St. Josemaría Escrivá
1902-1975
📅 Feast Day: Jun 26
📖 Life Timeline
1902
Born in January 9, 1902 AD, Barbastro, Spain
1902
Born Jan 9, 1902 in Barbastro, Spain
1920
n 9, 1902 in Barbastro, Spain
1928
ned priest in 1920 at age 24
1934
Europe, Latin America, and Asia
1975
Died — June 26, 1975 AD, Rome
2002
Canonized — 2002 by Pope John Paul II
✝ Biography
Born Jan 9, 1902 in Barbastro, Spain. Ordained priest in 1920 at age 24. Founded Opus Dei in 1928—an institution of the Church dedicated to spreading the message that all Christians are called to holiness in their ordinary work and daily life. Fled Madrid during the Spanish Civil War in 1936, crossing to France and then Portugal before returning to Spain. Established centers across Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Wrote 'The Way' (1934)—a spiritual guide with 999 numbered sections. Emphasized that sanctity is found in faithful fulfillment of one's daily duties. Survived an assassination attempt in 1936—shot six times but recovered. Died Jun 26, 1975 in Rome at age 73. Canonized in 2002 by John Paul II.
🛡 Patronage
Patron of: Lay Catholics, those who seek holiness in ordinary work, and the founders of Catholic institutions.
💬 Words of the Saint
Sanctify your work.
📜 Key Facts
Born
January 9, 1902 AD, Barbastro, Spain
Died
June 26, 1975 AD, Rome
Feast Day
Jun 26
Canonized
2002 by Pope John Paul II
🕊 Legacy
Opus Dei has 90,000+ members in 69 countries. Escrivá's teaching that ordinary work is a path to holiness revolutionized Catholic spirituality for laypeople. He founded the University of Navarre and countless institutions.
📜 Personal Writings
Read excerpts from the saint's own words — their personal letters, spiritual writings, and teachings.
📖 The Way
On Sanctifying Daily Work
Sanctify the time you spend working. Work as though everything depended on work, and pray as though everything depended on prayer. In your daily work, you can find God, you can serve your neighbor, you can grow in holiness. Your work is your path to sanctity, your means of apostolate, your way of love.
— St. Josemaría Escrivá
📖 The Way
On Christian Joy
Joy is a sign of the presence of God in our lives. It is the fruit of the Holy Spirit, the reward of our faithfulness, the anticipation of eternal happiness. Let us be joyful, not because everything is easy, but because God is with us. Let us be joyful, not because we have everything, but because we have God.
— St. Josemaría Escrivá
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