question about Opus Dei

[Faithdancer]

Julia Mae.

Regarding the point below from St Josemaria:

Escriva had a knack for raising points of examination in his homilies and other writings that go to the heart of someone’s actions. Having dealt with thousands of people, he seems to have had a sense for some of the excuses that people can raise at different times. And he might plainly call them on it. That is, why they might be less than sincere in confession or in chats. Having watched people make slow turns away from what they had set out to do, he would call them on it plainly.

That’s why I suggested above (several times) that you read some of his spiritual writings…so you might see the connection between a point in a bare statute and a more pastoral point. But that approach to understanding your curiosities doesn’t seem to interest you.

Edward, often, when I open The Forge or The Way at random, I immediately read something that makes me mentally squirm. How does St. Josemaria always seem to know just where I am? It’s usually the sin of pride, which he addresses quite frequently in his writings. I would say that he addresses sloth with about equal frequency. Well, I think the discomfort I feel at times when I read St. Josemaria’s words is a good thing. I will never have the honor of meeting him in this life, but at least I can read his insights, and pray for his intercession.**

 

[Faithdancer]

I don’t understand, are you saying that there is a different spirituality in Opus Dei than in the Church? I don’t think anyone is addressing what Escriva said here:.

Julia, all Catholic religious orders, and the one Prelature, have their own spiritual approaches within the overall body of the Catholic Church. One cannot be a member of Opus Dei and a Benedictine, just as one cannot be both a Franciscan and a Dominican. This holds true for the secular third order, oblates, etc. as well. One cannot be a secular Dominican and a secular Franciscan. It is not allowed, because there are differences in the formation. That is just the way it is. I hope this clears things up for you- the difference is not between Opus Dei and the Magisterium, but between Opus Dei and all of the religious orders, which in turn differ from each other.

 

[Faithdancer]

I haven’t made any judgements. I’ve posted information and asked questions. OTOH, I’ve not seen the listing for the EORs or their locations.

One just needs to email the national office, and they will in turn contact the closest local group which meets monthly. There may not be one near you, I don’t know. I travel 50+ miles to attend the closest one to my location, but so do many of the supernumeraries and cooperators I have met.

 

[JillianRose]

Okay…this is brought me to tears laughing. I swear its almost as funny as LR and TC fighting. Let me brake it down in cave man terms:

POPE=Vicar of Christ
Pope oks Opus Dei

Opus Dei Good!

We are Catholic. There is a place for all of us and still be in communion with the Lord.

I am on my 2nd Night of Recollection. They already gave me the info I need. I don’t have to join. I CAN STILL go to nights of recollection.

I like my girls night out with Jesus. OPUS DEI SAVED ME FROM LEAVING THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. Personal note I might be a little too charismatic and bubbley for them. I cant keep a secret. I am very talkative and nights of recollection are a great way for me to practice a virtue that I am not familiar with-SILENCE! Lol

You guys are so smart. I m just an average at everything mom. Maybe that’s what attracts me to opus Dei. I can glorify God just being a boring not great but okay wife and mother…

 

[Faithdancer]

Absolutely true. You can go to EOR’s for the rest of your life, and never become a member. And if you toss a few bucks in the basket for the priests (if it’s in the Rectory) or the church, nobody counts how much you contributed.
Not really very sinister, after all!

 

[Julia_Mae]

That’s why I suggested above (several times) that you read some of his spiritual writings…so you might see the connection between a point in a bare statute and a more pastoral point. But that approach to understanding your curiosities doesn’t seem to interest you.

What makes you think I haven’t read his writings?

 

[Julia_Mae]

Julia, all Catholic religious orders, and the one Prelature, have their own spiritual approaches within the overall body of the Catholic Church. One cannot be a member of Opus Dei and a Benedictine, just as one cannot be both a Franciscan and a Dominican. This holds true for the secular third order, oblates, etc. as well. One cannot be a secular Dominican and a secular Franciscan. It is not allowed, because there are differences in the formation. That is just the way it is. I hope this clears things up for you- the difference is not between Opus Dei and the Magisterium, but between Opus Dei and all of the religious orders, which in turn differ from each other.

Faithdancer,

I am more than familiar with the differences in Orders and what I know is this: any priest can act as confessor to any Catholic at any time.

