Jun 25, 2012 5:07pm

June 26th: The Feast of St. Jose Maria Escriva, Priest & Founder of Opus Dei

Jose Maria Escriva died in Rome on June 26th, 1975. Thousands of people, including many bishops (a third of all the bishops in the world), requested that the Holy See open his cause for canonization. On October 6, 2002, in St. Peter's Square, before a great multitude, Pope John Paul proclaimed him a saint just ten years after his beatification. In his homily on that occasion, the Pope said:

Following in his footsteps, spread in society the awareness that we are called to holiness, without distinction of race, class, culture or age.

The artifact presented here is a signed note card, typed in German and dated March 17th, 1975. It reads:

My Dear Friend, I have just received your heartfelt greeting for which I sincerely thank you and at the same time for the dear letter from Peter. That son of yours is wonderful. Please help me to thank the Lord for my own priesthood. And do not forget to pray for me that I may always be good and faithful.

Blessings from my heart for you and your entire family.

The hand-written message reads,
In the Lord,
Jose Maria Escriva.
Rome, March 17, 1975

You may access a biography of St. Jose Maria Escriva on Page 1 of Saints & Blesseds. This part of Papal Artifacts contains biographies and artifacts of twenty-four saints and beatified individuals. They will be joined in the near future by Blessed Rupert Mayer, a significant and courageous priest from Germany during WW II.

Papal Artifacts honors this priest on his feast day.

St. Jose Maria Escriva: Card Typed in German, Dated 1975 1902-1975

St. Jose Maria Escriva: 1902-1975 Founder of Opus Dei. The card is dated March 17th, 1975. It is typed and in German. It reads: My Dear Friend, I have just received your heartfelt greeting for which I sincerely thank you an... read more »