What is Opus Dei? 5 Key Points about this Catholic Institution which Helps Laity in their Life - Founded in October 1928
Opus Dei is an institution of the Catholic Church that was founded in Spain in 1928 by Catholic priest Fr. Josemaría Escrivá. Its mission is to help its lay and clerical members to seek Christian perfection in their everyday occupations and within their societies.
Why do people join Opus Dei?
People join Opus Dei because they feel they have a vocation: a personal, intimate call from God to place their whole life at his service in the middle of the world. Although there are practical differences in the way they live it out, the vocation of supernumeraries, associates and numeraries is one and the same: to seek holiness in their ordinary lives.
Can married people belong to Opus Dei?
Most of the Prelature’s faithful are married people, who aim to follow Jesus Christ in the ordinary circumstances of their lives, in home-making as well as outside the home, as they strive to keep their married love young, generously receiving the children God sends them, bringing them up well, and passing on their faith by means of their love and their own good example.
What does Opus Dei offer?
Opus Dei offers support and guidance to help all those who want (whether or not they are members) to aim at holiness in their ordinary lives, especially through their everyday work.
How do people join Opus Dei?
Any lay Catholic may ask to join Opus Dei. People who think they may have such a vocation are advised to attend activities of spiritual formation and take on the commitments of members for some time to discern whether it really is God’s will for them. When they have matured in their decision, after a suitable time, they may ask for admission. After a further eighteen months, if it is still their firm belief that God is calling them, they may make a commitment with Opus Dei. This commitment involves on their part a decision to seek holiness in their ordinary lives, and on the part of Opus Dei to provide the necessary support and guidance. The minimum age for making this commitment is 18. It needs to be renewed each year for at least five years before a lifelong commitment is possible. People join Opus Dei by choice, and they remain equally free to leave.
What are the commitments of members?
All members attend weekly and monthly meetings, a yearly retreat, and a formation course lasting between one and three weeks, depending on personal availability. Spiritual commitments include daily Mass, the reading of Sacred Scripture and other spiritual books, the Rosary, and a time spent each day in personal prayer. Members are aware of their duty to bear witness to their Christian faith wherever they are. Like the first Christians, they strive to change the world for the better, and find fulfilment in taking seriously the Christian duty to help those in need.
Any lay Catholic may ask to join Opus Dei. People who think they may have such a vocation are advised to attend activities of spiritual formation and take on the commitments of members for some time to discern whether it really is God’s will for them. When they have matured in their decision, after a suitable time, they may ask for admission. After a further eighteen months, if it is still their firm belief that God is calling them, they may make a commitment with Opus Dei. This commitment involves on their part a decision to seek holiness in their ordinary lives, and on the part of Opus Dei to provide the necessary support and guidance. The minimum age for making this commitment is 18. It needs to be renewed each year for at least five years before a lifelong commitment is possible. People join Opus Dei by choice, and they remain equally free to leave.
What are the commitments of members?
All members attend weekly and monthly meetings, a yearly retreat, and a formation course lasting between one and three weeks, depending on personal availability. Spiritual commitments include daily Mass, the reading of Sacred Scripture and other spiritual books, the Rosary, and a time spent each day in personal prayer. Members are aware of their duty to bear witness to their Christian faith wherever they are. Like the first Christians, they strive to change the world for the better, and find fulfilment in taking seriously the Christian duty to help those in need.
HOW to Join:
Contact: https://opusdei.org/en-us/
HISTORY of Opus Dei
HISTORY of Opus Dei
FROM SEPTEMBER 30 to October 6, 1928, the Paulist Fathers organized in Madrid a spiritual retreat for diocesan priests. Fr. Josemaría Escrivá, a twenty-six-year-old priest, decided to sign up for it, since he would have a few days off on those days. Only God knew that during this activity, after celebrating Mass on the morning of Tuesday, October 2nd, that priest would receive the divine mission of bringing Opus Dei to the world. Saint Josemaría, while looking at some notes he had been taking for several years, understood for the first time that he was called to be the father of so many sons and daughters in the Work, all with the mission of bringing the Gospel message to where they lived and worked. “We are an intravenous injection in the bloodstream of society,”[1] as he will explain graphically a short time later. Those who live the spirit of Opus Dei try to bring the life of God to the great body formed by the men and women around them.
