Josemaría Escrivá
A Spanish Roman Catholic priest who founded Opus Dei, an organization of laypeople and priests dedicated to the teaching that everyone is called to holiness and that ordinary life is a path to sanctity.
- Contemporary era
- Spain
- Feast day June 26
- 1902 – 1975
- Priest
- Founder
Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer y Albás (1902-1975) was a Spanish Catholic priest and the founder of Opus Dei on October 2, 1928. Canonized by Saint John Paul II in 2002, he taught the doctrine of sanctification through ordinary work and daily life. His spirituality emphasizes seeking holiness amidst the world, integrating prayer and a spirit of penance into professional and family activities. He insisted on divine filiation, freedom, and personal responsibility as paths to God. His message has had a profound impact on many lay people, encouraging them to transform their daily lives into an encounter with Christ.