Any priest.

From any Order, Diocese, school, monastery, any place for any penitent. No one’s “spirituality” has anything to do with it.

You are not answering the question, you are trying to sell me the OD party line: we’re so special, no one can understand us but ourselves.

Sin is sin, and when OD makes itself so different form the rest of the Church that only OD can serve OD, then something is very, very wrong.

 

[Julia_Mae]

I travel 50+ miles to attend the closest one to my location…,

No, that’s not correct as you, yourself, have no way of knowing what OD Centers are close to your location. This is just the closest one they are willing to assign you to.

Why is this so secret? Why isn’t there a list of Opus Dei Centers?

 

[Julia_Mae]

Okay…this is brought me to tears laughing. I swear its almost as funny as LR and TC fighting. Let me brake it down in cave man terms:

POPE=Vicar of Christ
Pope oks Opus Dei

Opus Dei Good!

Pope approves Legion of Christ. That didn’t work out so well.

The Legion, which is now under Vatican receivership, has insisted that the crimes of the Rev. Marciel Maciel were his alone.

But the Vatican investigation of other Legion priests indicates that the same culture of secrecy that Maciel created within the order to cover his crimes enabled other priests to abuse children – just as abusive clergy of other religious orders and dioceses have done around the world.

I am not accusing OD of anything. I am always concerned when anything is secret by statute - created to operate secretly, insisting that even the statutes that govern it be a big secret. Unless the Chinese government is hunting you down because of your Faith, what reason is there to, from the beginning, arrange for all this secrecy?

A poster here who was a former Numerary, who is not condemning OD is saying: “I wish I known before I committed what I was committing to.” I’m sure he thought he did, but then after he was far in, found out he actually had no clue. This is heard again and again. Why aren’t people just told everything in the first place?

I am sure much of the Legion of Christ’s work was wonderful. I’m delighted you have had such a positive experience with OD. Sounds like you might find a better fit as a Secular Franciscan where the simplicity and charismatic bubblieness (<–is that a word?) will fit right in!

 

[Mark12]

Okay…this is brought me to tears laughing. I swear its almost as funny as LR and TC fighting. Let me brake it down in cave man terms:

POPE=Vicar of Christ
Pope oks Opus Dei

Opus Dei Good!

Jillian,
I’d would like to agree with you, but that reasoning is not always right.
The Pope is human and makes mistakes, so not everything that he OKs is right.
He OK Marcial Maciel and Cardinal Law and we don’t need to say that many people (and the Church) were hurt by those approvals.
Blind following is not part of Christ’s teachings: “When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things”. (good meditation material for your recollection)

 

[Mark12]

I don’t think the analogy holds, because when you make a vocation, whether to a religious order or to a prelature, you make a vocation. There are many priests in parishes in our area who are not lay priests, but are members of religious orders. If one belongs to a particular order or the Prelature and then goes to confession with a priest of another order, I can see where that might be problematic. For an example, who is best to give you spiritual counseling in conjunction with Reconciliation- a priest who shares your spiritual vocation, or one who has a different spirituality? However, if you are speaking only of freedom to choose one Opus Dei priest versus another Opus Dei priest as a confessor, that is a bit different. Perhaps someone else can chime in here and tell us how it is done in religious orders where the members live communally- do they have complete freedom to go to one abbot (for example) versus another for Reconciliation?

Of course, I understand there is a difference between the requirements of being a numerary in Opus Dei, and being a supernumerary. Obviously, while supernumeraries generally make Reconciliation once a month with an Opus Dei priest, the rest of the month they confess to their parish priest. In a sense, though, the Opus Dei priest is “assigned” that one time per month, although he is assigned to everyone who attends the EOR at that particular location.

Sorry, I took for granted that you’re an Opus Dei member, but for your answer it seems that you’re not. So I’ll need to explain more.
As I mentioned in my post, Opus Dei members can not choose their confessor, it is assigned to them. Also, spiritual counseling in Opus Dei is not provided by their priests. They only hear your confession. The Spiritual counseling is provided by a lay person assigned to you (which also you can not choose).
Numeraries and Supernumeraries have exactly the same “norms” which also includes weekly confession.

