Alvaro

Imagine the friends, who learned to give more generously and act more wholesomely because they were able to stay close to God Himself.

Blessed Alvaro and Saint Josemaria

There are so many people who become Saints and bring others along on the journey with them – encouraging them to grow in holiness.

I have only to think of Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Dominic and Saint Clare and Saint Agnes pf Assisi.  These great Saints lived at the same time and in the same place.  The holiness of one inspired the holiness of the others.  I have only to think of the family of Saint Therese of Lisieux, of whom almost all are either blessed or canonised Saints.  The holiness of one inspired the greater holiness of the others.

Blessed Alvaro del Portillo, who died in 1994, was one of the first three priests of Opus Dei.  He met Saint Josemaria, the founder of Opus Dei, when he was a young engineer and heard the calling to join God as a priest and remained with Saint Josemaria working on Opus Dei for the remainder of his life.  He dedicated his life to Saint Josemaria and the movement of Opus Dei, believing that there is great holiness to be gained through ordinary work and ordinary life.

And these are just a few examples of how the holiness of one person drew out more holiness from others.  And this has caused me to reflect on the Holy Family.  How holy would that family have been?  God Himself resided among them.  The Blessed Virgin – conceived without Original Sin, and sinless all her life – lived among them.  Saint Joseph, chosen as a good and holy man as he was the Foster Father of the Christ…

I can imagine them praying together.  I can imagine their reverence.  I can picture their conversations – the gentle smiles, the charity expressed to others and even their kindness f thought, word and deed.  I can imagine them walking through the markets and keeping some coins in their pocket to distribute among the poor whom they passed by.  I can imagine their gentle eyes looking at people and seeing them and their need and making themselves useful as required.

I can imagine their conversation over the dinner table – speaking about their day and the people who might have been able to come closer to God because of their interactions with this Holy Family.

Imagine the neighbours who might have felt ashamed of gossiping with the Blessed Virgin because she never gossiped and instead changed the subject to prevent them from sinning.  Imagine the customers who complained less so as not to cause any problems for others after having dealt with Saint Joseph or Christ Himself as a young carpenter.

Imagine the friends, who learned to give more generously and act more wholesomely because they were able to stay close to God Himself.

And today, as I imagine this, I imagine Blessed Alvaro, who perhaps became blessed for having lived beside a Saint.  And it seems to me that I should be a little more focused on my Beloved, after all, how else could I possibly have the chance to get to Heaven any other way…?

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.