Rome, 4 June 2014
My dearest children: may Jesus watch over my daughters and sons for me!
As the days up to the 27th of September, the date of Don Álvaro’s beatification, go by, I have a growing desire to prepare myself very well for that great feast of our Holy Mother the Church and of this “little portion” of the Church, the Prelature. The same will be happening to you. I recall how Don Álvaro urged us to prepare for the beatification of our Father on 17 May 1992. I propose to follow in his footsteps, closely accompanied by everyone’s prayer, and personally uniting myself to what each one of you does.
It seems very natural to me that we should break into a sincere act of thanksgiving to God, at the joy of seeing the first successor of St Josemaría raised to the altars, and that this gift from Heaven should impel us to intensify our prayer – every day – for the fruits of that event for the good of souls, and for so many apostolic initiatives which the faithful and the Cooperators of the Work are promoting all over the world.
I feel – and this is also an expression of that thanksgiving – that I should help you with a few suggestions. In the first place, in preparation for that date, and afterwards until the end of the year, each one can personally look for some small special way to pray for the Church, the Pope, and the Work, following our Father’s example. I also ask that we implore God to hear us in the many other intentions of mine, in order to serve souls more and better.
I think that this special prayer which I am asking you for could consist of reciting, with Don Álvaro as an intercessor, an extra part of the Rosary each day; or else a Memorare before a picture or a statue of our Lady in the family home – the Centre of the Work or the house where each one lives; or perhaps making a brief visit each week to a church dedicated to our Lady, or where an image of hers is venerated, etc.
This is simply a fatherly request which I am passing on to you so that, in a totally spontaneous, free and personal manner, we may take ever more care of our faithfulness to God, the Church, and the Pope. I would dare to ask you to be generous in your help.
A very affectionate blessing from
your Father
+ Javier