Opus Dei controversy?

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i think one of my favorite passages is from The Way
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Mortification: 204
Many who would willingly let themselves be nailed to a Cross before the astonished gaze of a thousand onlookers cannot bear with a christian spirit the p(name removed by moderator)ricks of each day! Think, then, which is the more heroic.
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I really should try and get myself a copy of the way, that can be my weekends task. 🙂
 
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Libero:
I really should try and get myself a copy of the way, that can be my weekends task. 🙂
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you won’t be sorry… but, it’s online… if you don’t mind reading
from a monitor…

escrivaworks.org/book/the_way

🙂
 
gmmartin,

Yes, OD’s presence in the Chicago area is significant. Becoming an Opus Dei Cooperator is fairly easy, yet if I were you I would start with a night of recollection (adoration, two talks and confession). That would give you a feel for the group. Also, if you can, I would attend Mass at Saint Mary of the Angels in Chicago (1850 North Hermitage Ave., Chicago, IL, 60622-1191, 773 278-2644). The Church and parish is run by Opus Dei Priests and the Church is the type that would fit well in Rome. I know of no better PRiests to hear your confession and to attend Mass.
 
josiecoe:

why Opus Dei is maligned? It is orthodox and practicing.

As for corporal mortification: The great saints of the CC did corporal mortification: St. Francis throwing himself in thorns when tempted, St. Thomas More’s hair shirt beneath the velvet. The discalced Carmelites, etc.etc. Fasting is corporal mortification. Smiling when you’re in a bad mood is big time corporal mortification.

Opus Dei must be seen and experienced. Many people think they know and prematurely judge this lay organization. Attend formation activities and meet the people–you will be surprised.

in XT.
 
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Libero:
There is also the nature of Jose Maria’s guide book, ‘Il Camino’ it has some strange philosophy in it like:

“Stay quite and you shall never regret it, speak and you often will”
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This reminds me of the words many spiritual writers use. Here is an example from the Imitation of Christ, which is typical in the Christian tradition:
book1 chapter10:
I often wish that I had kept silence, and that I had not been in company. But why are we so willing to talk and discourse with one another, since we seldom return to silence without having stained our conscience?
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Why are they maligned? The devil doesn’t like anything good and holy.

I am a cooperator. The requirements for this are practically nothing. We agree to pray for the work and give money when we can.

My sister is a member and does follow a more stingent spiritual regimine - one she felt called to do.

The numeraries and priests do practice corporal mortifications. Many saints have done this too. Yes, it may be weird to many but that’s probably because they are not called to do this. We’re not all called to the same kinds of spirituality. That doesn’t make one wrong and one right nor does it make one better or worse. It makes them different.

If people took the time to get to know the priests, numeraries, members, etc. before they make a judgement, you’d see that they are quite “down to earth” and wonderful people. Their priests are just about the best confessors you’ll ever meet. While their practices may be weird, they sure bring about some good people!

There is no secrecy. Ask a question and you’ll get an answer. No, they don’t walk up to people and say “Hi, I’m Opus Dei and I do corporal moritifications.” They’re not doing this to say, “Look at me, I’m doing this great thing”. They are very into a quiet apostolate - not secretive and the corporal mortifications are used to refine their spiritual lives not as a dog and pony show for you and me.

I suggest you take the little lists published on this thread to an Opus Dei priest and ask them about it. I’m sure they’ll be quite happy to answer any questions that you have. Speculating and getting it from Dan Brown is a waste of time. Get it right from the horses mouth as I have done. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. 👍
 
TPJCatholic,

I have no problem with Opus Dei, I was just listing some common theories or reasons that Opus Dei has a controvery surrounding it.
 
