.png)
Opus Dei was founded in 1928 in Spain and is currently established in 66 countries. Opus Dei focuses on uniting spiritual life with professional, social, and family life. Members of Opus Dei lead ordinary lives, within families and secular careers, and strive to "sanctify ordinary life". (Source: https://opusdei.org/en-ca/article/historical-overview/)
APOSTOLIC LETTER
IN THE FORM OF "MOTU PROPRIO"
OF THE GREAT PONTIFF
FRANCIS
"AD CHARISMA TUENDUM"
To protect the charism, my predecessor Saint John Paul II, in the Apostolic Constitution Ut sit, of 28 November 1982, erected the Prelature of Opus Dei, entrusting it with the pastoral task of contributing in a particular way to the evangelizing mission of the Church. According to the gift of the Spirit received from St. Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer, in fact, the Prelature of Opus Dei, with the guidance of its Prelate, carries out the task of spreading the call to holiness in the world, through the sanctification of work and family commitments. and social through the clerics incardinated in it and with the organic cooperation of the laity who dedicate themselves to apostolic works (cf. cann. 294-296, CIC).
My venerable Predecessor affirmed that: "With great hope, the Church directs her maternal concerns and attentions to Opus Dei (...) so that it is always a valid and effective instrument of the saving mission that the Church fulfills for life of the world "[1].
With this Motu Proprio we intend to confirm the Prelature of Opus Dei in the authentically charismatic context of the Church, specifying its organization in harmony with the testimony of the Founder, St. Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer, and with the teachings of the conciliar ecclesiology regarding personal prelatures.
By means of the Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium of March 19, 2022, which reforms the organization of the Roman Curia to better promote its service in favor of evangelization, I have deemed it convenient to entrust to the Dicastery for the Clergy the competence for all that pertains to the Apostolic See regarding personal prelatures, of which the only one that has so far been erected is that of Opus Dei, in consideration of the pre-eminent task carried out in it, according to the norm of law, by clerics (cf. can. 294, CIC).
Therefore, wishing to protect the charism of Opus Dei and promote the evangelizing action that its members carry out in the world, and at the same time having to adapt the provisions relating to the Prelature according to the new organization of the Roman Curia, I arrange that the following norms be observed.
Art. 1. The text of art. 5 of the Apostolic Constitution Ut sit is, starting from now, replaced by the following text: "In accordance with art. 117 of the Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium, the Prelature depends on the Dicastery for the Clergy which, according to the subjects, will evaluate the related issues with the other Dicasteries of the Roman Curia. The Dicastery for the Clergy, in dealing with the various issues, will have to make use of the competences of the other Departments, through appropriate consultation or transfer of practices. "
Art. 2. The text of art. 6 of the Apostolic Constitution Ut sit is, starting from now, replaced by the following text: "Each year the Prelate will submit to the Dicastery for the Clergy a report on the state of the Prelature and on the carrying out of its apostolic work".
Art. 3. By virtue of the amendments to the Apostolic Constitution Ut sit arranged with this Apostolic Letter, the Statutes proper to the Prelature of Opus Dei will be suitably adapted on the proposal of the Prelature itself, to be approved by the competent organs of the Apostolic See.
Art. 4. In full respect of the nature of the specific charism described by the aforementioned Apostolic Constitution, it is intended to strengthen the conviction that, for the protection of the particular gift of the Spirit, a form of government based more on charism than on hierarchical authority is needed. Therefore the Prelate will not be awarded or insignificant of the episcopal order.
Art. 5. Considering that the pontifical insignia are reserved for those awarded the episcopal order, the Prelate of Opus Dei is granted, by reason of his office, the use of the title of Supernumerary Apostolic Protonotary with the title of Reverend Monsignor and therefore may use the insignia corresponding to this title.
Art. 6. From the entry into force of the Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium, all pending matters at the Congregation for Bishops relating to the Prelature of Opus Dei will continue to be treated and decided by the Dicastery for the Clergy.
I establish that this Apostolic Letter in the form of a Motu Proprio be promulgated through publication in L'Osservatore Romano, entering into force on 4 August 2022, and then published in the official commentary of the Acta Apostolicae Sedis.
Given in Rome, at St. Peter's, on 14 July 2022, the tenth of the Pontificate.
FRANCIS
___________________________________________________
[1] See Preamble Ut sit.
IN THE FORM OF "MOTU PROPRIO"
OF THE GREAT PONTIFF
FRANCIS
"AD CHARISMA TUENDUM"
To protect the charism, my predecessor Saint John Paul II, in the Apostolic Constitution Ut sit, of 28 November 1982, erected the Prelature of Opus Dei, entrusting it with the pastoral task of contributing in a particular way to the evangelizing mission of the Church. According to the gift of the Spirit received from St. Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer, in fact, the Prelature of Opus Dei, with the guidance of its Prelate, carries out the task of spreading the call to holiness in the world, through the sanctification of work and family commitments. and social through the clerics incardinated in it and with the organic cooperation of the laity who dedicate themselves to apostolic works (cf. cann. 294-296, CIC).
My venerable Predecessor affirmed that: "With great hope, the Church directs her maternal concerns and attentions to Opus Dei (...) so that it is always a valid and effective instrument of the saving mission that the Church fulfills for life of the world "[1].
With this Motu Proprio we intend to confirm the Prelature of Opus Dei in the authentically charismatic context of the Church, specifying its organization in harmony with the testimony of the Founder, St. Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer, and with the teachings of the conciliar ecclesiology regarding personal prelatures.
By means of the Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium of March 19, 2022, which reforms the organization of the Roman Curia to better promote its service in favor of evangelization, I have deemed it convenient to entrust to the Dicastery for the Clergy the competence for all that pertains to the Apostolic See regarding personal prelatures, of which the only one that has so far been erected is that of Opus Dei, in consideration of the pre-eminent task carried out in it, according to the norm of law, by clerics (cf. can. 294, CIC).
Therefore, wishing to protect the charism of Opus Dei and promote the evangelizing action that its members carry out in the world, and at the same time having to adapt the provisions relating to the Prelature according to the new organization of the Roman Curia, I arrange that the following norms be observed.
Art. 1. The text of art. 5 of the Apostolic Constitution Ut sit is, starting from now, replaced by the following text: "In accordance with art. 117 of the Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium, the Prelature depends on the Dicastery for the Clergy which, according to the subjects, will evaluate the related issues with the other Dicasteries of the Roman Curia. The Dicastery for the Clergy, in dealing with the various issues, will have to make use of the competences of the other Departments, through appropriate consultation or transfer of practices. "
Art. 2. The text of art. 6 of the Apostolic Constitution Ut sit is, starting from now, replaced by the following text: "Each year the Prelate will submit to the Dicastery for the Clergy a report on the state of the Prelature and on the carrying out of its apostolic work".
Art. 3. By virtue of the amendments to the Apostolic Constitution Ut sit arranged with this Apostolic Letter, the Statutes proper to the Prelature of Opus Dei will be suitably adapted on the proposal of the Prelature itself, to be approved by the competent organs of the Apostolic See.
Art. 4. In full respect of the nature of the specific charism described by the aforementioned Apostolic Constitution, it is intended to strengthen the conviction that, for the protection of the particular gift of the Spirit, a form of government based more on charism than on hierarchical authority is needed. Therefore the Prelate will not be awarded or insignificant of the episcopal order.
Art. 5. Considering that the pontifical insignia are reserved for those awarded the episcopal order, the Prelate of Opus Dei is granted, by reason of his office, the use of the title of Supernumerary Apostolic Protonotary with the title of Reverend Monsignor and therefore may use the insignia corresponding to this title.
Art. 6. From the entry into force of the Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium, all pending matters at the Congregation for Bishops relating to the Prelature of Opus Dei will continue to be treated and decided by the Dicastery for the Clergy.
I establish that this Apostolic Letter in the form of a Motu Proprio be promulgated through publication in L'Osservatore Romano, entering into force on 4 August 2022, and then published in the official commentary of the Acta Apostolicae Sedis.
Given in Rome, at St. Peter's, on 14 July 2022, the tenth of the Pontificate.
FRANCIS
___________________________________________________
[1] See Preamble Ut sit.
Comments