Opus Dei

[ohne]

Just a couple of questions about Opus Dei…

Do those who go about joining Opus Dei as a numerary or supernumerary approach this in similar ways as those who would seek to join other religious orders such as Jesuits, Franciscans or Dominicans? Does Opus Dei employ vocations directors similar to religious orders or a diocese?

I have met a few Opus Dei priests recently…does Opus Dei specifically ask its numeraries to become priests or can one seek to become an Opus Dei priest?

 

[graceandglory]

Hi Ohne,

These are questions I want to know the answers to also.
Can you ask one of the Opus Dei priests you know?

Have you read any books on Opus Dei? (Other than the Davinci Code, of course!)

Have you been to their website? Or read any blogs of Opus Dei members? You can reach some blogs through their website.

 

[curmudgeon66]

Hi Ohne,
. . .
Have you read any books on Opus Dei? (Other than the Davinci Code, of course!)

Well Grace& …
I can answer one of your questions. First just a little bit of disclosure, I am not a member of Opus Dei. I’ve gone to one of their evenings of reflection, and I found it very . . . I guess I dont have a good word to say except that I felt comfortable, at home, and I really appreciated the chance to just worship, and focus on my relationship to Him.

Anyway to get to your question, Books on Opus Dei.

Author: Scott Hahn
Title: Ordinary Work, Extraordinary Grace
sub Title: My spiritual journey in Opus Dei

I bought it about a year ago at Barns & Noble, so its not going to be too difficult to find. As I have found with other of Scott Hahn’s books, it is a good high level overview, but he doesn’t go into the detail that I sometimes wish he would. But it is a good book for a start on Opus Dei, and particularly how Scott became familiar with them.

Hope this helps ya…

Cur

 

[Red_Meg]

I actually sat down at least once to start writing an answer to this and got pulled away…

I believe this is correct, and I hope someone will correct me if wrong—

The priest question first-- priests of Opus Dei are drawn from the ranks of the men who are already numeraries, supernumeraries or associates. One would not approach Opus Dei specifically seeking to be a priest.

On a related note, there is an organization for priests called the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross. I’m afraid I’ll get the terminology wrong, so I don’t want to go into a lot of detail, but essentially it is for diocesan priests (i.e. not religious order priests) who wish to further their priestly vocation in the spirit of Opus Dei.

As far as the more general vocational question goes-- no, Opus Dei does not employ vocations directors per se. Typically, people considering requesting admission to the Work spend time (anywhere from several months to several years) attending activities like recollections, retreats and doctrine classes, and receiving spiritual direction. This gives the person a chance to
“get to know” the Work and for the people in the Work to get to know this new individual. If things seem like a good match, the person can request admission to Opus Dei. That request is then followed by a six month period of very intensive classes that delve very deeply into all the nitty-gritty details of being in the Work. At the end of the six month period, the person can then be admitted to the Work on a temporary basis. That commitment can then be renewed each year. It’s explained better here.

I hope this helps. If you have further questions I’ll do my best to answer. I know there are other people in Opus Dei floating around CAF-- not quite sure why nobody else has piped up. Perhaps they are all off roasting turkeys…

Margaret

 

[juan_math_geek]

I actually sat down at least once to start writing an answer to this and got pulled away…

I believe this is correct, and I hope someone will correct me if wrong—

The priest question first-- priests of Opus Dei are drawn from the ranks of the men who are already numeraries, supernumeraries or associates. One would not approach Opus Dei specifically seeking to be a priest.

On a related note, there is an organization for priests called the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross. I’m afraid I’ll get the terminology wrong, so I don’t want to go into a lot of detail, but essentially it is for diocesan priests (i.e. not religious order priests) who wish to further their priestly vocation in the spirit of Opus Dei.

As far as the more general vocational question goes-- no, Opus Dei does not employ vocations directors per se. Typically, people considering requesting admission to the Work spend time (anywhere from several months to several years) attending activities like recollections, retreats and doctrine classes, and receiving spiritual direction. This gives the person a chance to
“get to know” the Work and for the people in the Work to get to know this new individual. If things seem like a good match, the person can request admission to Opus Dei. That request is then followed by a six month period of very intensive classes that delve very deeply into all the nitty-gritty details of being in the Work. At the end of the six month period, the person can then be admitted to the Work on a temporary basis. That commitment can then be renewed each year. It’s explained better here.

