The Way
The strength, the attraction of The Way is largely due to the fact that it is based on real, living experience, being the fruit of the author's work as a priest which began in 1925. The book appeared first in 1934 under the title Consideraciones espiritualesand later (in 1939) received its definitive title, after being greatly expanded. Over the years, more than four and a half million copies have been sold, in 43 different languages.
This is one of the main attractions of the book-its direct, conversational style, its personal and deeply human character. As a reviewer in Osservatore Romano (March 24, 1950) put it: "Msgr. Escriva de Balaguer has written something more than a masterpiece; he has written straight from the heart, and straight to the heart go the short paragraphs which make up The Way."
Furrow
What appears in these pages is Christian life itself, in which-at Christ's pace-the divine and the human are interwoven, not confused, and yet kept in perfect union.
Like The Way, Furrow is the fruit of St. Josemaria's interior life and experience with souls. It presents an attractive Christian vision of the human virtues. "Furrow is directed to the whole Christian person-body and soul, nature and grace," wrote Bishop Alvaro del Portillo in the foreword to the book.
St. Josemaria had hoped to make a final revision of the book before he died, but didn't have time to do so. The first edition appeared in 1986. Since then, over half a million copies have been printed in many different languages.
The Forge
With a format similar to The Way and Furrow, The Forge is the last published work of St. Josemaria. Reading and meditating on the points in The Forge"will lead many souls to the forge of divine Love and enkindle in them an ardent desire for holiness and apostolate" (from Bishop Alvaro del Portillo's foreword to the book). It was first published in 1987. Almost half a million copies have been sold in 14 different languages.
As the author tells us in his brief preface: "How can I fail to take up your soul-pure gold-and place it in 'the forge,' and fashion it with fire and hammer, until that gold nugget is turned into a splendid jewel to be offered to my God, to your God?"
The Forge contains 1055 points for meditation, arranged in thirteen chapters. Many of these points, written down for the most part in the 1930's by the founder of Opus Dei, refer to events in the author's own life, although they are usually related in the third person.
The book follows the interior itinerary of a Christian as he seeks an ever closer identification with Christ. "The Forge accompanies the soul on the path of its sanctification, from the moment one's Christian vocation is first glimpsed right to the final light of eternity" (Bishop Alvaro del Portillo, Foreword).
Friends of God
First published in 1977, this is the first posthumous work of St. Josemaria. Collecting in one volume 18 homilies given between 1941-68, the book seeks to lead the reader to a deeper friendship with the "God who is close to us."
The author's filial dialogue with God is guided by his reflections on a number of human and supernatural virtues. Over 400,000 copies have been sold. It has been published in 13 languages.
Bishop Alvaro del Portillo writes in the foreword: "In this second volume of homilies we have gathered together some texts that were published while Msgr. Escrivá de Balaguer was still with us here on earth, and others from the many which he left for later publication, because he worked unhurriedly and kept working to the end.
"These eighteen homilies present a broad picture of the basic human and Christian virtues for all who wish to follow closely in the footsteps of our Lord…With Msgr. Escrivá de Balaguer words turn into a colloquy with God - prayer - but without ceasing to be a heartfelt conversation completely in tune with the concerns and hopes of his listeners. The homilies contain living doctrine and combine a theologian's depth with the evangelical clarity of a good shepherd of souls. They are, therefore, a lesson in doctrine and in Christian life in which God is not only spoken of but spoken to. Perhaps this is the secret of his great power of communication, because he is always speaking about the Love of God: looking at God without needing rest or feeling tired.
"Together with a great simplicity, there runs through all these writings the constant counterpoint of a passionate, expansive love. The path to sanctity that St. Josemaria invites us to take is paved with a deep respect for freedom. The Founder of Opus Dei relished those words of St Augustine where the great Bishop of Hippo stresses that God 'judged that his servants would be better if they served him freely.'"