6. Epilogue

Some excerpts from John Paul II's homily and speech at the canonization of Saint Josemaria

“All who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God” (Rom 8,14). These words of the Apostle Paul help us understand better the significant message of today’s canonization of Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer. With docility he allowed himself to be led by the Spirit, convinced that only in this way can one fully accomplish God’s will.

This fundamental Christian truth was a constant theme in his preaching. Indeed, he never stopped inviting his spiritual children to invoke the Holy Spirit to ensure that their interior life, namely, their life of relationship with God and their family, professional and social life, totally made up of small earthly realities, would not be separated but would form only one life that was “holy and full of God.” He wrote, “We find the invisible God in the most visible and material things” (Conversations with Josemaría Escrivá, n. 114).

To fulfill such a rigorous mission [to bring Christ to the world], one needs constant interior growth nourished by prayer. St Josemaría was a master in the practice of prayer, which he considered to be an extraordinary “weapon” to redeem the world. He always recommended: “In the first place prayer; then expiation; in the third place, but very much in third place, action” (The Way, n. 82).

Saint Josemaría was chosen by the Lord to proclaim the universal call to holiness and to indicate that everyday life, its customary activities, are a path towards holiness. It could be said that he was the saint of the ordinary. He was really convinced that, for whoever lives with an outlook of faith, everything offers an opportunity for a meeting with God, everything becomes a stimulus for prayer. Seen in that way, daily life reveals an unsuspected greatness. Holiness is really put on everyone's doorstep.