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LETTERS TO A SAINT Letters from Guadalupe Ortiz to St Josemaria Escriva
“Letters to a Saint” offers an English translation of letters written by Guadalupe to Saint Josemaría. The founder of Opus Dei kept these letters among his personal correspondence, and they are now found in the General Archive of the Prelature.
When Guadalupe Ortiz, a chemistry teacher, first met Saint Josemaría in 1944, she discovered that God was offering her a path to holiness in the middle of the world, through her professional work. A few months after that encounter, she wrote him a letter beginning, like all her letters to him from then on, “Father,” in which she asked to join Opus Dei. That was the first of 350 letters that she wrote to him, beginning on 19 March 1944, and ending on 22 June 1975, four days before Saint Josemaría died in Rome.
The selectionshave been grouped into five chapters according to five central aspects of Guadalupe’s life, which can also offer light for people living in the 21st Century.
Maria del Rincon and Maria Teresa Escobar, journalists and authors of the book, work in the Communications Office of Opus Dei in Rome. “Some months ago we started to study in depth all the documentation relating to Guadalupe, so that we could get close to her and communicate her message in the best possible way,” explains Maria Teresa. “When we read the letters we discovered her naturalness and simplicity. We decided that the best way to show her to the public at large was to let them discover her as we ourselves had, by directly reading her letters.”
For three months they have been working on the archives to select the texts now being presented in an English translation.
When Guadalupe Ortiz, a chemistry teacher, first met Saint Josemaría in 1944, she discovered that God was offering her a path to holiness in the middle of the world, through her professional work. A few months after that encounter, she wrote him a letter beginning, like all her letters to him from then on, “Father,” in which she asked to join Opus Dei. That was the first of 350 letters that she wrote to him, beginning on 19 March 1944, and ending on 22 June 1975, four days before Saint Josemaría died in Rome.
The selectionshave been grouped into five chapters according to five central aspects of Guadalupe’s life, which can also offer light for people living in the 21st Century.
Maria del Rincon and Maria Teresa Escobar, journalists and authors of the book, work in the Communications Office of Opus Dei in Rome. “Some months ago we started to study in depth all the documentation relating to Guadalupe, so that we could get close to her and communicate her message in the best possible way,” explains Maria Teresa. “When we read the letters we discovered her naturalness and simplicity. We decided that the best way to show her to the public at large was to let them discover her as we ourselves had, by directly reading her letters.”
For three months they have been working on the archives to select the texts now being presented in an English translation.
151 pages, ebook
Published April 21, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 14, 2019
What a wonderful collection of letters. I found myself echoing many of her prayers and hearts desires while reading this. Full review to follow soon.
...
I recently read Guadalupe: The Freedom of Loving by Cristina Abad Cadenas and became fascinated by the live of Guadalupe Ortiz. I have watched several YouTube videos about her and her life. While researching to review that volume I came across this book which is being offered for free from the Opus Dei Information Office. And it is a wonderful little read. The chapters in this volume are:
To the Reader.
Preface.
Guadalupe Ortiz: a profile.
Timeline of Guadalupe’s life.
1. With her feet on the ground: holiness in ordinary life.
2. Always close: in love with God.
3. A huge heart: apostolic joy.
4. Desire to serve: working for God.
5. Here I am: path and mission.
Afterword.
Share…
His is a densely packed volume. The eBook comes in at just under 80 pages. And it has 170 end notes, most are references to which letter in the archive the letter or extract was drawn from. Some are external links, and some are references or explanations. We are told in the note to the reader:
“These extracts from letters written by Guadalupe Ortiz to St Josemaria Escriva reflect the soul of a woman who learned to find God in the middle of the world. Guadalupe opened her heart and soul to St Josemaria, whom she always called “Father”. The letters were written by someone who was convinced that Heaven was her destiny and the world was her path there.
In 1944, when Guadalupe, a chemistry teacher, first met St Josemaria, she discovered that God was offering her a path to holiness in the middle of the world, through her professional work. A few months after that encounter, she wrote him a letter beginning, like all her letters to him from then on, “Father,” in which she asked to join Opus Dei. That was the first of 350 letters that she wrote to him, beginning on 19 March 1944, and ending on 22 June 1975, four days before St Josemaria died in Rome.”
The excerpts in this volume are taken from a collection of 350 letters and the letters were written over a 30 years period. From shortly after Guadalupe med Josemaria Escriva and began spiritual work, until shortly before they both died in 1975. They letters are written with an openness and honesty. She wrote as a way to help grow in her spiritual life. She wrote being completely honest with herself and with her spiritual father. The letters will spur on your faith. They will challenge you. They will encourage and motivate you.