I know some people in Opus Dei and they are the sweetest, kindest, most loving people that I have ever known, one of my aunt’s was also Opus Dei and she was (to me, a living Saint). That woman prayed for everyone for any reason to bring them closer to the Lord. They are not weird in any way, shape or form.
They are very devout, very spiritual and very loving and Christ like.
Even now, (she, my aunt has passed on many years ago) I ask her intercession, and believe me, things happen!! I am sure that if anyone in Opus Dei was reading this thread and saw some of the things that were being said about them, that they would never say a word to you that I might say, like–“do you know how ignorant you sound?” They would instead just pray for you. If they knew you in person, they would answer your questions. Perhaps even invite you. (But for some, if I were in Opus Dei, I don’t think I would invite everyone on this thread, that’s for sure.) That’s probably why I’m not Opus Dei. 😃
 
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Libero:
There are many reasons, some of these may not be true, alot are from a book I read:

One reason was due to the beatifcation and cannonization of Jose Maria Escriva de Balaguer. Two popes before JP2 had denied this honour, however JP2 did not deny it.

I think that there are some Opus Dei members on the forum?
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Libero, I am a member of Opus Dei. I am just going to respond to one of the claims you list because to respond to all would be too time consuming, and this one is as true as any of the others!

"Two popes before JP2 had denied this honour (beatification and canonization)** however JP2 did not deny it."**

Josemaria Escriva died on June 26th, 1975. His cause for sainthood followed the norms - it did not start until 5 years after his death. Five years after his death brings us to 1980. Pope John Paul II was elected Pope in 1978. So, tell me, how could two Popes have denied him beatification, much lesss canonization?

Visit the websites suggested. Even better - visit an Opus Dei Center and learn for yourself at first hand.
 
I worked a year at a Catholic Campus Ministry, and the priest I worked with as well as others in CCM were not very excited about Opus Dei.
I asked why, and my priest responded that in his experience they don’t go about things very diplomatically, and instead just try to make waves.
This is just an objective passing on of what he said. I don’t have anything against OD. I take anything he said with a grain of salt anyway because he didn’t end up liking me very much either :rolleyes: . I guess I made too many waves, too. In my opinion, some people just don’t want to admit they’re doing something wrong and correct it.
 
Yes, Opus Dei was much maligned by the DaVinci Code, but (I’m not sure we can talk about this here) the sedevacantists seem to also hate it and call it a cult.

From what I know of Opus Dei is that it’s an apostolate of people seeking to find holiness through their everyday work. Sounds like a very noble cause if you ask me.
 
Josemaria Escriva died on June 26th, 1975. His cause for sainthood followed the norms - it did not start until 5 years after his death. Five years after his death brings us to 1980. Pope John Paul II was elected Pope in 1978. So, tell me, how could two Popes have denied him beatification, much lesss canonization?
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Visit the websites suggested. Even better - visit an Opus Dei Center and learn for yourself at first hand.
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I don’t think there are any Opus Dei centres within an accessible range of where I live, I would be highly suprised, there are only two catholic churches within a huge area. I have to rely on books and websites, some will be reliable, some will not; thus some information will be incorrect.

I did not mean to offend anyone, and was not proffessing everything I wrote to be true, I was rather listing reasons or so called ‘truths’ for the controversy surrounding Opus Dei, as written by people who have studied the topic. I have not questioned any of the liability etc of Opus Dei, and did make a point of stating that I was sure that Opus Dei are a group of love and God’s word; I do not have any objection to Opus Dei. 🙂
 
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TPJCatholic:
gmmartin,

Yes, OD’s presence in the Chicago area is significant. Becoming an Opus Dei Cooperator is fairly easy, yet if I were you I would start with a night of recollection (adoration, two talks and confession). That would give you a feel for the group. Also, if you can, I would attend Mass at Saint Mary of the Angels in Chicago (1850 North Hermitage Ave., Chicago, IL, 60622-1191, 773 278-2644). The Church and parish is run by Opus Dei Priests and the Church is the type that would fit well in Rome. I know of no better PRiests to hear your confession and to attend Mass.
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Thanks for the information. I will note this going forward…
 
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Libero:
There are many reasons, some of these may not be true, alot are from a book I read:

Another reason is due to the old practices some of the members still do, such as sprinkling holy water on the bed before sleeping in it and also the discipline (the minority do this). Many saints recommend doing this.