“In my conversations with you,” Saint Josemaría wrote in 1934 to the few people who were then part of Opus Dei, “I have repeatedly made clear that the undertaking we are carrying out is not a human one, but a great supernatural undertaking, which began by fulfilling to the letter what is needed to be called without boasting the Work of God.[2] And further on, he summarized the same idea in a few words: “The Work of God has not been thought up by a man.”[3] A brief look at the history of Opus Dei – and also that of each person in Opus Dei – shows clearly that this mobilization of Christians, this impulse for good and holiness that this family fosters in a great variety of places throughout the world, can only be possible if our Lord is accompanying it. God has always been present in a tangible way. The Church has officially recognized, on several occasions, that the Work exists “by divine inspiration,”[4] and that “in accordance with the gift of the Spirit received by Saint Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer, the Prelature of Opus Dei, with the guidance of its Prelate, carries out the task of spreading the call to holiness in the world.”[5]
SAINT JOSEMARÍA, when giving details that show why the light received on October 2, 1928 was a light from God, ends by expressing his heartfelt wish that the people called to Opus Dei will always keep in mind – “engraved with fire” on their heart – three things. First, that “the Work of God comes to fulfill the Will of God. Therefore, have the deep conviction that heaven is determined on its being carried out.”[8] Second, that “when God our Lord plans some work for the benefit of men, he thinks first of the people he will use as instruments, and he gives them the required graces.”[9] And third, that “this supernatural conviction of the divine origin of the undertaking will end up giving you such an intense enthusiasm and love for the Work, that you will feel greatly blessed to sacrifice yourselves to make it a reality.”[10]
That is to say, it is God who does the Work. Therefore, if we want to live the spirit He gave to Saint Josemaría, we will not lack his help, nor will we lack in our hearts the “sweet and comforting joy of evangelizing.”[11] Opus Dei, as its name suggests, is the work of God, not our work; and this reality will give us the serenity of knowing that, although God counts on our collaboration, it is He who is really guiding this family. He is the one who knows what is truly appropriate in each historical moment; it is He who lights the fire of the divine call in whomever He wants. When reflecting on how God invites us to share in his salvific mission, Saint Josemaría liked to imagine those strong fishermen who let young children take hold of their nets, even though they don’t have the strength to pull them in.[12] The conviction that we are in God’s hands gives rise to the authentic gaudium cum pace, to joy and peace in our heart. Saint Josemaría, recalling October 2, 1928, wrote that on that day “God founded his Work.”[13]
The Prelate of Opus Dei has reminded us of our founder’s words: “If we want to be more, let us be better.”[14] Saint Josemaría wanted that his children, ordinary Christians who work to make this world a better home, be distinguished only by the bonus odor Christi, by the good aroma of Christ. It is this divine attraction that is the beginning of all apostolate, and that will move people to seek authentic happiness. Holy Mary, Regina Operis Dei, who has always been so close to the Work, will intercede for us, together with Saint Josemaría and so many saints who have lived this spirit wanted by God for the world.
[1] Saint Josemaría, Instruction on the Supernatural Spirit of the Work of God, no. 42.
[2] Ibid., no. 1.
[3] Ibid., no. 6.
[4] Ut sit, Introduction.
[5] Ad charisma tuendum, Introduction.
[6] Saint Josemaría, Christ is Passing By, no. 20.
[7] Saint Josemaría, Conversations , no. 116.
[8] Saint Josemaría, Instruction on the Supernatural Spirit of the Work of God, no. 47.
[9] Ibid.
[10] Ibid., no. 49.
[11] Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, no. 10.
[12] Saint Josemaría, Friends of God, no. 14.
[13] Saint Josemaría, Intimate Notes, no. 306. Quoted in The Founder of Opus Dei, vol. I, p. 302.