This was a wonderful read, and I honestly hop that someday a more complete collection of her letters will be available in English. I encourage you to give this volume a read and see what impact the life and faith of Guadalupe has on your own.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2019 Catholic Reading Plan!
...
I recently read Guadalupe: The Freedom of Loving by Cristina Abad Cadenas and became fascinated by the live of Guadalupe Ortiz. I have watched several YouTube videos about her and her life. While researching to review that volume I came across this book which is being offered for free from the Opus Dei Information Office. And it is a wonderful little read. The chapters in this volume are:
To the Reader.
Preface.
Guadalupe Ortiz: a profile.
Timeline of Guadalupe’s life.
1. With her feet on the ground: holiness in ordinary life.
2. Always close: in love with God.
3. A huge heart: apostolic joy.
4. Desire to serve: working for God.
5. Here I am: path and mission.
Afterword.
Share…
His is a densely packed volume. The eBook comes in at just under 80 pages. And it has 170 end notes, most are references to which letter in the archive the letter or extract was drawn from. Some are external links, and some are references or explanations. We are told in the note to the reader:
“These extracts from letters written by Guadalupe Ortiz to St Josemaria Escriva reflect the soul of a woman who learned to find God in the middle of the world. Guadalupe opened her heart and soul to St Josemaria, whom she always called “Father”. The letters were written by someone who was convinced that Heaven was her destiny and the world was her path there.
In 1944, when Guadalupe, a chemistry teacher, first met St Josemaria, she discovered that God was offering her a path to holiness in the middle of the world, through her professional work. A few months after that encounter, she wrote him a letter beginning, like all her letters to him from then on, “Father,” in which she asked to join Opus Dei. That was the first of 350 letters that she wrote to him, beginning on 19 March 1944, and ending on 22 June 1975, four days before St Josemaria died in Rome.”
The excerpts in this volume are taken from a collection of 350 letters and the letters were written over a 30 years period. From shortly after Guadalupe med Josemaria Escriva and began spiritual work, until shortly before they both died in 1975. They letters are written with an openness and honesty. She wrote as a way to help grow in her spiritual life. She wrote being completely honest with herself and with her spiritual father. The letters will spur on your faith. They will challenge you. They will encourage and motivate you.
This was a wonderful read, and I honestly hop that someday a more complete collection of her letters will be available in English. I encourage you to give this volume a read and see what impact the life and faith of Guadalupe has on your own.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2019 Catholic Reading Plan!
June 3, 2021
It took me awhile to finish this book since I’m not a huge fan with the story format. Initially I don’t read books that are written in letters, though I made an exception for this novel since I’ve heard great things about it.
When I started reading it was inspiring and encouraging to want to do good in the world. Guadalupe Ortiz was a woman of faith and a woman who put others before herself despite her own challenges she faced as well. It taught me to not give up on people and always be determined to do/share the good no matter what.
When I started reading it was inspiring and encouraging to want to do good in the world. Guadalupe Ortiz was a woman of faith and a woman who put others before herself despite her own challenges she faced as well. It taught me to not give up on people and always be determined to do/share the good no matter what.
January 3, 2023
Muy bueno. Las cartas son esperanzadoras e invitan a la sinceridad total. Me habría gustado que no estuviera organizado por temas sino por orden cronológico. Pierde todo el peso autobiográfico que tienen por ejemplo, aunque en un tono distinto, las cartas de santa Teresa del Niño Jesús o las Confesiones de san Agustín.
September 25, 2022
Cada página ayuda a comprender cómo se puede vivir la santidad en cada actividad, en cada día, sin importar lo ordinario, sencillo o poco que sea. La única pega es que al estar compuesto solo de cartas se vuelve monótono y es fácil perder o aburrirse.
November 10, 2019
Al principio me aburrió un poco pero me encanto la confianza de las cartas y me ha ayudado un montón
January 2, 2020
Gracias a este libro he descubierto que de verdad puedo aspirar a ser santo... Guadalupe es mi máximo.
February 20, 2020
Muy interesante, muestra que la santidad está al alcance de todos.
November 13, 2021
Very concrete and natural.
August 3, 2022
Qué buenas son las cartas
Read
January 2, 2023Cinca - Torreciudad
Muy bonito, me siento muy identificada con muchas cosas de su modo de ser y de las cosas que cuenta.
Santidad muy realista, con luchas.
Muy bonito, me siento muy identificada con muchas cosas de su modo de ser y de las cosas que cuenta.
Santidad muy realista, con luchas.
October 26, 2023
Que tengo que hacer para ser Santo? QUERERLO…y eso hizo Guadalupe, Quería ser Santa y y todos los días lucho para dejar a Dios que hiciera en ella lo que debía hacer.
September 21, 2020
Un relato que permite conocer la personalidad de la beata y su relación con San Josemaria.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews