St. Josemaría Escrivá was born in Barbastro, Spain on January 9th 1902. He was ordained to the priesthood at the age of 23 and at the age of 26, by divine inspiration founded Opus Dei. Through his apostolic endeavors, a path within the Church was being broadened and deepened. He promoted among people of all social classes, the search for holiness and the practice of evangelization, through the sanctification of ordinary work, in the midst of the world and without changing one's state in life. On June 26th 1975, St. Josemaría died unexpectedly in Rome in the room where he worked.

Among his published works, are the following books of spirituality: The Way, Holy Rosary, Christ is passing by, Friends of God, The way of the Cross, Furrow, The Forge, and In Love with the Church.

St. John Paul the Great had this to say about St. Josemaría:

"St. Josemaría was chosen by the Lord to announce the universal call to holiness and to point out that daily life and ordinary activities are a path to holiness. One could say that he was the saint of ordinary life."