"The Forge" 

St. Josemaría Escrivá

The Forge contains 1055 points for meditation, arranged in thirteen chapters following the interior journey of a Christian seeking identification with Christ.

The title:

"In the forge of suffering that accompanies the life of all who love, the Lord teaches us that those who tread fearlessly where the Master treads, hard though the going is, find joy."

A forge heats, hammers, and shapes raw metal into something useful. That's what God is doing with your soul.


I. The Battle Is Real

"The ascetical struggle is not something negative and therefore hateful, but rather a joyful affirmation. It is a sport. A good sportsman doesn't fight to gain just one victory, and that at the first attempt. He has to build himself up for it, training over a long period of time."

The spiritual life isn't a single event — it's training. You don't get discouraged when you can't bench 300 your first day in the gym. Why expect instant holiness?

Discussion: Where have you treated the spiritual life like a one-time decision instead of daily training?


II. When You Fall — Get Up

"The saints are those who struggle right to the end of their lives: those who always manage to get up each time they fall, and courageously embark on their way once more with humility, love and hope."

"If your mistakes make you more humble, if they make you reach out more urgently for God's helping hand, then they are a road to sanctity: Felix culpa! — O happy fault!"

The difference between a saint and a man who quits isn't that the saint never falls. The saint always gets back up.

Discussion: What's your pattern after a fall — run to God or hide from Him?


III. God Wants to Use Your Weakness

"Be filled with wonder at God's goodness, because Christ wants to live in you. Be filled with wonder also when you are aware of all the weight of your poor wretchedness. Yes, but then remember: Jesus Christ, who is God and Man, understands me and looks after me, for he is my Brother and my Friend."

"If you have done something wrong, be it big or small, go running back to God! The Lord will never spurn or disregard a contrite and humbled heart."

The forge doesn't reject impure metal — it purifies it. Your weakness isn't disqualifying. It's the raw material.

Discussion: What weakness have you been hiding from God instead of bringing to Him?


Closing Challenge

"Joy and affliction can go hand in hand, each in its own 'man': the former in the new man, the latter in the old."

This Week: