Points of Meditation About Our Lady from St. Josemaría

by Josemaría Escrivá, Jim Morlino (Narrator)

These points of meditation about Our Lady are taken from the writings of St. Josemaría Escrivá. The first section consists of all the points from the chapter on Our Lady in the spiritual classic The Way. The second section consists of the last point from each of the chapters from The Furrow—which are about Our Lady. And, the third section consists of the last points of each chapter of The Forge, which also are about Our Lady. In his life, St. Josemaría wanted to hide and disappear so that only Jesus would shine forth. He did not want others to imitate him—except in his devotion to Our Lady. He had a very strong devotion to the Mother of God. His points of meditation about Our Lady are very profound and moving. He speaks from the heart.

Audible Audio

Published May 12, 2022

About the author

Saint Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer (9 January 1902 – 26 June 1975) was a Roman Catholic priest from Spain 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. He was canonized in 2002 by Pope John Paul II, who declared Saint Josemaría should be "counted among the great witnesses of Christianity."

Josemaría’s father’s textile business failed in 1915, so the family relocated to Logroño, where José found other work. It was in Logroño that Josemaría sensed his vocation for the first time. After seeing some bare footprints left in the snow by a friar who had walked that way a short time earlier, he felt that God wanted something from him, though he did not know exactly what. He thought that he could more easily discover what it was if he became a priest, so he began to prepare for the priesthood, first in Logroño and later in Saragossa. Following his father’s advice, he also studied for a law degree at the University of Saragossa. His father died in 1924 and Josemaría was left as head of the family. Ordained on March 28, 1925, he began his ministry in a rural parish, and afterwards in Saragossa.

In 1927, with the permission of his bishop, Fr. Josemaría moved to Madrid to work on his doctorate in law. There, on October 2, 1928, God showed him clearly the mission he had been hinting to him for several years; and he founded Opus Dei. From that day on he worked with all his energies to develop the foundation that God asked of him, while he continued to fulfill the various priestly responsibilities he had at that time. These brought him into daily contact with sickness and poverty in the hospitals and the poor districts of Madrid.

When the civil war broke out in 1936, Josemaría was in Madrid. The religious persecution forced him to take refuge in a variety of places. He exercised his priestly ministry in a clandestine fashion until he was finally able to leave Madrid. After escaping across the Pyrenees to southern France, he took up residence in Burgos.

At the end of the war in 1939 he returned to Madrid. In the years that followed he gave many retreats to lay people, priests, and members of religious orders. In the same year, 1939, he completed his doctorate in law.

In 1946 he took up residence in Rome. There he obtained a doctorate in theology from the Lateran University and was named consultor to two Vatican Congregations, as well as honorary member of the Pontifical Academy of Theology, and prelate of honor to His Holiness. He followed closely the preparations for the Second Vatican Council and its various sessions (1962-1965), keeping in touch with many of the council fathers. From Rome he frequently went to different countries in Europe, including Britain and Ireland, to spur on the apostolic work of Opus Dei. It was with the same objective that, between 1970 and 1975, he made long trips to Mexico, Spain, Portugal, South America, and Guatemala, holding catechetical gatherings which large numbers of men and women attended.

He died in Rome on June 26, 1975. Thousands of people, including many bishops (a third of all the bishops in the world), requested that the Holy See open his cause of beatification and canonization.

On May 17, 1992, Pope John Paul II beatified Josemaría Escrivá. He proclaimed him a saint ten years later, on October 6, 2002, in St. Peter’s Square, in Rome, before a great multitude. In his homily on that occasion, the Pope said: “Following in his footsteps, spread in society the awareness that we are called to holiness, without distinction of race, class, culture or age."

Reviews

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up seven years ago and completely forgot about it. I was going through the unread older books on my kindle. I have read all the books by Saint Josemaria Escriva that are available in English. Once I started reading this I realized it is a wonderful little gem. The description of the volume is:

“These points of meditation about Our Lady are taken from the writings of St. Josemaría Escrivá. The first section consists of all the points from the chapter on Our Lady in the spiritual classic, The Way. The second section consists of the last point from each of the chapters from The Furrow—which are about Our Lady. And, the third section consists of the last points of each chapter of The Forge which also are about Our Lady. In his life, St. Josemaría wanted to hide and disappear so that only Jesus would shine forth. He did not want others to imitate him—except in his devotion to Our Lady. He had a very strong devotion to the Mother of God. His points of meditation about Our Lady are very profound and moving. He speaks from the heart.”

The introduction states:

“The purpose of this devotional booklet is to carry out this advice of St. Josemaría—to spend a time of prayer meditating about our Lady on Saturdays. The first section consists of all the points from the chapter on Our Lady in the spiritual classic, The Way. The second section consists of the last point from each of the chapters from The Furrow—which are about Our Lady. And the third section consists of the last points of each chapter of The Forge, which also are about Our Lady.

