Opus Dei

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Hey, who knows anything about Opus Dei? I have read about it and met some people in it and I have no idea what it is really about? but the people seem nice? There are a lot of concerns about it. Some consider is a cult some think it just wants power and money, i suppose that is all a bit biased (maybe not just a bit). But let’s say I become a supernumerary (just assumption), what would I have to do to sanctify my life in daily work?

I also hear that they require financial support? Is that true and how much? (sorry this question is so straight forward but about money you gotta be)
 
juhothenero said:
Hey, who knows anything about Opus Dei? I have read about it and met some people in it and I have no idea what it is really about? but the people seem nice? There are a lot of concerns about it. Some consider is a cult some think it just wants power and money, i suppose that is all a bit biased (maybe not just a bit). But let’s say I become a supernumerary (just assumption), what would I have to do to sanctify my life in daily work?

I also hear that they require financial support? Is that true and how much? (sorry this question is so straight forward but about money you gotta be)
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“The Work” - Opus Dei - is about sanctification in daily life. It is about becoming a saint no matter if you are a priest, sister, nun, mother, wife, fireman, waitress, plumber, etc. Everyone is called to holiness and to respond to grace daily in just one’s everyday life. Have you read the writings of St. Josemaria Escriva? They will probably help you to know more about the spirituality of Opus Dei.

I have a friend who is discerning becoming an Opus Dei priest. He is so inspiring and so devout. He is very involved with opus dei. I have only ever met good people that are very solid in their faith when it comes to Opus Dei. I have never encountered anything wrong with them.
 
As I recall, John Allen, the Rome reporter for NCR, wrote a book on Opus Dei a year or so ago. It was generally accepted as an objective assessment.
 
juhothenero said:
Hey, who knows anything about Opus Dei? I have read about it and met some people in it and I have no idea what it is really about? but the people seem nice? There are a lot of concerns about it. Some consider is a cult some think it just wants power and money, i suppose that is all a bit biased (maybe not just a bit). But let’s say I become a supernumerary (just assumption), what would I have to do to sanctify my life in daily work?

I also hear that they require financial support? Is that true and how much? (sorry this question is so straight forward but about money you gotta be)
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If you were a supernumerary, what you have to do to sanctify your work is simply do whatever you are currently doing as a wife, mother, daughter, colleague to people at work but always offering things up to our Lord for specific intentions (i.e. for a friend who is sick, for a son to pass an exam). It’s having rectitude of intention while you do your work.

The financial support that a supernumerary gives depends on her generosity. Since Opus Dei is considered as your supernatural family, I heard that most supernumeraries treat it as one more child (i.e. the amount they give for the apostolic activities each month in running vocational schools, study centers would be around the amount they would probably spend on one of their children for a month). The amount is never fixed or specific like a tithe.

I’m an associate member (a celibate vocation who normally lives with family or on one’s own because of permanent family or professional circumstances)of Opus Dei, btw. You can pm me if you have more questions.
 
Yesterday I bought the little three books of saint Josemaria. I am now reading The Way.
I have went through some internet sites, and what I discovered is that the things people dislike about the Opus Dei is pretty much what I’m looking for 🙂

For a couple of months now, I’ve been thinking of going to a meeting of Opus Dei. I am a practising catholic, but without membership in any prayer group or anything like that. And I really feel the need to get involved with something that will help me grow spiritually, to be a better person, in my everyday circumstances.
Sometimes I feel it’s easy to be holy when you’re somewhere in the swiss Alps in an old monastery, walking in the hills, praying the rosary and admiring God’s wonderful creatures. (that’s what I’ll do in two weeks 😃 )
But when it comes to everyday life, duties, people, problems, it’s very hard to be peaceful.

I have a question for you, since you are a member - do you have obligations, for instance, prayer obligations, like daily mass, daily liturgy of the hours, daily rosary?
Or is it left for you to see what you can do and try to do it as often as you can?
 
I have a question for you, since you are a member - do you have obligations, for instance, prayer obligations, like daily mass, daily liturgy of the hours, daily rosary?
Or is it left for you to see what you can do and try to do it as often as you can?
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Is it okay if I jump in with this? I’m a supernumerary of Opus Dei, and we all take on the same obligations when joining the Work.

