The author of Plans of Cremades: a family friend of Saint Josemaría remember, in his new book, the "saint of the ordinary"
During the confinement caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Editorial Letragrande has published a book that already has more than 12.000 downloads, from 48 different countries of the world. In addition, the copy already begins its journey in bookstores. Its author is the priest Javier Cremades Sanz-Pastor (Zaragoza, 1946), who tells in Plans of Cremades: a family friend of Saint Josemaría, the memories of the relationship of the founder of Opus Dei with his family.
On the occasion of the feast of Saint Josemaría (1902-1975), Cremades remembers him as «very affordable and close, the saint of ordinary, of the life, the work and toil of each day ». And he offers himself, remembering that «if someone does not know how to address him, can you tell him he's on my side; how he loves me enormously, I am sure he will serve you very well and will pay you a lot of attention », says with humor.
The author lived in Rome with Saint Josemaría between 1969 and 1973, and he enjoyed with his family a great friendship with the founder. Javier Cremades, Doctor in Theology and doctor from the University of Salamanca, He was a chaplain at the Complutense University, director of the central acts of WYD in Madrid (2011), rector of the church of the Holy Spirit and the sanctuary of Torreciudad, among other pastoral assignments. In these months of struggling with the disease, he has been able to finish and share "the treasure of having treated him".
Can you say that your book is the story of a thank you?
Of a thank you or a friendship. The book begins with the death of the mother of Saint Josemaría, in 1941, in Madrid. When Doña Dolores died - the founder of Opus Dei was in Lleida preaching exercises to the clergy -, went to my father, who lived there, to make it easier for him to return to Madrid. Thanks to that help he was able to kiss his mother before the funeral. They knew each other since 1925, when they coincided in the Faculty of Law of the University of Zaragoza.
In these months of the pandemic, many people have experienced the grief of not saying goodbye to their loved ones in this way. St. Josemaría, that for his work he did not have the opportunity to say goodbye to his mother as he would have liked, thanks to my father he had at least one consolation… And that detail thanked him all his life, not only my father but the whole family, my mother and ten brothers. By a particular grace of God, we were able to enjoy a very unique deal with him until he went to Heaven now 45 years, and that has definitely marked our lives.
How do you remember?
Since I met him in 1958, I saw that besides being a great, he was a very good friend of his friends. I have many memories: I am seeing you in Pamplona, course 65-66, talking to us about freedom: "Think of everything as you please, always do what seems best to you. Be free ”.
How would you summarize your personality?
I have tried to convey what he always told us: I am a sinner who loves Jesus Christ madly. I have tried to highlight your love for the Mother of God, to the Church and the Pope; the cordial affection he wasted, Your Holiness, joy and good humor. Also his closeness and his ability to lead to God those who crossed his path.
And together with being deeply optimistic and always encouraged, I well remember that I felt great sorrow at the offenses against God, and carried on his back like a true cross the weight of the Church, of the Work and of the world. I remember one day, during my roman years, he told me: "When I die, Whenever you can tell your brothers how much the Father loved the Pope, whatever it is. He is now Paul VI. But to this Pope, the next one and everyone who comes behind you have to love them very much and without conditions. Tell your brothers!».
Some may have concluded that my family has been very plugged in. I love being able to say yes, What's the true. We have been huge and privileged plugged in. And, In addition, they don't take away the dance. But I repeat my thesis again: now, from the sky, he plumbs all who come to him asking for spiritual or material help, as it did, and continues to do so, with us.
Have you heard from readers?
I am very happy for the echoes, amazed by the messages I have received from half the world and I hope it is an opportunity for devotion to Saint Josemaría to grow ... The truth is that I had the enthusiasm of my brothers, we knew that in a way this book is a treasure that we had an obligation to share, and seeing it come true has taken a weight off us. Besides Jesús Gil, the graphic designer, He has done it very well and has managed to lay out a very beautiful and classy book.
Opus Dei / Alpha and Omega
