Br. Luke VanBerkum, O.P., on St. Josemaría Escrivá and the Work of God

"Time is passing into eternity, and it’s happening every day.

"The Church marks the passing of time with the liturgical year, which makes each day bear more significance than simply another cycle of 24 hours. With the proclamation of the Gospel at daily Mass, the mysteries of the life of Christ are made present to sanctify our very lives. Yet, the Church extends her claim over the temporal even further: 'The Liturgy of the Hours … is the daily prayer of the Church, marking the hours of each day and sanctifying the day with prayer.' Monks had a different name for the Liturgy of the Hours: opus Dei, or work of God. It is one realization of St. Paul's exhortation to 'pray without ceasing' (1 Thess 5:17) that still constitutes the hourly rhythm of the Church. In her wisdom, the Church provides a way for sanctifying every hour of one's life, of allowing every minute of the day to be drawn up into the eternity of God through prayer.

"The Church has acknowledged another way of seeking sanctification in the hour-to-hour of one's ordinary day-to-day life. She has done this by recognizing the special founding grace given in 1928 to St. Josemaría Escrivá, whose feast day we celebrate today. . . ."

In a recent commentary, Brother Luke VanBerkum, O.P., reflected on St. Josemaría Escrivá and his encouragement of prayer and sacrifice in the life of each Christian.

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Dominicana: The Work of God (26 JUN 19)