[14] Fernando Ocáriz, Pastoral Letter, 4 February 2017, no. 9.
October 2nd
26th week of Ordinary Time
“In my conversations with you,” Saint Josemaría wrote in 1934 to the few people who were then part of Opus Dei, “I have repeatedly made clear that the undertaking we are carrying out is not a human one, but a great supernatural undertaking, which began by fulfilling to the letter what is needed to be called without boasting the Work of God.[2] And further on, he summarized the same idea in a few words: “The Work of God has not been thought up by a man.”[3] A brief look at the history of Opus Dei – and also that of each person in Opus Dei – shows clearly that this mobilization of Christians, this impulse for good and holiness that this family fosters in a great variety of places throughout the world, can only be possible if our Lord is accompanying it. God has always been present in a tangible way. The Church has officially recognized, on several occasions, that the Work exists “by divine inspiration,”[4] and that “in accordance with the gift of the Spirit received by Saint Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer, the Prelature of Opus Dei, with the guidance of its Prelate, carries out the task of spreading the call to holiness in the world.”[5]
SAINT JOSEMARÍA, when giving details that show why the light received on October 2, 1928 was a light from God, ends by expressing his heartfelt wish that the people called to Opus Dei will always keep in mind – “engraved with fire” on their heart – three things. First, that “the Work of God comes to fulfill the Will of God. Therefore, have the deep conviction that heaven is determined on its being carried out.”[8] Second, that “when God our Lord plans some work for the benefit of men, he thinks first of the people he will use as instruments, and he gives them the required graces.”[9] And third, that “this supernatural conviction of the divine origin of the undertaking will end up giving you such an intense enthusiasm and love for the Work, that you will feel greatly blessed to sacrifice yourselves to make it a reality.”[10]
That is to say, it is God who does the Work. Therefore, if we want to live the spirit He gave to Saint Josemaría, we will not lack his help, nor will we lack in our hearts the “sweet and comforting joy of evangelizing.”[11] Opus Dei, as its name suggests, is the work of God, not our work; and this reality will give us the serenity of knowing that, although God counts on our collaboration, it is He who is really guiding this family. He is the one who knows what is truly appropriate in each historical moment; it is He who lights the fire of the divine call in whomever He wants. When reflecting on how God invites us to share in his salvific mission, Saint Josemaría liked to imagine those strong fishermen who let young children take hold of their nets, even though they don’t have the strength to pull them in.[12] The conviction that we are in God’s hands gives rise to the authentic gaudium cum pace, to joy and peace in our heart. Saint Josemaría, recalling October 2, 1928, wrote that on that day “God founded his Work.”[13]
The Prelate of Opus Dei has reminded us of our founder’s words: “If we want to be more, let us be better.”[14] Saint Josemaría wanted that his children, ordinary Christians who work to make this world a better home, be distinguished only by the bonus odor Christi, by the good aroma of Christ. It is this divine attraction that is the beginning of all apostolate, and that will move people to seek authentic happiness. Holy Mary, Regina Operis Dei, who has always been so close to the Work, will intercede for us, together with Saint Josemaría and so many saints who have lived this spirit wanted by God for the world.
[1] Saint Josemaría, Instruction on the Supernatural Spirit of the Work of God, no. 42.
[2] Ibid., no. 1.
[3] Ibid., no. 6.
[4] Ut sit, Introduction.
[5] Ad charisma tuendum, Introduction.
[6] Saint Josemaría, Christ is Passing By, no. 20.
[7] Saint Josemaría, Conversations , no. 116.
[8] Saint Josemaría, Instruction on the Supernatural Spirit of the Work of God, no. 47.
[9] Ibid.
[10] Ibid., no. 49.
[11] Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, no. 10.
[12] Saint Josemaría, Friends of God, no. 14.
[13] Saint Josemaría, Intimate Notes, no. 306. Quoted in The Founder of Opus Dei, vol. I, p. 302.
[14] Fernando Ocáriz, Pastoral Letter, 4 February 2017, no. 9.
October 2nd
26th week of Ordinary Time
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