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| This was a Christmas greeting from Father Javier. |
How Father Javier’s letters touched our lives
When I first learned about the demise of Opus Dei Prelate
Javier Echevarria last December 12, 2016, I remembered a man who became part of
our ordinary existence through his letters and blessings.
I recently unearthed more than the expected amount of
letters from 2002 to 2006 and it occurred to me that I was holding on to the
relic of a holy man. Perhaps, it was something I knew instinctively from the
start because I discovered that his very first letter on the occasion of my
wedding was already laminated and preserved.
It is a moving experience to find old, forgotten letters and
to be brought back in time to a different era that will never return again. The
challenge is to learn and to assimilate the most from the opportunity.
In my case, reading Fr. Javier’s letters after more than a
decade of sleep made me feel his deep fatherly affection once again, including
his spiritual presence in our lives.
I was told that he doesn’t always write to everyone and
because of that, I feel very lucky. Of course, I am aware that nothing in this
life ever happens by chance and that perhaps, there was a reason for our
correspondence here on earth.
At the very least, his letters and blessings gave me the
grace to move forward in my spiritual journey.
His first letter came after I sent him an invitation to my
wedding. In the letter, he told my husband and I that he was entrusting us to
St. Josemaria Escriva so that we may create a home that is bright and cheerful.
On another occasion, he wrote us a letter congratulating us on the birth of our
daughter. Sometimes, we would receive a Christmas greeting from him.
In most of his letters, he would ask us to pray for his
intentions and he showed his deep desire to bring many souls to Christ. He
would also mention the Philippines as a source of evangelization for Asia.
On other occasions, he would send us messages through his
assistants and one of the messages highlighted the important work that sick
people, through their prayers, can do.
The letter reads: “Be sure to ask the sick people that you
know to help: God has given them the Cross of suffering – a special gift – to
bear and thus He listens to them especially.”
One time, I sent him a photo with my three kids. I was
carrying a baby (my third child) with two toddlers in tow. The photo was
returned so I thought maybe he didn’t like it. Then it was explained to me that
the picture was returned with his blessing (and that I should keep the photo
and take care of it). In the note, I was also asked to pray a lot for the Pope,
among other things.
When I recently re-opened his letters and saw the picture
once again, I was reminded that his blessing came at a most opportune time in
my life, when I was still adjusting as a young mother with three very young
children. His letters were a consolation to the soul.
One of the last times I heard from Fr. Javier was when he sent me another
blessing as I embarked on another chapter in my life. I absorbed it with all my
heart. I feel that this has helped my family reach the peace and joy that we
experience today. Although life is never easy, we simply find assurance in God's never ending providence and care.
When I published my second book, “Rich Life: Creating
Meaningful Wealth,” I sent him a copy and thanked him for the blessings we
received through his prayers.
Although our correspondence ended a long time ago, I believe
that Father Javier will continue to bless more people from heaven. He is a
kind-hearted father who loves Jesus, Mary, and Joseph very much. And right now,
he is just waiting for us to ask his intercession for our needs.
