Today, October 2, is a day of two festive events for me and those who are involved in The Work:
First, today we remember our Guardian Angels. Saint Josemaria wrote: "
Get into the habit of praying to the Guardian Angel of each person
you are following up, to help them to be good and faithful and cheerful,
so that when the time comes they will be able to receive the eternal
embrace of Love from God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit
and from the Blessed Virgin." (The Forge, 1012)
Memorize the "Angel of God?" I do! I love this prayer so much.. I know the Latin and English version! I pray it very often! Everytime I pray this, I am always reminded of Saint Josemaria's words: "Have confidence in your guardian Angel. Treat him as a lifelong friend —
that is what he is — and he will render you a thousand services in the
ordinary affairs of each day." (The Way, 562).
Then, at this same date, God called Saint Josemaria to found (in Spain, AD1928) Opus Dei, a way of sanctification in daily work and in the fulfillment of the ordinary duties of a Christian.
From "Conversations" No. 24:
"Opus Dei aims to encourage people of every sector of society to desire
holiness in the midst of the world. In other words, Opus Dei proposes to
help ordinary citizens like yourself to lead a fully Christian life,
without modifying their normal way of life, their daily work, their
aspirations and ambitions."
"It intends to remind Christians of the wonderful words of Genesis: God
created man to work. We try to imitate the example of Christ, who spent
almost all his life on earth working as a carpenter in a small town.
Work is one of the highest human values and the way in which men
contribute to the progress of society. But even more, it is a way to
holiness."
"Opus Dei is an international lay organisation to which a certain number
of secular priests belong, although they are a small minority. Its
members are people who live in the world and hold normal jobs. They do
not join Opus Dei to give up their job. On the contrary, what they look
for in the Work is the spiritual help they need to sanctify their
ordinary work. Thus their work becomes a means to sanctify themselves
and help others to do the same thing. They do not change their status.
They continue being single, married, widowed or priests. What they try
to do is serve God and their fellow men in their own state in life. Opus
Dei is not interested in vows or promises. It asks its members to make
an effort to practise human and Christian virtues, as children of God,
despite the limitations and errors that are inevitable in human life."
