St. Josemaria Escriva and I…

 

…share a birthday and a feast day: June 26th

When I first began devotion to St. Josemaria Escriva and was drawn to his teachings, (“maxims”) primarily through The Way, it was about fifteen years ago.  In 2002 when this holy man was canonized I was thrilled his feast day was my birthday.  I took that as a confirmation that he was truly with me, guiding and inspiring me.

Back in 1975 when Josemaria Escriva died, I was merely fifteen years old.  I had just finished my freshman year at our Catholic high school in Utah.  I know I had strong devotion in my early childhood through grade school and high school to our Infant of Prague as it was a family tradition and all of my family had statues of the dear Infant and images throughout their homes.  I can recite by heart the special novena of our Infant of Prague to this day, and like my mother’s Slovakian family that came before me, I too have a statue in a place of honor and a beautiful framed image of our Infant facing our front door entry. 

 

My husband and I have primarily taught our children the devotion of the rosary and I can tell it has served them as we pray it together as a family and I can see my older children resorting to it on their own.  St. Josemaria Escriva had great devotion through our Blessed Mother and this comes across in his writings.

As I matured, and I mean became a wife and mother, my faith needed so much more nourishment and depth.  Especially since taking on the task of home education, I felt I needed a wise and mature guide to take me by the hand and lead me.  Someone, purely accidentally (so we think…!), I happened upon The Way, and began to read the maxims of Josemaria and meditate on them in my daily life and adoration hours.  Oh how they touched me and sunk in, and how I needed his wisdom.  This was before his canonization and I was well pleased this holy man was canonized.

You can read more about him and his life and teachings here:

Josemaria Escriva Info

You can find his books and excerpts at this site:

Escriva Works

You can purchase many of his writings at this site:

Scepter Publishing

If you have any questions about St. Escriva or his writings, please feel free to contact me, I’d be glad to help.

Have a blessed day!  St. Josemaria Escriva, pray for us!