The work of St. Josemaria Escriva, the founder of Opus Dei, has played a role in the development and practice of the modern social teaching of the Church, particularly around the issues of our daily work and the importance of sanctifying it as part of living our life according to the teaching of the Church—breathing with the Church.
This is an excerpt from a recent interview with Fr. Colom—who worked with St. Josemaria—and was also contributing editor of the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
Interview: Fr. Enrique Colom talks about St Josemaria Escriva, founder of Opus Dei.
Fr. Enrique Colom lectures in moral theology (justice and the social teaching of the Church) at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Rome. He first met St Josemaría in October 1960, a few months after joining Opus Dei. Over the following ten years he met St Josemaría almost every year, taking part in gatherings with him when St Josemaría visited Spain. In 1971 Colom moved to Rome to continue his theology studies. He was ordained in 1974 and remained in Rome for the next two years. During this time he saw St Josemaría more often, usually in gatherings or get-togethers, up until St Josemaría’s death in June 1975. Starting in 1976, Colom spent several years doing pastoral work in Chile, South America, and then returned to Rome to teach theology. He is a Consultor to the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, and was contributing editor of their Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church.
In the following interview he talks about St Josemaría as he knew him through personal encounters and through his writings.
Q: Did you ever think that you were in the presence of a saint?
A: My personal contact with St Josemaría was limited. I think I knew him better through his writings, his guidance of Opus Dei, and the spirit he passed on to us. From what I learned of him in those ways I always thought he was a saint, because what he was really concerned about was our union with God and our service to others, for love of God. This was always clearly noticeable when you met him, in the things he said and did. His awareness of being in God’s presence, and his attention to people, showed in the ordinary little indications he gave, or ordinary things he did. He had the very deep-rooted idea that holiness on this earth does not mean being free from defects. He said in Christ is Passing By (no. 76): “I have never liked biographies of saints which naively – but also with a lack of sound doctrine – present their deeds as if they had been confirmed in grace from birth. No. The true life-stories of Christian heroes resemble our own experience: they fought and won; they fought and lost. And then, repentant, they returned to the fray.”
Q: What were the most striking features of his character, in your view?
A: Love for God and other people, shown in self-giving. The natural way he treated you, which did away with any possible barrier. And cheerfulness.
Q: What about his teachings?
A: The practical, specific way to aim for holiness in one’s own situation, one’s own family circumstances, job, etc. In short, he taught people how to fulfil God’s will in their own ordinary work.
Q: Does St Josemaría have an influence on your study and work on the Social Teaching of the Church?
A: The Church’s magisterium has reminded us, and Pope John Paul II often repeated this, that the Church’s social teaching will get across when people practice it, rather than because of its inner consistency and logic. At the same time, John Paul II underlined the importance of work and the family in building up a society that is worthy of human beings. “Human work is a key, probably the essential key, to the whole social question, if we try to see that question really from the point of view of man’s good” (Laborem Exercens, 3). “The future of humanity passes by way of the family!” (Familiaris Consortio, 86). So everything that makes work and family life more human and more Christian contributes to the development of the Church’s social teaching even more than profound speculation about it – though that is also necessary. The teaching and practical help that St Josemaría gave on the sanctification of work (including the importance of working well both technically and morally, as a service to one’s neighbour done for love of God) and family life, undoubtedly made a significant contribution to the Church’s social teaching.
Lampstand Foundation website, http://www.lampstandfoundation.org/
"The sinner is at the very heart of Christianity. Nobody is so competent as the sinner in matters of Christianity. Nobody, except the saint." Charles Peguy (1873-1914)
About
- David H. Lukenbill
- I am a California native, married, we have one daughter and live close to the American River with two cats and all the wild critters we can feed. I am a management consultant to nonprofit organizations and have an Associates of Arts degree in Administration of Justice from Sacramento City College, a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Behavior from the University of San Francisco and a Master of Public Administration degree, also from the University of San Francisco.