Fr. Eric Nicolai preaches in Lyncroft Centre about the birthday of Saint Josemaria Escriva in Basbastro in 1902. We always celebrate this birthday at the beginning of the year, when we’re looking at it with hope, wondering how it will turn out, what will history say about 2021. We haven’t seen 2021 yet, but we can wonder if it will make a mark: not a splotch, or a stain, but a significant mark that will inspire us further to sanctity, and to be an instrument of sanctity. Our Father must continue to leave his mark. Perhaps hidden, but real.

I heard that Fr. Javier Cremades died yesterday in Madrid at 74 years old of a pulmonary disease. He was the architect of the WYD 2011. He was ordained for Opus Dei in 1973. He was enamoured of Christ. Full of energy and imagination, and plenty of sense of humour. He was one of the many examples of people on whom Saint Josemaria left his mark, the mark of love of Christ.

Music: Adrian Berenguer, Fall, Album Singularity (2017)

Thumbnail: Josemaria Escriva as a child