When I first went to university, I didn't know anyone. But in my first week I remember hearing a fellow student humming a tune that was strangely familiar. It took me a day or so to work it outand to my great surprise, it was the hymn from Benediction, the Tantum Ergo. Then the penny dropped: this man was Spanish so he must be a Catholic! In fact, over time, we became good friends and one week, he invited me to supper in his hall of residence. The hall was Catholic; it had its own chapel, and the food was amazing: steak and chips. Netherhall House belonged to Opus Dei and this for me was my first contact with the great and holy priest we venerate in this Mass, a 20th Century apostle to whom Jesus's words to Simon truly applied: Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.
I thank you for inviting me today to offer this Mass for the feast of St. Josemaría Escrivá. His actual feastday was yesterday, although we have transferred it to today so that more people can attend. It's now 51 years since he died. He came from Barbastro in Aragon, and not long after his ordination in1925 he founded Opus Dei, a lay organisation, first for men, then for women too. Its purpose was sanctification, how to become holy by living, in a Christian manner, your ordinary everyday life: your work, your family-life, your social obligations. Later, in the 1940s, he founded a Priestly Society to serve the lay groups. His idea was way ahead of its time. It would be the Second Vatican Council in its 1965 Constitution Gaudium et Spes on the Church in the Modern World that would clearly articulate this link between the universal call to holiness, the theological meaning and value of work, and the unique vocation or the laity.
In himself, St. Josemaría was an outstanding priest totally dedicated to God, serene, with a real capacity to engage people heart to heart. He also had a cracking sense of humour, something that can be seen in the many movie-clips and audio-recordings of his inspirational talks. He died in 1975. Today Opus Dei has over 90,000 members world-wide and we are proud Opus Dei is here in our Diocese of Portsmouth. Indeed, Grandpont House forms the diocesan border!
The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. Sanctifying daily work means doing it perfectly, as best we can, for the sake of Christ and His Kingdom. Sanctifying family-life means being an exemplary father, mother, son or daughter. Sanctifying our social life means loving others, fulfilling our duties, caring for justice and for the poor and needy. All of this should come from a personal friendship with Jesus Christ.
In his writings, St.Josemaria is refreshingly practical, human and realistic. My friend at university persuaded me to buy a copy of The Way St. Josemaria's best-known book. He begins (in no.2) by saying: May your behaviour and conversation be such that anyone who sees or hears you will say: this person reads the life of Jesus Christ. There are many things I love about the spirituality of Opus Dei: the centrality of the Holy Eucharist and the Sacrament of Penance, along with personal spiritual direction, friendship and mutual fraternal support. This is a magic formula, surely right for every lay Christian.
Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch. In this Mass, let us invoke the prayers of St.Josemaría Escrivá for the mission of the Church in our time. Let us pray for ourselves too that we will grow in holiness through the ordinary everyday life of work, home and play. And let us ask the Lord that whatever vocation, role or mission in life He has given us, we may by His grace, and by the prayers of the Blessed Virgin, excel.