Passionately Loving the World: Ordinary Americans Living the Spirituality of St. Josemaria introduces you to Americans from around the country who have found happiness in living the spirituality of St. Josemaria.
These are real people with real lives. They work hard, love their families, celebrate successes and endure failures. Through joys and sorrows, they try to grow closer to God without ever leaving the ordinary circumstances of their daily lives.
Like thousands of others across the country and around the world they are inspired by the teachings of St. Josemaria: a Spanish priest who dedicated his life to spreading the message that all men and women are called by God to be holy.
The St. Josemaria Institute is proud to bring you the stories of everyday Americans who believe that everyone can be close to God; that everyone can be holy.
A fireman, a student, a family on a farm – these are just a few of the people you will meet in Passionately Loving the World:Ordinary Americans Living the Spirituality of St. Josemaria.
Check out their profiles and learn why these very regular people are finding happiness in trying to be close to God.
St. Josemaria believed that ordinary people can grow close to God in their everyday lives. He believed that when people are moving closer to God they become more productive, more generous, and more loving. In short: they become happier.
This section includes some tips on how to grow close to God. Don’t try them all at once; incorporate a few and see how they help you. When you become more confident with what suits you, you can develop a more structured prayer life. Developing a personal and unique relationship with God is life’s most exciting journey; we hope we can help you on your way!
Everyone can be happy. Everyone can be a saint.
St. Josemaria believed that when Jesus said “be perfect as your heavenly father is perfect” (Mt. 5:48) He was calling all of us to grow close to God; to be saints. Whether we are priests, nuns, doctors, teachers or bus drivers, we can all be close to God.
Turn work into prayer
St. Josemaria believed that happiness comes when we develop a close friendship with God. To be friends with God we need to talk with him often and get to know him. We call this conversation prayer. St. Josemaria believed that we can get to know God by turning our whole lives into a conversation with Him; by turning our whole lives into prayer. St. Josemaria urged people to try to incorporate the following types of prayer into their lives:
1. Prayer through Actions
Begin the day promptly by waking up on time and greeting God. The simple act of getting out of bed on time can be a way of saying “good morning” to God. St. Josemaria encouraged people to remember that God is always present in their lives and that their actions should reflect His presence.
Offer Jesus small activities by quickly telling Him that you will do them well for Him. For most of us, our average day will be spent performing very ordinary tasks: making breakfast, taking out the garbage, going to the office etc. When we offer these things to God they become prayer. For example “Jesus, I won’t complain about the garbage smelling because I love you” or “Lord, I will butter this toast for my daughter because I love you.” St. Josemaria also encouraged people to say aspirations as they work. Aspirations are very simple and short prayers, for example simply saying the name ‘Jesus.’
Start and end each task by offering it to God. Sometimes our work takes all our attention and we cannot speak to God frequently while we are doing it. In these cases we can do our work very well and tell God later that we did our best for Him.
2. Prayer through Words
Pray vocally for several minutes each day. Reciting prayers orally is what most people think of when they hear the word “prayer.” For ordinary people, vocal prayer comprises a very small but important part of their lives. St. Josemaria had a great love of the Blessed Virgin Mary and encouraged people to say the Rosary each day. He also encouraged people to greet God each day with a morning offering.
3. Prayer through Contemplation
St. Josemaria urged Christians to set aside several minutes each day for mental prayer. Mental prayer is finding quiet time to converse with God in our own words. We can speak to him about anything that may be on our minds. An important aspect of mental prayer is listening to what God may be whispering to us. Often reading the scriptures or other spiritual literature is a good way to feed mental prayer. Visiting Jesus in the tabernacle or in Adoration can be an excellent place for mental prayer. St. Josemaria also taught people to contemplate the day’s decisions each night with an examination of conscience.
4. Prayer through the Mass
Try to attend Mass often, daily, if possible. Each Mass is the sacrifice of the Cross offered again; it is Jesus offering Himself again to His Father, God. For Catholics, the greatest prayer is the sacrifice of the Mass. In Communion we receive Jesus personally in the Eucharist. At the Mass we recall our worries, joys and concerns and offer them to God along with the Eucharist.
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