What you are asking about is commonly called a “plan of life.” Our plan of life in Opus Dei is demanding but doable. Daily: Mass & communion, Rosary, prayer (up to 30 min., once in the morning and once again in the afternoon or evening,) Angelus, spiritual reading, a visit to the Blessed Sacrament and the “Preces,” which is our own, short prayer said by all members of the Work. We do not say the Liturgy of the Hours (except the priests, of course, since I think it’s part of their breviary, right?)

It is expected that we fulfill this plan of life, but there is no penalty of sin attached to not doing so. It is understood that because of circumstances like illness, etc. that someone in the Work might not be able to fulfill all these on a given day or for an extended period of time. When I have a baby, for instance, it generally blows everything else out of the water, and it takes several weeks (sometimes longer) to get these things back on the schedule again. But typically, yes, all members of the Work do all these things every day.

It’s important to remember that the goal of all this is not to just cross a bunch of things off a list and feel all good and holy. 🙂 The norms are supposed to be one of the ways we deepen our relationship with God, and remain in His presence throughout the day. They’re sort of like time to stop and recharge the spiritual batteries at points throughout the day.

I’d definitely encourage you to try and attend an evening of recollection if there is one nearby you. It’s sort of a mini-retreat for just a few hours. It’s probably the simplest way to get a real-world feel for the spirit of Opus Dei.

Also, keep in mind that simply going to something like that doesn’t make you a “member” of the Work or bind you in any way. (I know that sounds silly but occasionally I meet people who are convinced they belong to Opus Dei because they’ve made a retreat or went to two or three recollections last year.) Nobody joins the Work without doing so deliberately, and without understanding what they are taking on. Anybody at all can attend activities like recollections and retreats and draw spiritual benefit from it.

I hope that helps a little bit. If you poke around the website www.opusdei.org you’ll find quite a lot of information there…

Margaret
 
Yep, I went to the website, there even is one in croatian, and I wrote them an e-mail asking about the gatherings. I know that now, during summer, there probably aren’t any meetings, but in September, maybe… I just hope they’ll read my e-mail.

If I can ask one more thing - the plan of life you just described would take at least an hour and a half each day, which is a lot for someone like me who prays only before going to bed ( 😊 ). I guess that during formation process there is enough time to implement all these things one step at a time?
What I mean is, they are patient, right?
As I am reading The Way, I am finding saint Josemaria’s views on life and action really inspiring. He does seem strict at times, but I think it’s just what I need.
 
If I can ask one more thing - the plan of life you just described would take at least an hour and a half each day, which is a lot for someone like me who prays only before going to bed ( 😊 ). I guess that during formation process there is enough time to implement all these things one step at a time?
What I mean is, they are patient, right?
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Yes, it does take up a good chunk of time. But frankly, I was wasting time watching mindless TV that I was able to cut out in order to make time for the plan of life.

And yes, of course they are patient. This isn’t like being in elementary school with a strict teacher where you have to hand in homework assignments on time. The formation in Opus Dei is one-on-one precisely each individual can tailor the plan of life to fit the circumstances of their own life. It can definitely take a while, and that is okay, and probably a much better idea. I knew one kid in college who started going to recollections and things-- he wasn’t actually in the Work-- and decided on his own initiative to start living the full plan of life, right away, all of it. It was a generous idea, and he saw the attraction of such a life, but he burned out very quickly because of course we’re human beings. You can’t just jump into deep water if you don’t even know how to swim yet. 🙂

Also, if you don’t get a response back, keep pestering!!! 😃

Margaret
 
mahalia said:
Yep, I went to the website, there even is one in croatian, and I wrote them an e-mail asking about the gatherings. I know that now, during summer, there probably aren’t any meetings, but in September, maybe… I just hope they’ll read my e-mail.

If I can ask one more thing - the plan of life you just described would take at least an hour and a half each day, which is a lot for someone like me who prays only before going to bed ( 😊 ). I guess that during formation process there is enough time to implement all these things one step at a time?
What I mean is, they are patient, right?
As I am reading The Way, I am finding saint Josemaria’s views on life and action really inspiring. He does seem strict at times, but I think it’s just what I need.
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I think Red Meg has already answered your questions outright. You really have to start the plan of life slowly, just one norm first for a week then another in two weeks to a months time. You can’t hurry it or you get burn out! And always out of love for God, and attaching intentions to help the others (i.e. each Hail Mary in the Holy Rosary for a specific member of your family)
 
Thank you both for your efforts to explain.
Well, I’m still waiting for their reply, but I’ve just decided that while I wait for Autumn, I can start implementing some of the things now, like the daily rosary 🙂
 
Why would a single person join Opus Dei, as opposed to becoming a priest or a nun?

