Catholic Caucus: 70th Anniversary of "The Way"

www.opusdei.us ^ | June 27, 2009 | BISHOP JAVIER ECHEVERRÍA

[GonzoII]

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the 1939 publication of St. Josemaría’s spiritual masterpiece, The Way. It has been and remains a source of inspiration and spiritual growth for millions of people all over the world, having sold over 5 million copies in 50 languages. In 2006, Bishop Javier Echevarría, Prelate of Opus Dei, wrote an introduction for the English edition of this book that is published by Random House/Doubleday in the United States (click here for more information). We present that introduction here.

INTRODUCTION TO THE WAY BY BISHOP JAVIER ECHEVERRÍA (©Reprinted here with permission of Doubleday Publishers)

Before me as I write, sits an old book that the author of The Way gave as a present to a young architect named Ricardo Fernandez Vallespin in 1933. On the title page, one can make out in St. Josemaria's unmistakable handwriting, a simple three-line dedication, which later became the inspiration for one of the points in The Way:

"When I made you a present of that Life of Jesus, I wrote in it this inscription: "May you seek Christ. May you find Christ. May you love Christ." These are three very distinct steps. Have you at least tried to live the first one?" (no. 382)

In the inscription, we can see clearly both how St. Josemaria viewed the Christian's life—as a journey in search of union with Jesus Christ—and why he not only gave away spiritual books but also wrote The Way: He wrote it to inspire others to seek Christ and to help them find Him.

[GonzoII]

"The originality of St. Josemaría and the spirit of Opus Dei, which he founded in 1928, lies precisely in this combination of an ancient message—the call to heroic Christian holiness—and a new lay audience embracing it in the hustle and bustle of the worka­day world. Between the lines of the book, we can discern a new culture of sanctity taking shape, a new breed of Christians striving to be apostles and saints in the middle of the modern world."

[vladimir998]

I love those little books from St. Josemaria.