Bishop John Wilson celebrates Mass on the feast of St Josemaría in London

In his homily to the 400 people gathered for the celebration at St Thomas More church in north London, bishop Wilson encouraged his listeners to learn from St Josemaría’s “theology and spirituality of the donkey”.

Referring to a little iron model of a donkey which the saint had given to a former bishop of Leeds and which Bishop Wilson had seen while working in the Diocesan Curia in that city, he explained why the saint had such affection for this animal. It is “hardworking and has a quick, cheerful trot. There are hundreds of animals more beautiful, more deft, and strong. But it was a donkey that Christ chose when he presented himself to the people as king”, he said, quoting the saint.

Speaking to over 400 people gathered at St Thomas More church in Swiss Cottage, London, on 26th June to celebrate the feast of St Josemaria, Bishop Wilson went on to explain there are times when, in our daily grind, we all feel like the poor little donkey, tied to the spindle, walking in circles to turn a wheel that pumps the water. “Always the same pace. Always the same circles. One day after another, every day the same”, he said, again drawing from Escriva’s words. But without the donkey’s fidelity, he went on, the water-wheel would never turn and “there would be no ripeness in the fruit, nor blossom in the orchard, nor scent of flowers in the garden.”

The bishop called on the faithful to follow their vocation to holiness in the world, as inspired by St Josemaría, and to become, in Pope Francis’ words, “missionary disciples”. He encouraged everyone to go to the saint’s powerful intercession.

Similar Masses to celebrate the feast were held in ten other places in the UK including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Manchester, Oxford, Purley, Southampton and Worthing.