The series focuses on Saint Josemaria's time in Spain during the Spanish Civil War, the early apostolate of Opus Dei, and the attempt of Saint Josemaria and the first members to escape a murderous anti-Catholic persecution.
The episodes are available to download for free on all podcast platforms (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, etc.) and on The Merry Beggars’ website here.
The series stars Demetrios Troy (The Chosen) as a young St. Josemaria, and features an accomplished cast of stage, film and voice actors.
The five episodes will be released daily starting Monday, June 24 through Friday, June 28, including Saint Josemaria's feast day on June 26. The Saint Josemaria Institute provided sponsorship.
The series is produced by The Merry Beggars, the entertainment division of Relevant Radio, a major Catholic Radio network in the United States. The series is part of a set of audio dramas from The Merry Beggars which covers the lives of Catholic saints. These dramas have garnered an international following, totaling over 3 millions downloads worldwide.
Kiley Hatch, a graduate of The Oakcrest School in Vienna, Virginia, wrote the script for the series. Kevin Collins (Munich, Law & Order, The Blacklist) directed and voiced several characters.
Peter Atkinson, founder and executive producer for The Merry Beggars, said, “It’s important for all Catholics to know that the saints were ordinary men and women who simply responded faithfully to God’s call in their lives. Their heroic sanctity and the extraordinary impact that they had on the world flowed from their openness to God’s grace in their lives. Saint Josemaria Escriva’s life is a testimony to that.”
For Demetrios Troy, playing the role of St. Josemaria was “a blessing,” and his first encounter with the Work. He says that St. Josemaria’s teaching on the sanctification of our work spoke to his heart.
“As an actor I had always felt that my profession was looked down upon,” Troy said. “But, as an Orthodox Christian, a man of faith, I always believed that Our Lord graciously gave me a facility for the arts. So I set out in my own personal life to bring my faith into my craft. Portraying and encountering Josemaria and his work was refreshing and faith affirming.”
The Merry Beggars features a new, fully dramatized story of a saint or blessed each week, released as a 5-episode series. Other saints featured include Joan of Arc, Patrick of Ireland and Josephine Bakhita.
Rev. Francis Joseph Hoffman, the chief executive officer of Relevant Radio, said, "I am very happy that a new generation of artists has discovered the inspiring lives of the saints, and through their dramatizations can bring to life someone that few people alive today knew in person.”
“Peter Atkinson and The Merry Beggars are now bringing the life and adventures of Josemaria Escriva to a much wider audience,” Rev. Hoffman said. “During his lifetime St. Josemaria inspired thousands of souls to become friends with God; with these episodes, I am hoping millions will be inspired the world over."