One reason was due to the beatifcation and cannonization of Jose Maria Escriva de Balaguer. Two popes before JP2 had denied this honour, however JP2 did not deny it.
The cause for his cannonization didn’t start until after Pope John Paul II was in office.
Also the way that members are treated. There are many super numeraries of the group that donate entire salaries to the organisation, this is one way that Opus Dei were able to get the vatican bank out of the blue years back. Also women and men have to use diffenerent entrances to Opus Dei buildings.
Very virutous indeed!

There is also the nature of Jose Maria’s guide book, ‘Il Camino’ it has some strange philosophy in it like:

“Stay quite and you shall never regret it, speak and you often will”
** Many saints say the same thing, as does the Bible.**
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I haven’t seen anyone mention one of the most significant reasons many are wary of or distrust Opus Dei, that is it’s practice of recruiting children and teenagers. While the group’s work in providing a spiritually healthy and friendly place for kids to hang out and have fun with other kids seems good, it takes on an almost sinister aspect when those same kids hit 14 and they are pressured to make commitments that children that age are not prepared to make. When combined with the exclusive and secretive nature of the organization, the use of spiritual directors to control the lives of it’s members, and the role money plays in it, it comes off as cult-like, expecially to parents whose children are being asked to make commitments without the parents involvement.

I have no problem with adults involving themselves in any of the practices I’ve heard of. As adults, they know what they are getting themselves into and can leave whenever they want. Children, on the other hand, are easily pressured and have no business making vows to God to be celibate their entire lives or any other commitments especially those that are kept as secret from their parents. Since God commands children to honor their parents, anyone who convinces children to keep secrets from their parents and make life long vows behind their parents back, is guilty of major sin. If everything is so honorable and good, why are parents kept out of the loop. That’s trademark cult behavior. It’s probably not universal throughout the Opus Dei, but it’s prevalent enough to be well-known and have been reported by major news outlets as a consistent pattern.

David
 
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DavidB:
I haven’t seen anyone mention one of the most significant reasons many are wary of or distrust Opus Dei, that is it’s practice of recruiting children and teenagers. …
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From Matt’s Opus Dei, FAQ.

**46. What about the children of members? Are they pressured to join? **

**Because the members of Opus Dei are human, I’m sure it does happen sometimes. It didn’t happen to me. **

**One of the most important jobs of any parent is to teach their children to “do good and avoid evil.” And as we all know, especially when it comes to encouraging our children to “choose the good”, it’s often hard to know how much encouragement is too much. We encourage them to participate in sports because sports are good for them. We teach them to choose the greater good of doing their homework instead of the lesser good of playing Nintendo. We try to encourage them to develop the human and Christian virtues they will need as adults to fulfill the purpose for which God made them, which is to know, love, and serve God in this life and to be happy with Him in the next. **

**Obviously the members of Opus Dei believe the way of life proposed and taught by Opus Dei is a good thing. They want their children to recognize it as such, and if it is God’s will, to choose it for themselves. For anyone to freely “choose the good”, they need to know what that good is. So there are boy’s and girl’s clubs, and other activities, in which the kids have fun and learn about the virtues. There are elementary and high schools in which the spirit of Opus Dei is lived and taught. There are summer camps run by members of the Work. **

**Parents are the primary educators of their children. So it’s up to the parents to decide which, if any, activities or schools of Opus Dei they want their children to attend. As with any such decision, parents should consider many factors, including the opinion of the other spouse; the personality of the child and any special needs he or she has; the effect on the rest of the family, including the rights and needs of the parents and other family members; finances; transportation; etc. **

**But isn’t sending your child to a school of Opus Dei putting pressure on them to join? Not in my opinion. My parents sent me and my brothers to a high school run by Franciscan friars. Were they putting pressure on us to become Franciscans? No, of course not! It’s only natural for parents to want to send their kids to a school that shares their values. **

