Singing with God. What should I do to be a "soul of prayer" as St Josemaria said? Ana from Cuba came to Madrid for the 2011 World Youth Day. She went to a meeting of young people with Bishop Javier …More
Singing with God.
What should I do to be a "soul of prayer" as St Josemaria said?
Ana from Cuba came to Madrid for the 2011 World Youth Day. She went to a meeting of young people with Bishop Javier Echevarria, Prelate of Opus Dei, in Vistaalegre Palace, and asked him a question.
I'm Ana, I've come from Cuba with Liz Mary and Rosario.
Cuba, great!
We go to formational activities in La Habana together.
Yes.
My Mom and Dad are Cooperators, they're actors and teachers.
I'm a singer, and in September,
I start at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts at the University. Father, as a Catholic, and a daughter of God, I know it's important to have a personal relationship with him,
among other reasons so that I can influence others for the good, and not be held back by difficulties. What should I do to be a "soul of prayer" , as St Josemaria said?
I'd just like to say that you, being Cuban, with your friends, are the fruit of St Josemaria's prayer. The first time he went to Latin America in 1970,
we made a stopover in Miami, because we had to change flights there.
And there, while people were looking after us, they gave us a coca-cola to refresh us
after the lack of sleep, he got talking to a Cuban man, and he told him of his deep desire to go there. 41 years later that desire is no smaller in Opus Dei.
We feel a very great desire to go and do apostolate in Cuba as soon as we are granted permission, because there are people who are ready and willing to go to your country.
You are working towards being a singer. Well, bear in mind that you can pray through your art. I'll tell you something I often say. A woman in Opus Dei was an opera singer and she was singing a song from an opera called "Turandot" about how when the Emperor looked at her, she had been filled with happiness. She was on the Palace staff. And she put her heart into singing that song as strongly as possible. And the other people in the cast asked her
"But why are you putting so much into that song? We can tell you're putting your heart and soul into it." And she said, "Because I sing it about God, and I know that he is looking at me at every moment." So when you sing, or dance, do it with God and for God.
And in those specific surroundings, where there may be a certain tendency to frivolity or worldliness, don't give in to it. Realize that with your integrity, as you train for your profession, you can already do apostolate. Keep praying that, if you sing, you can sing "divinely", offering it to our Lord, and can also turn it into a prayer that very soon, Opus Dei will find Cuba's doors open to it, because we so much want to go and work with you.
Opus Dei is a Catholic institution founded by Saint Josemaría Escrivá. Its mission is to help people turn their work and daily activities into occasions for growing closer to God, for serving others, and for improving society.
Opus Dei complements the work of local churches by offering classes, talks, retreats and pastoral care that help people develop their personal spiritual life and apostolate.
SECTION CONTENTS
PLACE IN THE CHURCH
Opus Dei's work of spiritual formation complements the work of local churches.
MESSAGE
Work, family life, and other ordinary activities are occasions for spiritual union with Jesus Christ.
ACTIVITIES
Opus Dei's main activities are classes, retreats and spiritual direction.
MEMBERS
Opus Dei has around 87,000 members, both men and women; 98% are laypersons, most of whom are married.
JOINING
Membership involves a commitment to receive spiritual formation from Opus Dei and to participate in its mission.
PRIESTS
Diocesan priests may join the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross, a society united to the Opus Dei Prelature.
COOPERATORS
Those who wish to help Opus Dei without being members may become Cooperators.
GOVERNANCE
Opus Dei is governed by a Prelate, currently Bishop Javier Echevarría, in accord with canon law and its own statutes.
HISTORY
Opus Dei was founded in 1928 in Spain and is currently established in 61 countries.
Write to us
Newsletter
SAINT JOSEMARÍA
Biography
Prayer card
Short Videos of Saint Josemaría
Message
LINKS
The Holy See
Writings of the founder of Opus Dei
Saint Josemaría website
Romana, Bulletin of the Opus Dei Prelature
St. Josemaria Institute
What should I do to be a "soul of prayer" as St Josemaria said?
Ana from Cuba came to Madrid for the 2011 World Youth Day. She went to a meeting of young people with Bishop Javier Echevarria, Prelate of Opus Dei, in Vistaalegre Palace, and asked him a question.
I'm Ana, I've come from Cuba with Liz Mary and Rosario.
Cuba, great!
We go to formational activities in La Habana together.
Yes.
My Mom and Dad are Cooperators, they're actors and teachers.
I'm a singer, and in September,
I start at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts at the University. Father, as a Catholic, and a daughter of God, I know it's important to have a personal relationship with him,
among other reasons so that I can influence others for the good, and not be held back by difficulties. What should I do to be a "soul of prayer" , as St Josemaria said?
I'd just like to say that you, being Cuban, with your friends, are the fruit of St Josemaria's prayer. The first time he went to Latin America in 1970,
we made a stopover in Miami, because we had to change flights there.
And there, while people were looking after us, they gave us a coca-cola to refresh us
after the lack of sleep, he got talking to a Cuban man, and he told him of his deep desire to go there. 41 years later that desire is no smaller in Opus Dei.
We feel a very great desire to go and do apostolate in Cuba as soon as we are granted permission, because there are people who are ready and willing to go to your country.
You are working towards being a singer. Well, bear in mind that you can pray through your art. I'll tell you something I often say. A woman in Opus Dei was an opera singer and she was singing a song from an opera called "Turandot" about how when the Emperor looked at her, she had been filled with happiness. She was on the Palace staff. And she put her heart into singing that song as strongly as possible. And the other people in the cast asked her
"But why are you putting so much into that song? We can tell you're putting your heart and soul into it." And she said, "Because I sing it about God, and I know that he is looking at me at every moment." So when you sing, or dance, do it with God and for God.
And in those specific surroundings, where there may be a certain tendency to frivolity or worldliness, don't give in to it. Realize that with your integrity, as you train for your profession, you can already do apostolate. Keep praying that, if you sing, you can sing "divinely", offering it to our Lord, and can also turn it into a prayer that very soon, Opus Dei will find Cuba's doors open to it, because we so much want to go and work with you.
Opus Dei is a Catholic institution founded by Saint Josemaría Escrivá. Its mission is to help people turn their work and daily activities into occasions for growing closer to God, for serving others, and for improving society.
Opus Dei complements the work of local churches by offering classes, talks, retreats and pastoral care that help people develop their personal spiritual life and apostolate.
SECTION CONTENTS
PLACE IN THE CHURCH
Opus Dei's work of spiritual formation complements the work of local churches.
MESSAGE
Work, family life, and other ordinary activities are occasions for spiritual union with Jesus Christ.
ACTIVITIES
Opus Dei's main activities are classes, retreats and spiritual direction.
MEMBERS
Opus Dei has around 87,000 members, both men and women; 98% are laypersons, most of whom are married.
JOINING
Membership involves a commitment to receive spiritual formation from Opus Dei and to participate in its mission.
PRIESTS
Diocesan priests may join the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross, a society united to the Opus Dei Prelature.
COOPERATORS
Those who wish to help Opus Dei without being members may become Cooperators.
GOVERNANCE
Opus Dei is governed by a Prelate, currently Bishop Javier Echevarría, in accord with canon law and its own statutes.
HISTORY
Opus Dei was founded in 1928 in Spain and is currently established in 61 countries.
Write to us
Newsletter
SAINT JOSEMARÍA
Biography
Prayer card
Short Videos of Saint Josemaría
Message
LINKS
The Holy See
Writings of the founder of Opus Dei
Saint Josemaría website
Romana, Bulletin of the Opus Dei Prelature
St. Josemaria Institute