The Church calendar gives us this October 2nd one of those dates that awakens an immediate smile and a deep cascade of hope: the anniversary of the founding of Opus Dei, which took place in 1928 at the hands of Saint Josemaría Escrivá.

Far from being a dull anniversary or a relic of the past, this day reminds us of a spiritual revolution so profound that, almost a century later, it continues to break down barriers. Imagine the scene: a young priest suddenly sees, with divine insight, that holiness isn’t reserved for a select few who flee the world, but that the street, the office, the market, and the bus are the true altars of everyday life . Wow!

Sainthood in jeans and an apron

The great brilliance of Opus Dei’s message—always faithful to the purest Catholic tradition and the Gospel—is that God does not love us “in spite of” our ordinary occupations, but precisely through them .

Do you have to deal with an unbearable boss? That’s your heaven. Do you have to prepare dinner after twelve hours away from home with the kids screaming for attention? That’s your sanctuary. Daily work, done well, finished professionally, and offered to God, becomes a path to holiness. As Saint Josemaría liked to say, we must “sanctify our work, sanctify ourselves through our work, and sanctify others through our work .” In other words: transform our routine into a daily love letter to God.

Joy that is contagious is not joy at all.

There’s a common misconception that saints are boring, gloomy beings who live perpetually fasting. Nothing could be further from the truth!

The spirit of Opus Dei breathes a tremendous, supernatural optimism. Why? Because those who know they are children of a God who is Father and loves us unconditionally cannot go through life dragging their feet. Joy is an infallible sign of grace in the soul. If a Christian goes through life with a sour face, something is wrong. Saint Josemaría insisted that good humor is born of inner peace and knowing how to laugh at oneself. Holiness has a sense of humor!

Making a mess… from the coffee table

Pope Francis constantly encouraged us to “make a mess” and go out to the peripheries. Opus Dei has been saying this since 1928, but applied to our own personal sphere. You don’t have to cross the ocean to be an apostle; it’s enough to look with affection at the person next to you who is going through a difficult time, to do things meticulously out of love for God, or to offer a smile when your body needs a sigh.

This October 2nd, as we celebrate this very special birthday, we have a golden opportunity. What if we turn our everyday tasks into a true celebration of the heart?