Homily by Bishop Joseph Galea-Curmi
Today, we gather, with gratitude in our hearts, to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the death of Saint Josemaría Escrivá, a saint of the twentieth century, whose message remains very relevant in the twenty-first. His life and legacy call us to holiness, not in faraway places, but right where we are – in the ordinary circumstances of our daily lives.
Holiness in the ordinary: a revolutionary message
Saint Josemaría’s central message was simple yet revolutionary: “There is something holy, something divine, hidden in the most ordinary situations, and it is up to each of you to discover it” (Conversations, no. 114).
He taught that sanctity is not reserved for priests or religious, but is the vocation of every baptised person – students, workers, parents, professionals. We are called to sanctify our work, our family life, and our friendships. By doing our daily tasks with love and excellence, we are transformed, and we help transform the world.
The lay person’s vocation: dignity and mission
Long before the Second Vatican Council emphasised the role of the laity, Saint Josemaría was already proclaiming that lay men and women are called to be leaven in the world, witnesses to Christ in the heart of society. He saw the workplace not as a distraction from God, but as the very place where we meet him.
Today, as the Church seeks new ways of evangelising a secular world, the prophetic relevance of his teaching becomes ever clearer. In an age of fragmentation, he offered the unity of a life lived entirely for God.
Divine filiation: the heart of Christian life
At the core of Saint Josemaría’s spirituality was a deep awareness of our divine filiation – the joyful truth that we are sons and daughters of God. This was not mere theology; it was the foundation of his interior life. He once said: “Being children of God is the foundation of the spirit of Opus Dei” (Christ Is Passing By, no. 64).
This certainty gave him serenity, confidence, and peace, even in the midst of suffering. On this anniversary, we are reminded that we, too, can live with that same deep joy and unshakeable hope, and be pilgrims of hope today.
Faithfulness and joy in the midst of trials
Saint Josemaría faced many challenges: exile, civil war, misunderstanding, physical hardship. Yet he never ceased to preach about joy – a joy rooted in Christ. His life teaches us that holiness is not incompatible with suffering. On the contrary, sanctity often matures in our trials.
He invites us to say yes to the Cross with love, and to keep smiling even when the path is hard, because we walk it with Jesus.
The sanctity of human life
St. Josemaría Escrivá consistently taught that every human life is sacred, a reflection of God’s love and presence. His writings invite us to recognise the divine dignity of each person, from the moment of conception to natural death – “Each soul is a marvellous treasure; every person is a sacred tabernacle of God. No one has the right to trample on a human being” (Friends Of God, no. 60).
Human life is not a possession to be used or discarded; it is a gift entrusted to us by God. This truth shapes our relationships, our responsibilities, and our respect for others, especially the most vulnerable – “God wants us to respect and love each human life, for each person has been created in his image and likeness” (Christ Is Passing By, no. 49).
Love for life includes a commitment to defend and care for those who cannot defend themselves. It is not merely a private sentiment, but a public and social responsibility. We must be concerned with human life in all its aspects, from conception until natural death.
Encouraged by these words of St Josemaría, let us work, here in Malta, for the protection and defence of human life, in this crucial moment when assisted suicide, with the help of the State, is being proposed as an option in certain circumstances. Let us be witnesses to a culture of life, rooted in love, courage, and the truth of the Gospel.
A legacy that lives on
Fifty years after his death, the spirit of Saint Josemaría is alive in the hearts of countless faithful around the world, men and women striving to live the Gospel in ordinary life. Let us not merely admire his life from a distance. Let us follow his example: his love for the Church, his obedience to the Holy Father, his tireless work, his prayer, his humility.
Saint Josemaría reminds us that sanctity is not a luxury. It is our mission. He shows us that holiness is attainable, not by doing extraordinary things, but by doing ordinary things with extraordinary love.
On this fiftieth anniversary, may we renew our own commitment to live as saints in the middle of the world. And may we echo the words of Saint Josemaría himself: Lord, that I may see you, that I may find you, that I may serve you, that I may love you, at every moment of my life.
✠ Joseph Galea-Curmi
Auxiliary Bishop of Malta