630. The Father's Saint's Day (II)

Meditations no. 637 (unofficial computer-aided translation)

Paternity and filiation are essential elements in the spirit of Opus Dei.

On a day like today, the awareness of our filiation comes especially alive in all the members of the Work, since we are celebrating the saint’s day of the Father. This is a great feast in our supernatural family; so united are we by the bonds of the same vocation and the same spirit.

Paternity and filiation are not, in the Work, just circumstantial relationships. Paternity, and the correlative filiation, are a most divine and essential characteristic of our spirit, Don Álvaro wrote. Thus our Lord wished it since the 2nd of October 1928, when he opened the heart of our founder to be the Patriarch of this great family which has spread from pole to pole. And our Father has passed it on, until the end of time, to all his successors. Paternity is the most solid foundation of the unity of the Work. It is what guarantees the firmness and cohesion of our family, which nothing and no one will be able to crack, if we correspond each day with a demanding fidelity. It also constitutes the strongest bond of fraternity - another divine gift which we enjoy in the Work -which brings about a brotherhood which is stronger than that of the flesh, since we all possess the same supernatural life: that which our beloved Father passed on to us with so much joy - in which, being holy joy, there were not lacking abundant pains and suffering - and which I must now foster and defend.

In choosing him to found Opus Dei, our Lord granted our Father a special paternity over all those who, anywhere and in any time, would receive the vocation to the Work. When our founder went to heaven, this paternity passed on to his successor on earth; and this is what will always happen, since it is God’s will. The paternity of God, that of our Father and that of the Father - whoever he may be throughout the passing of the centuries - are not distinct paternities, but the same one, the one which exists in God in an infinitely full way (cf. Eph 3: 15-16) and which is shared - in the limited way belonging to creatures - by those whom he has loved. Do you see that for God’s children in Opus Dei the spirit of divine filiation is inseparable from filiation to the Father? This is why I have sometimes pointed out to you, Don Álvaro wrote, that if you were not good children of the Father, if we were not all good children of our Father, we could not be good children of God.

Today we want to thank God for this family spirit proper to the Work; which makes our dedication so joyful and rewarding, and represents a considerable portion of that one hundredfold return which Christ promised to his followers here on earth. We should give thanks to our Lady, as well. She distributes God’s gifts; and our supernatural family has taken refuge under her mantle. Thanks are in order to our founder for his very faithful correspondence to the divine will; this made possible the marvel we contemplate today.

The love the Father has for his children motivates our correspondence.

The Father loves all his sons and daughters with the same human and supernatural affection which our founder had for us. It could not be any other way; since this is an essential characteristic of the spirit of the Work. Placing him at the head of Opus Dei, our Lord has given the Father a huge heart, to measure up to such a large family, to love and sacrifice himself for his sons and daughters.

As our Father once told us, There are two types of shepherds. There is the shepherd who goes behind the sheep and directs them by chasing the dogs after them, throwing stones at those who go astray, and yelling at those who lag behind. Then there is the shepherd who goes before the sheep, opening up the way, skirting the obstacles, and encouraging the flock by his whistling. I have always tried to go in front. To go in front, to give you good example, is more difficult, but it is more effective. Even so, occasionally I have also had to correct you and scold you. At times I have even had to shout a bit.

The affection of the Father for his children is based on prayer and supported by sacrifice. He, also, as our founder did, can tell us: my sons, while others sleep, cor meum vigilat (Cant 5: 2), I have to remain alert. The Father goes out of his way to look after us; he watches over us constantly and showers us with affection. Through his words and writings, with his decisions in directing the Work, with his example of fidelity and self-giving, he straightens out our path so that we serve God better. He provokes our generosity, stimulates our desires in proselytism, warns us of dangers, and constantly offers us nourishment for our souls.

This constant disposition of the Father is well reflected in that graphic example which our Father liked to use when he assured us: I give my children those large, golden coins from the Great King. Gold coins like the ones thrown out in great quantity to the crowd on the occasion of the King’s wedding feast. Everything continues along in this way, but now it is the Father who distributes these valuable coins which are contained in the treasure chest of the spirit which God entrusted to our Father. I make sure not to toss you small change; I do not give copper coins; but real gold ones. Recalling this expression of our Father’s, will move us to be responsible sons and daughters, who think only of the good of the whole family, without egotistical yearnings, with our whole hearts and minds and strength bent on carrying out the Work.

Today is a good time for us to examine our correspondence to the concern the Father shows for us. We should consider whether we are truly united to his person and intentions; or if, on the contrary, sometimes we leave him alone, without the support of our prayer, mortification and lives of full dedication. This is a good opportunity to make solid resolutions truly to be dedicated souls, totally in love, constantly dealing with God.

How we show affection for the Father.

We love Opus Dei with our whole hearts; this is our life, and our hope. Nevertheless, this affection should grow in us. Ask God to give us all the deep feelings of a first born son, who really knows how to work hard, becoming a support and encouragement to his father. And we ask this grace for every one of us, no matter how long we have been serving God in the Work, because the Work belongs to all of us and we all have an obligation to foster its growth.

As in our founder, as in the Father, and as in our older brothers, we want the Work to grow in our souls in deed and in truth; through a real life of self-giving. The Work is very beautiful, my sons, because it comes from God. Therefore, as our Father said, we have to love it very much; and care for it as good sons. We have to be ready to give our lives for what God asks of us. And God has required us to give our whole lives to Opus Dei. To do this, we ought to live very close to God, to our Lady and to the Work, which needs our support so much. You and I should help the Work, because the Work is minor in age and it will always be like a minor.

Every day we pray for the Father many times: at Holy Mass, in the Preces, and during the day. We also offer sacrifices for his person and intentions. In this way, we ensure the effectiveness of Opus Dei since we help obtain light from God for the Father. Even the spiritual life of each one of us is fortified by this affection and prayer for our Prelate, since our Lord blesses good sons and daughters and he has foreseen that many graces reach us through the words, indications and advice of the Father.

Our founder pointed out an additional reason why we should pray tirelessly for the Father. Referring to the task of being head of the Work, he noted: Everything painful that can occur in the Work, affects me: the sufferings of each member, human suffering, which is noble and pure; the injustices that some of my children undergo, ill-treatment, slander… Everything affects me. And we suffer together. Help me; since I am helping you. I will never leave you to suffer alone.

The generosity of the Father who, as a good shepherd, gives his life for his sheep, not holding back, moves us to grow in the level of our correspondence. It is always possible for us to pray more for the Father, offer for his intentions more periods of work, put on the paten at Mass each day a greater number of sacrifices - deeds of love. Especially when we celebrate his saint’s day, we should resolve to grow in affection for and union with the head of the Work.

We do not want to leave the Father alone. Today we would like to tell him, in a confidential and filial conversation, that he can depend on our support, because, despite our personal weakness, we count on the fortitude God grants us. Uniting ourselves to the person and intentions of the Father helps us live, with special efficacy, the Communion of the Saints. Our prayer will have its greatest effect when we back up the intentions of the Father. Then the unity of the Work will be every day more compact and our tasks will be more fruitful; greater will be our joy and more intimate our union with God.

Go to our Lady asking her for the grace to increase our union with the Father, in practical, specific ways, through all the events of our day. As our most beloved founder taught us: offer all your work, your prayer, your state of health, your rest and, if you suffer any little annoyance, offer that as well. Offer up everything, absolutely everything, and keep going!