I know that there are people within Opus Dei who live celibate lives and live in Opus Dei centres. Why would a person choose to do this instead of joining a religious Order?
 
Because they prefer continuing their profession but also want to experience life in the community?
 
😉 :twocents:
juhothenero said:
Hey, who knows anything about Opus Dei? I have read about it and met some people in it and I have no idea what it is really about? but the people seem nice? There are a lot of concerns about it. Some consider is a cult some think it just wants power and money, i suppose that is all a bit biased (maybe not just a bit). But let’s say I become a supernumerary (just assumption), what would I have to do to sanctify my life in daily work?

I also hear that they require financial support? Is that true and how much? (sorry this question is so straight forward but about money you gotta be)
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I won’t bash on any legitimate true institution of the Church.

I’ll just say jokes, as some might find elements of truth in them.

To start a canonization process you need some things.
  1. Time to pass
  2. Miracles
  3. The obvious, sanctity
But there are exceptions to the rule:
  1. John Paul II’s process started faster than the rule says need
  2. St. Phillip Neri had no miracle
  3. St. Jose Maria Escriva had no sanctity
    😉
Hey I got the joke of them alright. OK not the first time but the second time.

But what they really said is that it was a question of a couple of these :twocents:
 
jaaraf said:
I think Red Meg has already answered your questions outright. You really have to start the plan of life slowly, just one norm first for a week then another in two weeks to a months time. You can’t hurry it or you get burn out! And always out of love for God, and attaching intentions to help the others (i.e. each Hail Mary in the Holy Rosary for a specific member of your family)
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I think this is good advice in any attempt to grow spiritually. We emphasize in RCIA, that the candidate needs to develop the basics and not get distracted chasing new things. there is a great danger of one getting fascinated with the new and innovative, and losing sight of the true goal.
 
hmm… If Jose Maria is a saint and catholic church never makes mistakes on issues of faith and morals, I suppose there is some truth to Opus Dei.

I am wondering though where is the theology of Opus Dei based upon since under my unterstanding there has not been similar organization in the Church for the last 2000 years?

Juhou
 
What do you mean by “the theology of Opus Dei”?
Its position in the Catholic Church is not a matter of theology, it’s a matter of organization. Well, maybe it is a first organization with a status of personal prelature, but probably in the future there will be more organizations like Opus Dei.
Religious orders also have some independence towards the local bishop. Of course they cooperate and are called to treat him as his shepherd, but they have a degree of autonomy concerning their internal affairs.
Opus is a first lay organization with this type of autonomy, but never before had lay people in the Church had such needs to organize for spiritual needs, public action etc… So, I think it’s reasonable to expect a few more personal prelatures in the next decades.
 
I don’t want to imply this is the case, though if I would I can back it up, but a misplacement, a single clause that is wrongly placed can make that proclamation of sanctity null.

It is not that it is reversable. A cannonization is irreversable.

But just like marriage anullments, the thing is finding out if it was actually valid.
 
mahalia said:
What do you mean by “the theology of Opus Dei”?
Its position in the Catholic Church is not a matter of theology, it’s a matter of organization. Well, maybe it is a first organization with a status of personal prelature, but probably in the future there will be more organizations like Opus Dei.
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Sorry, I was not asking the organization since i pretty much know how it develops but where the fundemental idea comes from
 
Hi,
I’ve been thinking to learn more about it before joing them too. I contacted Opus Dei in Singapore because there’s none in Indonesia, and one of people there replied me and he told me that he will give me some informations about it and someone will contact me if he/she come to my country.

So I’m waiting for answer about fundamental idea 🙂
 
juhothenero said:
Sorry, I was not asking the organization since i pretty much know how it develops but where the fundemental idea comes from
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I think it comes from the universal call to sanctity as explained by some of the documents in Vatican II, (I can’t remember the exact documents though…)
 
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