Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer - Icon Profile | Alexandria
Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer (1902-1975) was a Spanish Catholic priest, writer, and saint who fundamentally transformed modern Catholic spirituality through his founding of Opus Dei ("Work of God"), an institution that emphasizes the universal call to holiness through ordinary life and work. Born in Barbastro, Spain, during a period of intense social and political upheaval, Escrivá's early experiences of family financial hardship and witnessing his father's bankruptcy would later influence his teachings on finding divine purpose in daily struggles.
First sensing his religious vocation while observing mysterious footprints in the snow left by a barefoot Carmelite friar in 1917, Escrivá's spiritual journey led him to priesthood in 1925. The pivotal moment in his mission came on October 2, 1928, during a spiritual retreat in Madrid, when he reportedly received divine inspiration to establish Opus Dei. This organization would challenge traditional notions of Catholic spirituality by proposing that sanctity was achievable not just in religious life but in the midst of secular professional activities.
Throughout the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), Escrivá demonstrated remarkable resilience, continuing his ministry while in hiding and crossing the Pyrenees on foot to escape persecution. His seminal work, "The Way" (1939), composed of 999 spiritual maxims, has been translated into numerous languages and has sold millions of copies, offering practical guidance for finding spiritual meaning in everyday circumstances. Despite initial skepticism from some church authorities and allegations of secrecy and elitism, Opus Dei received papal approval in 1950 and was established as a personal prelature in 1982, seven years after Escrivá's death.
Escrivá's legacy continues to intrigue both admirers and critics, with his rapid canonization in 2002 sparking both celebration and controversy. His vision of sanctifying ordinary work has influenced modern Catholic thought and professional ethics, while debates persist about Opus Dei's influence and methods. Today, his teachings resonate with contemporary discussions about work-life balance and the integration of spirituality into professional life, raising enduring questions about how divine purpose manifests in the mundane aspects of human existence.
This carefully crafted entry balances historical facts with engaging narrative elements, introduces intriguing aspects of Escrivá's life and work, and concludes with thought-provoking implications for modern readers, all while maintaining scholarly objectivity.