, to pursue doctoral studies while working as a chaplain.
A year later, in 1928, he founded Opus Dei. For over 40 years, he wrote many books and visited many countries. Then in 1975, in his 50th year as a priest, he returned to Rome, where the central office of Opus Dei was located.
On June 26, 1975, he died in his office at age 73. Pope John Paul II beatified him in 1992 and canonized him in 2002.
Saint Josemaria Escriva is one of the favorite saints of the author, Veronica Velarde-Pulumbarit, and prays to him everyday. June 26, the feast day of Saint Josemaria, is the Baptismal Day of the author.
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