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Saint Josemaria Escriva 1902 - 1975

Sanctify yourself,
sanctify your work,
and sanctify others
through your work.

Prayer of Blessed JoseMaria Escriva

Founder of Opus Dei
O God, You granted your priest Blessed Josemaria 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 of my life into occasions of loving You and of 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 the canonization of Blessed Josemaria and, through his intercession, grant me the favor of (here make your request). Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be to the Father
Amen.

Beatified on September 6, 2002 by Pope John Paul II

See Saint Jose Maria Escriva at Patron Saints and Josemaria Escriva at EWTN for more Information

To send this card: Saint Jose Maria Escriva

To read JoyNotes

Quote for the Day:
Make your requests with definite earnestness if you would have definite answers.
Aimlessness in prayer accounts for so many seemingly unanswered prayers .
Be definite in your petitions.
Fill out your check for something definite,
and it will be cashed at the bank of Heaven when presented in Jesus? Name.
Dare to be definite with God.

Anonymous
Quote from the book, "101 Inspirational Stories of the Power of Prayer"

A nice hot sunny day. Hot at the moment being 71 which means "just perfect." It will get a bit hotter.. but still nice. Saturday and Sunday - hmmm.. low 90's not so perfect. But will deal with that later. For now Pi and me think it is just perfect!

I am doing the JoyNotes earlier in the day as we have a couple of spiritual conferences coming up and trying to "make clear the road" before they start. It's really, really nice doing the JoyNotes at this time of day... brain is functioning, stomach is hungry but dinner is close so figure I can keep going - and the idea of being in control about doing them.. rather than my usual cram for the exam sort of existence I usually submit myself to is pretty awesome. Must do this more often.

Last night and this morning I had a total break through. One of those where "you know it but don't quite GET IT till the Lord spells it out...very plain English for those slow to understand."

You see, I have been sort of (okay more that sort of) depressed about the book. It's like "Okay, its done, it's wonderful.. but its not doing anything, going anywhere, shaking up the world sort of thing." and the New York Times has not called to ask how did we ever come up with such an earth shaking, totally over the top book and the President of the United States has not asked for a personal copy (which he really should) and Pope Benedict.. I really don't think even knows about this book, if you can imagine that. So there I am just sitting on the top of my Great Expectations and experiencing "fall out."

So what does the Lord do - for someone like me - who builds castles on sand? He says, "Knock it off, Already!" "Get a Life" Did you do the book for ME or for you??

And I say, "Uh, well, I sort of fooled myself that I was doing it for you... I was putting that in the mix.. but yeah, I guess there was just way to much of ME in the recipe."

He says, "Right." He lets me stew on that for a few minutes and then he adds a bit more. Ever notice how the Lord always.. and I mean ALWAYS likes to have the last word? I hadn't realized that until I read it in the Scriptures once when the Pharisees where complaining about Jesus and they said something to the effect of, "Who wants to talk to someone who always thinks He is in the right?" I thought that was very funny.

......

Well, guess what... got called to supper and so I couldn't finish the above thought - and its gone clear out the window now. Probably zip back in some time around midnight but I'm not waiting around for it. Anyway the way the Lord got through my book complex was listening to a radio program last night by Father Robert Spitzer, S.J. It was after 11:00 last night... I was late as could be and was just doing the final checking on the fourth floor and I stepped into the radio room to check the window and I heard Father talking on the radio about people who start off doing something good and then get mixed up and turned around so that the original intent they were after - gets mixed up with ego. Well, its just too complicated to explain really, but the point is the Lord sort of got a few zingers in and showed me that I was more worried about the book doing well for MY little old sake rather than for His sake or anyone else. And of course, he said, "That is just not going to work!"

And I said, "I know, I know...I keep trying to give it over to you.. but somehow I keep grabbing it back!" I could tell He completely agreed that I was being pretty hopeless about the whole thing. Anyway - at least I do think He made a little headway through my understanding through Fr. Spitzer. Finally... because truthfully a few other people have been telling me the same thing.. and I always agree... and then sort of slippy slide back into making it my problem again instead of God's.

Just amazing. Ever notice how you don't mind nearly as much taking a knock down from God as you do from someone else? In fact, once the whole picture of what I was doing - cleared up and focused in my head I felt wonderful.

I will tell you what though.. tonight I don't care what is on the radio when I go up there to check.. I'm keeping on moving on... because I do need my sleep. We're not going for beauty here, just good, old plain sleep that keeps me from biting peoples heads off. when I don't get it.

Blessings of Peace and Joy!
Sister Patricia

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Sr Patricia