I hope this helps. If you have further questions I’ll do my best to answer. I know there are other people in Opus Dei floating around CAF-- not quite sure why nobody else has piped up. Perhaps they are all off roasting turkeys…

Margaret

I’m a former numerary (celibate member), and I can say that basically Margaret has got it right. So I went through the temporary period of celibacy for several years but in the end I did not continue to make the commitment permanent. It takes normally about 6 years of having to renew the commitment every year, and on the 6th renewal it is for a permanent committment.

Let me just say that for me, in the end, it didn’t work out.

Nevertheless, I remain very much in love with Opus Dei.

I do encourage you to learn more about Opus Dei, go ahead and PM me if you want more in depth discussion - whether its for your own discernment or a friends or relative’s.

The thing is, as you search the web, you will encounter commentary that puts Opus Dei very negatively. Some of those who write these criticisms are former numeraries. I cannot say that I understand their point of view, as I can never know what they went through, but I disagree with many of the negative things former numeraries say. I do understand many of the difficulties they cite, but I believe whatever happened to them does not mean there is essentially something wrong with Opus Dei itself, as it is a spiritual path in essence.

So it saddens me to read what they say, like they were insulting my own mom. If you ever come across those criticisms, do consult people from both sides first, and I personally would be very glad to discuss. Not all former numeraries end up hating Opus Dei you know

escrivaworks.org/

josemariaescriva.info/

these are great sources of information

 

[juan_math_geek]

I have met a few Opus Dei priests recently…does Opus Dei specifically ask its numeraries to become priests or can one seek to become an Opus Dei priest?

As I said Margaret got it right, but just to join in the discussion,

Finding a vocation to the priesthood in Opus Dei is somehow special in the sense that it always comes as a “vocation” in a “vocation”. One is first called to sanctification as a lay faithful in apostolic celibacy when one becomes a numerary member.

One then discovers at some point, after several years living as a numerary, that in addition to the current state, one also has a vocation to be a priest.

I don’t have exactly my notes with me right now to explain why this is so, but from what I remember in the the formative classes I received back then as a numerary there are reasons I could cite such as:

1. Numerary Priests of Opus Dei are incardinated under the Prelate of Opus Dei (the bishop of Opus Dei since it is a hierarchical struture) and not to the Diocese, because they perform their pastoral duties first of all and in a special way to the “family” of Opus Dei. It is therefore important that the pastors come “from the ranks” so to speak, since their pastoral care is “specialized.” This is because…
2. Very central to the spirituality of Opus Dei is seeking to become a saint without leaving your “place” in the ordinary world - the call for the lay faithful to sanctify themselves and society from within. It seems to me that the numerary priests are especially capable of teaching this spirituality because each of them, having spent many years as a (non-priest) numerary first, must have already been serving apostolically in a secular professions and must have already grown spiritually and found Christ in the middle of active, secular life, before they enter the seminary. This argument seems not really able to preclude priests who never lived as secular professionals from still becoming pastors of secular professionals and guiding them towards sanctity. Nevertheless, when a numerary priest, says in spiritual direction, that “he understands” - meaning, the joys and difficulties of sanctification in ordinary secular work in society, then its really because he’s been there and done that, and the spiritual advice tends to be really on-the-spot.

Regarding “does Opus Dei specifically ask its members to be a priest”:

How it happens is either a numerary sees it first in his prayer and consults this possible “vocation” in a “vocation” in spiritual direction, or it is suggested to him by the director who perhaps sees the potential of such a vocation. Either way it must be discerned by the a local council directors that there is a possibility of a vocation. If the numerary is ready, he is then “sent” for intense studies (they undertake doctoral studies in theology or philosophy) which could take 4 years, and it is only at the beginning of the final year when they are then asked to confirm their decision. If yes then they enter the seminary of Opus Dei priests.

There also priests - ordained outside Opus Dei - and who are members of the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross (which is the Priestly Society united with Opus Dei) They are not numerary priests - these are diocesan priests who receive spiritual formation from numerary priests of Opus Dei.

 

[chicago]

Opus Dei is not a religious community and, therefore, has an organizational structure which is quite unique. Becoming involved with them at a more serious level, therefore, typically takes a different path than what would be commonly expected of exploring religious life or priestly discernment, in general.