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On the 100th anniversary of his priestly ordination, St. Josemaría Escrivá has achieved notable recognition, topping Amazon charts with his book on prayer, "The Way." The book gained popularity during Lent after being featured on the Catholic app Hallow, making it onto bestseller lists. At one stage, it ranked as the No. 7 most read book of the week, breaking into the top five on Amazon's Christian Devotionals, Christian Inspirational, and Inspirational Spirituality charts.
John Coverdale, a biographer who worked with Escrivá from 1961 to 1968 in Rome, remarked on the increased interest in "The Way" at the centenary of the saint's ordination. Coverdale echoed the description of Escrivá by St. John Paul II as “the saint of the ordinary,” portraying him as "extraordinarily live." Born in Barbastro, Spain, in 1902, Escrivá felt a calling to priesthood after his family faced financial difficulties. He entered the seminary in Zaragoza in 1920, studying civil law at the same time, as advised by his father.
Ordained in 1925, Escrivá relocated to Madrid and pursued a doctorate in law. During a 1928 retreat, he discerned a divine purpose to promote Christian perfection among people of all social classes, leading to his founding of Opus Dei. This Catholic prelature collaborates with dioceses to advance evangelization within the Church.
In 1946, Escrivá moved to Rome to broaden Opus Dei's reach. He traveled through Mexico and Central and South America before returning to Rome, where he passed away in 1975. Escrivá was beatified by St. John Paul II in 1992 and canonized in 2002.
Reflecting on Escrivá's life, Coverdale recalls informal gatherings with him in Rome, where conversations seamlessly shifted between ordinary topics and spiritual subjects. This ease of transition reflected Escrivá's belief that spiritual and everyday realms were both real and interconnected.
"The Way," originally published in 1934 and retitled in 1939, strikes a chord with many due to its approachable insights into Catholic spirituality. Coverdale identified the book's core message: “we are all called to holiness.” Within its pages, Escrivá offers practical advice on prayer and faith, urging readers that simply placing oneself in the presence of God marks the beginning of prayer.
Escrivá emphasized the continuous presence of God, asserting, "We’ve got to be convinced that God is always near us." Coverdale noted Escrivá’s evident love for God and others, sharing that working with Escrivá felt akin to living with a saint.
Gina Christian is a multimedia reporter for OSV News. Follow her on X @GinaJesseReina.
