Prayer for the Intercession of St. Josemaria Escriva

June 26 is the feast of St. Josemaria Escriva, a Spanish priest who was canonized in 2002. He is well-known for founding Opus Dei, meaning the Work of God, which focused on reaching sanctification through our daily work and the fulfillment of our Christian duties. St. Josemaria was convinced that in order to attain sanctity through our daily work, one needs to strive to be a soul of prayer. Living in this way, everything becomes prayer, leading us to God in each moment of our day and drawing others to Him as well. St. Josemaria spoke of this, saying, “Either we learn to find our Lord in ordinary, everyday life, or else we shall never find Him.”

St. Josemaria especially emphasized serving God at all times by beginning the day with a morning prayer, an offering to Our Lord and Lady of all that we shall do that day. His mother taught him the following morning offering, which he said daily throughout his life.

O my Lady, O my Mother, I offer myself entirely to you, and in proof of my filial affection I offer to you this day my eyes, my ears, my tongue, my heart, in a word, my whole self. Now that I am entirely yours Mother of goodness, keep me and defend me as your own property and possession. Amen.

St. Josemaria Escriva is also well-known for his written works of spiritual guidance, such as The Way. These small, but profound, works provide the reader with guidance to sanctify every moment and act of the day. The following prayer asks God to grant a special request and help us attain sanctification through the intercession of St. Josemaria Escriva, known as the Saint of the ordinary.

Prayer for the Intercession of St. Josemaria Escriva

O God, through the mediation of Mary our Mother, you granted your priest St. Josemaría countless graces, choosing him as a most faithful instrument to found Opus Dei, a way of sanctification in daily work and in the fulfillment of the Christian's ordinary duties. Grant that I too may learn to turn all the circumstances and events of my life into occasions of loving You and serving the Church, the Pope and all souls with joy and simplicity, lighting up the pathways of this earth with faith and love. Deign to grant me, through the intercession of St. Josemaría, the favor of (make your request). Amen.
Recite one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.

God bless!

+JMJ+

For the Feast of St. Augustine

St. Josemaria Escriva, author of The Way, wrote,

 “Persevere in prayer. Persevere, even when your efforts seem sterile. Prayer is always fruitful.”  

Holy Mother Church celebrates the feast of St. Augustine of Hippo on August 28.  (On the new calendar the feasts of Sts. Monica and Augustine, mother and son, are celebrated on August 27 and 28, but traditionally St. Monica's feast day is on May 4.)  St. Monica provides us with a wonderful example of perseverance in prayer. As a wife to a pagan and a mother to a son who was living an immoral life, Monica stormed heaven with prayers for their souls, for their conversions. Her prayers proved to be fruitful; her husband converted a year before his death and her son, Augustine, returned to his Christian upbringing and eventually became a great saint and Doctor of the Church. May we persevere in our own prayers in the same manner as St. Monica, trusting in God to answer our prayers.

After St. Augustine's conversion, he spoke and wrote about God, becoming one of the Church's most influential theologians of the time. His works and words were filled with his fervent love for God.  The following prayer was composed by St. Augustine.

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Prayer of Trust in God's Heavenly Promise

My God, let me know and love you, so that I may find my happiness in you. Since I cannot fully achieve this on earth, help me to improve daily until I may do so to the full. Enable me to know you ever more on earth, so that I may know you perfectly in heaven. Enable me to love you ever more on earth, so that I may love you perfectly in heaven. In that way my joy may be great on earth, and perfect with you in heaven.
O God of truth, grant me the happiness of heaven so that my joy may be full in accord with your promise. In the meantime let my mind dwell on that happiness, my tongue speak of it, my heart pine for it, my mouth pronounce it, my soul hunger for it, my flesh thirst for it, and my entire being desire it until I enter through death in the joy of my Lord forever. Amen.
--Saint Augustine of Hippo