**Of course, there will always be some children who are very sensitive to the wishes of their parents, and will consider a simply stated request (for example, “I’d like you to think about joining this boy’s club”) as tantamount to a command from God. Other kids won’t even consider such a request unless they’re threatened with all sorts of dire consequences. So as with sports, or study, or any other good we want our children to consider choosing, it’s often difficult to know where to draw the line. The line will be in different places for different kids, and we won’t always get it right. **

**This is all common sense. What I can tell you is that St. Josemaría encouraged parents NOT to pressure their children to have anything to do with the Work. He even suggested making it a little difficult for them. He knew, and taught, that parents have a crucial role in helping their children discover their own vocation, but it is a role that requires them to respect the child’s freedom. Even their freedom to say no. **

**Do all parents in Opus Dei live this perfectly? Of course not. Each of them has their own personality and their own strengths and weaknesses. Some of them will err on the side of pressuring their children, and others will err on the side of not providing their children with sufficient exposure to the Work for them to know what it’s all about. Hopefully most of them will get it right. **
 
Annunciata said:
From Matt’s Opus Dei, FAQ.

**46. What about the children of members? Are they pressured to join? **

**Because the members of Opus Dei are human, I’m sure it does happen sometimes. It didn’t happen to me. **

**One of the most important jobs of any parent is to teach their children to “do good and avoid evil.” And as we all know, especially when it comes to encouraging our children to “choose the good”, it’s often hard to know how much encouragement is too much. We encourage them to participate in sports because sports are good for them. We teach them to choose the greater good of doing their homework instead of the lesser good of playing Nintendo. We try to encourage them to develop the human and Christian virtues they will need as adults to fulfill the purpose for which God made them, which is to know, love, and serve God in this life and to be happy with Him in the next. **

**Obviously the members of Opus Dei believe the way of life proposed and taught by Opus Dei is a good thing. They want their children to recognize it as such, and if it is God’s will, to choose it for themselves. For anyone to freely “choose the good”, they need to know what that good is. So there are boy’s and girl’s clubs, and other activities, in which the kids have fun and learn about the virtues. There are elementary and high schools in which the spirit of Opus Dei is lived and taught. There are summer camps run by members of the Work. **

**Parents are the primary educators of their children. So it’s up to the parents to decide which, if any, activities or schools of Opus Dei they want their children to attend. As with any such decision, parents should consider many factors, including the opinion of the other spouse; the personality of the child and any special needs he or she has; the effect on the rest of the family, including the rights and needs of the parents and other family members; finances; transportation; etc. **

**But isn’t sending your child to a school of Opus Dei putting pressure on them to join? Not in my opinion. My parents sent me and my brothers to a high school run by Franciscan friars. Were they putting pressure on us to become Franciscans? No, of course not! It’s only natural for parents to want to send their kids to a school that shares their values. **

**Of course, there will always be some children who are very sensitive to the wishes of their parents, and will consider a simply stated request (for example, “I’d like you to think about joining this boy’s club”) as tantamount to a command from God. Other kids won’t even consider such a request unless they’re threatened with all sorts of dire consequences. So as with sports, or study, or any other good we want our children to consider choosing, it’s often difficult to know where to draw the line. The line will be in different places for different kids, and we won’t always get it right. **

**This is all common sense. What I can tell you is that St. Josemaría encouraged parents NOT to pressure their children to have anything to do with the Work. He even suggested making it a little difficult for them. He knew, and taught, that parents have a crucial role in helping their children discover their own vocation, but it is a role that requires them to respect the child’s freedom. Even their freedom to say no. **

**Do all parents in Opus Dei live this perfectly? Of course not. Each of them has their own personality and their own strengths and weaknesses. Some of them will err on the side of pressuring their children, and others will err on the side of not providing their children with sufficient exposure to the Work for them to know what it’s all about. Hopefully most of them will get it right. **
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I hadn’t even considered parents pressuring their children into the Opus Dei in my post. I was discussing the Opus Dei recruiting children without their parent’s knowledge or consent, a completely different thing.

David
 
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