The more I read, the more it seems to be yet another layer of bureacracy on God’s work. Again, I’m not questioning their work or their commitment to these causes, only the artificial requirements that prove their admissions requirements cannot be well-aligned with a so-called “calling from God.” From their site:
Commitments
Members of Opus Dei participate in a program of spiritual, doctrinal and apostolic formation adapted to their circumstances and needs. Philosophical and theological instruction follows guidelines set down by the Catholic Church.
OK, so they say they practicing Catholics. That is good.
Commitments include a plan of spiritual life, centered on daily Mass, Holy Communion and frequent use of the sacrament of Penance, as well as reading Sacred Scripture and other spiritual texts, reciting the Rosary, and spending time in personal prayer. Through a life of joyful and generous self-giving to God and neighbour, they embrace the Cross of Christ hidden in the challenges of daily life. The Prelature’s faithful also strive to carry out the duty that all Christians have of spreading the Gospel message effectively to those around them. This apostolic responsibility is an essential part of the Christian vocation, and thus of the vocation to Opus Dei.
These are all good things, but to commit to spiritual plans in advance are not truly acts of faith in themselves, except in their living out. It is entirely possible to see how people with these motives could become so wrapped up in devotions the devotions actually become sinful in and of themselves. The rosary is not a rosary when it is a chain of bondage to fear. Again, not saying it is in their case, just that it can be.
Opus Dei encourages its members to fulfill these commitments with a spirit of complete freedom.
Let’s see how that freedom translates from a call from God into membership.
Incorporation in the Prelature
In order to join Opus Dei a person must freely ask to do so, in the personal conviction of having received this divine vocation; and the request needs to have been accepted by the authorities of the Prelature.
IOW, the “authorities” play God to discern whether you are actually worthy or able or whatever to make such commitments.
The request is made in writing, and admission is granted after a minimum of six months.
God is timeless and does not need waiting period to make decisions about a person’s eternal salvation. Therefore this entry requirement is from man, not from God.
After an additional period of at least one year, the person can be temporarily incorporated into the Prelature through a formal declaration of a contractual nature, which is renewable annually. In accordance with canon law, no one may be juridically incorporated into the Prelature who has not reached 18 years of age. After a minimum of five more years, the incorporation can become definitive.
Absolute gobbledigook. Again, this is a social club which I am not saying is bad, but even doctors of the Church would have sometimes failed this measure so clearly this is another annoyance measure and worldly contract. If a person can get married at age 13 or 14 in the Church, why would God think they need to be 18 to have a vocation in OD?
Annually renewable contract? Sounds like much more than vows regarding souls that are being exchanged here.
Incorporation into Opus Dei means, on the part of the Prelature, the commitment to provide the person with ongoing formation in the Catholic faith and in the spirit of Opus Dei, as well as the necessary pastoral care from the priests of the Prelature. On the part of the person to be incorporated, it means the commitment to remain under the jurisdiction of the Prelate in all that concerns the aim of the Prelature and to respect the norms by which it is governed. The bond with the Prelature ceases at the end of the term of the contract with the Prelature, or earlier, if the person so requests, by agreement with the authorities of the Prelature. Departure from the Prelature brings about the cessation of mutual rights and duties.
What this all means is I don’t have time to absorb yet another entire set of nonsense rhetorical junk into my life so I think I’ll wish you guys well with your club and if you wish to find it in your hearts to invite people who are truly inspiried but literally unable to put up with all the admissions criteria, then you can call me because I’m not going to call you just to be put on hold for months or years at a time.
Harrumph. Thank you veddy much.
Hey dudes, I’m going to like … get off the soapbox for a few minutes. If you want, you can come down off your hill and play with us for a while.
Alan
