In a divided and chaotic world, Escrivá’s contemplative message, now that we mark the fiftieth anniversary of his death, takes on unprecedented relevance. His legacy transcends history and lives on in the daily practice of many people who strive to integrate their faith into every aspect of their lives, ultimately giving full meaning to their everyday existence.

A great admirer of Saint Paul and Saint Teresa of Jesus, with an Aragonese character and a universal heart, Josemaría Escrivá passionately loved the street, considering it his true cell. An entrepreneur and nonconformist, Escrivá always dreamed big—”dream, and you will fall short,” he said—and urged Christians to place Christ at the summit of all human activities. He conceived of humanity as one family, one race: that of the children of God, living with the dignity and freedom proper to those created in the divine image.

His life was anything but easy. The numerous adversities he endured served to forge his soul. Soon, Escrivá faced the loss of loved ones, family ruin, illness, and persecution, both within and outside the Church. He suffered slander and defamation and was accused before the Tribunal of Freemasonry and the Holy Office. Despite the difficulties, he always followed what he believed to be God’s will, prioritizing his faith—so thick it could be cut!, in his famous phrase—over his desires.

Time favors and puts great entrepreneurs and revolutionaries in their place, granting them the recognition they deserve. Thus, these last ten decades have exalted the figure of Escrivá, as has happened with other prominent 20th-century Spaniards who were his contemporaries:  Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Federico García Lorca, and Miguel de Unamuno, among many others. Along with that of Padre Pio, Escrivá’s was one of the most popular canonizations in the history of the Church.

In the field of spirituality, he was a pioneer in the search for holiness in the midst of the world, in the importance of ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, in the centrality of the Eucharist, in the coherence of life, and in the relevance of secularity. He was drawn to the Church of the early Christians, hardworking, vibrant, and joyful, deeply inspired by the family of Nazareth: Jesus, Mary, and Joseph  carrying out their respective occupations inside and outside the home. A fervent defender of the role of the laity in the Church and in the world, he called more than a thousand people to the priesthood. It’s all the same.

Her message focuses on the search for contemplation in the midst of human activities, which allows human beings to soar and outrun the hunt. She teaches us to live, like Mary of Bethany, doing the work of her sister Martha, and leads us irrevocably to simplicity and humility. Through contemplation, human beings know that they are beings of love, and that Love is an eternal, beautiful, good, merciful, and true God.

For Escrivá, the noise of the street, the commotion of the squares, the din of the airports, the hubbub of social media, are unable to break the silence that permeates the center of the soul as it reaches the summit of union with God. Nor is the workplace: a laboratory, a shopping mall, or a gas station are places of encounter with God. In contemplation, we eternally embrace the material and spiritual worlds, and experience how both are intertwined in the search for unity, for beauty, and the beauty of unity.

A contemplative soul, totally free from worldly ties, is capable of seeing God in the most ordinary of circumstances. It is no coincidence that one of Saint Josemaría’s most uniting experiences occurred on a Madrid streetcar. God presents Himself as simultaneously transcendent and immanent, and what we do materially matters little, for nothing and no one can separate us from Him. Living like this, the whole world is Emmaus.

Escrivá’s impact transcends the religious sphere; his vision of the importance of everyday life, attention to the smallest details, the fundamental role of the university in society, his staunch defense of personal freedom, and the harmonious integration of work and family life have resonated with millions of people around the world. Furthermore, his initiatives have left an indelible mark on sectors such as education and healthcare. Just think of the University of Navarra, home to the prestigious University Clinic and the renowned IESE Business School.

Fifty years after his death, Escrivá’s message endures. It reminds us that every action, no matter how small, is transformative and can contribute to building a more supportive global world. And that contemplation, inextricably linked to action, is essential for the proper development of humanity.