Personal Apostolate

God created each soul for Himself. He desires that each one of us love Him above all and love the others as He loves them. This is why Jesus commanded all of us to make disciples of all nations without fear or exception. Indeed, apostolate is the most unambiguous sign of love for the others for in carrying it out, we desire no less than the greatest good for them.
 
For ordinary people, personal apostolate takes place right where we are. It gently and efficaciously permeates our dealings with members of our family, friends, colleagues. Truly yet mysteriously, it not only benefits those we are praying for and dealing with but also ripples outward to all souls through God's grace. 
 
We do a coherent apostolate by example every time we exert the effort to practice every human and supernatural virtue. It becomes even more effective if done with rectitude of intention—that is, seeking the good only to please God. 
 
Opportunities for apostolate come up naturally every day. For example, we can turn conversations or communication with others into apostolate by word to enlighten minds and console hearts. The digital world provides a novel and fecund means of carrying out this kind of apostolic work. But all forms of apostolic activity must be based on an intense life of prayer and sacrifice, if it is to be fruitful. This has been the constant testimony of the saints.
 
St. Josemaría Escrivá described apostolate as the overflow of the interior life. It is the absolute inner working of the Holy Spirit in the soul of the apostle that becomes a light to those in darkness and consolation to the weary. Its gentlest motions can move even the most hardened of hearts. This divine impetus may seize on any facet of our ordinary life in order to awaken the desire for holiness in others. The Holy Spirit inspires the apostolic soul to know, desire, and love Christ more each day in order to learn to love souls as Christ does. He teaches the apostle to turn to Holy Mary, the saints, and the angels in fulfilling the task of evangelization and re-evangelization. The entire work of sanctification, which encompasses apostolic action, is the handiwork of the Holy Spirit. The optimism and tenacity behind all personal apostolate is rooted in the divine mandate and inspired by God’s promise of abundant and lasting spiritual fruits to those whom he calls to the work of co-redemption.
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