The idea of going to Our Lady at the end of a spiritual activity is a tradition within the church. It has been a common practice for Popes to end their encyclicals and other writings by speaking about Our Lady and going to Our Lady.

If you follow this advice of St. Josemaría, you will have more presence of God.”

The chapters in the volume are:

Introduction
Section 1—Points from The Way
Section 2—Points from Furrow
Section 3—Points from The Forge
About the Author

That final section in the book is about Saine Josemaria not the editor it states:

“Saint Josemaría Escrivá is known as the saint of ordinary life. He was canonized in Rome in 2002. One of his major teachings was that all can seek holiness in the midst of their ordinary activities done for love of God and service to others. He is the author of a number of spiritual classics: The Way, Furrow, Forge, Holy Rosary, The Way of the Cross, Christ is Passing by, and Friends of God. In his life, he wanted to hide and disappear so that only Jesus would shine forth. He did not want others to imitate him—except in his devotion to Our Lady. He had a very strong devotion to the Mother of God. His points of meditation about Our Lady are very profound and moving. He speaks from the heart. His other great passion was for the Vicar of Christ, the Holy Father, whoever he might be. A favorite aspiration of his, which he passed on to his followers, was Omnes Cum Petrum Ad Jesum per Mariam (“All with Peter to Jesus through Mary”).”

I have read the stand alone volumes The Way, Furrow, The Forge or the 3 in 1 version at least 12 times. But reading all of the Marian quotes pulled out together in this volume was very powerful. The format of the book is it lists the section and thought number. I highlighted a numer of the points when reading the book, some of them are:

“If you accustom yourself, even only once a week, to seek union with Mary in order to go to Jesus, you will see how you have more presence of God.”

“The purpose of this devotional booklet is to carry out this advice of St. Josemaría—to spend a time of prayer meditating about our Lady on Saturdays. The first section consists of all the points from the chapter on Our Lady in the spiritual classic, The Way. The second section consists of the last point from each of the chapters from The Furrow—which are about Our Lady. And the third section consists of the last points of each chapter of The Forge, which also are about Our Lady. The idea of going to Our Lady at the end of a spiritual activity is a tradition within the church. It has been a common practice for Popes to end their encyclicals and other writings by speaking about Our Lady and going to Our Lady. If you follow this advice of St. Josemaría, you will have more presence of God.”

“All the sins of your life seem to rise up against you. Don’t lose confidence. Rather, call on your holy Mother Mary, with the faith and abandonment of a child. She will bring peace to your soul.”

“Mary, the most holy Mother of God, passes unnoticed, as just one more among the women of her town. Learn from her how to live with “naturalness.””

“Mary, teacher of prayer. See how she asks her Son, at Cana. And how she insists, confidently, with perseverance. And how she succeeds. Learn from her.”

“Mary’s loneliness. Alone! She weeps, forsakenly. You and I should keep our Lady company, and weep also, for Jesus has been fixed to the wood, with nails — our sins.”

“The Virgin of Sorrows. When you contemplate her, look into her Heart; she is a Mother with two sons, face to face: He… and you.”

“Marvel at Mary’s courage: at the foot of the Cross, with the greatest of human sorrows — there is no sorrow like her sorrow — filled with fortitude. And ask her for that same strength, so that you too can remain beside the Cross.”

“Before, by yourself, you couldn’t. Now, you have turned to our Lady, and, with her, how easy it is!”

“Mother! Call her again and again. She is listening, she sees you in danger perhaps, and with her Son’s grace she, your holy Mother Mary, offers you the refuge of her arms, the tenderness of her embrace. Call her, and you will find yourself with added strength for the new struggle.”

“What an extraordinary lesson is found in each one of the teachings of the New Testament! The Master, before ascending to the right hand of the Father, told the disciples: “Go and preach to all nations”, and they had remained full of peace. But they still had doubts: they did not know what to do, and they gathered around Mary, Queen of Apostles, so as to become zealous proclaimers of the Truth which will save the world.”

“Have recourse to the Blessed Virgin every day with complete confidence. Your soul and your life will feel comforted at once. —She will let you partake of the treasures she keeps in her heart, for “never has it been known that anyone who sought her protection was left unaided.””

I hope that those quotes give you a feel for this wonderful little volume. If you have read the three volumes, there is nothing new here. But do not let that hold you back. By having these extracts collection together like this is a great resource.

This is an excellent little volume. One I will return to often, especially in October and June each year. I can easily recommend this book. A great resource for personal, home, school, or church library. Pick it up I am certain you will not be disappointed!

This book is part of a series of reviews: 2023 Catholic Reading Plan!

[Caitlin Streit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great but short!

I thought this would be a longer devotional but it was very good .very nice meditations on our lady. I recommend it.