 

[Julia_Mae]

Sorry, I took for granted that you’re an Opus Dei member, but for your answer it seems that you’re not. So I’ll need to explain more.
As I mentioned in my post, **Opus Dei members can not choose their confessor, it is assigned to them. **

This would be a violation of Canon Law:

Can. 991 Every member of the Christian faithful is free to confess sins to a legitimately approved confessor of his or her choice, even to one of another rite.

 

[Edward_H]

What makes you think I haven’t read his writings?

Your questions.

 

[Edward_H]

Sorry, I took for granted that you’re an Opus Dei member, but for your answer it seems that you’re not. So I’ll need to explain more.
As I mentioned in my post, Opus Dei members can not choose their confessor, it is assigned to them. Also, spiritual counseling in Opus Dei is not provided by their priests. They only hear your confession. The Spiritual counseling is provided by a lay person assigned to you (which also you can not choose).
Numeraries and Supernumeraries have exactly the same “norms” which also includes weekly confession.

I am supernumerary and I’ve never been told who to confess to, or what I can discuss with a priest from Opus Dei. I have a weekly chat with a Numerary. I confess weekly, but just once a month to a priest of the Work.

 

[JillianRose]

I am supernumerary and I’ve never been told who to confess to, or what I can discuss with a priest from Opus Dei. I have a weekly chat with a Numerary. I confess weekly, but just once a month to a priest of the Work.

Dear Edward:

I have been going to Evenings of Recollection. They told me I could confess to what ever priest I like to. I like going to EOR because they make be feel great for being ordinary. They make stay at home mom especially feel that even while cooking and cleaning, I can glorify God. My whole life, I have never been the best at anything. With Opus Dei that is not important. When people speak about a few, (one sided) bad apples well, that does not speak for everyone. They have given me prayer books, prayed for me , and they have given me a book about Opus dei and I have only been to a few EOR. They answers questions and seem pretty open to me. They are having a meeting in a few month that I am invited to see if I could be interested in becoming a cooperator.

People who don’t know, don’t know. I am sorry for those who might had directors on power trips. People like that are completely anti-opus dei’s whole mission. They would never condone that. They make family first. They guide you, like any Pastor/Priest should be doing. The nice thing is they actual have the time for you. My husband Does NOT want to join Opus Dei. They don’t care. They are like “we all have different callings”.

Lastly, I seeked them out. No one recruited me. They gave me my nearest center . I called the center they explain where, what time and what EOR was. Ummmm not secret. Also at these nites there really is no time to socialize and bomb people with questions. I got one supernumery and number she got mine. She don’t bother me. She lets me call her with any questions.

I think they want serious inquiries only. Not people that think this is some status group.

ok, thats all.

 

[Edward_H]

Dear Edward:

I have been going to Evenings of Recollection. They told me I could confess to what ever priest I like to. I like going to EOR because they make be feel great for being ordinary. They make stay at home mom especially feel that even while cooking and cleaning, I can glorify God. My whole life, I have never been the best at anything. With Opus Dei that is not important. When people speak about a few, (one sided) bad apples well, that does not speak for everyone. They have given me prayer books, prayed for me , and they have given me a book about Opus dei and I have only been to a few EOR. They answers questions and seem pretty open to me. They are having a meeting in a few month that I am invited to see if I could be interested in becoming a cooperator.

People who don’t know, don’t know. I am sorry for those who might had directors on power trips. People like that are completely anti-opus dei’s whole mission. They would never condone that. They make family first. They guide you, like any Pastor/Priest should be doing. The nice thing is they actual have the time for you. My husband Does NOT want to join Opus Dei. They don’t care. They are like “we all have different callings”.

Lastly, I seeked them out. No one recruited me. They gave me my nearest center . I called the center they explain where, what time and what EOR was. Ummmm not secret. Also at these nites there really is no time to socialize and bomb people with questions. I got one supernumery and number she got mine. She don’t bother me. She lets me call her with any questions.

I think they want serious inquiries only. Not people that think this is some status group.

ok, thats all.

Your experiences are like mine and my wife’s. The formation is there for the taking. Friendly people. Strugglers all. Not pushy. Cheerful.

 

[Mark12]

I am supernumerary and I’ve never been told who to confess to, or what I can discuss with a priest from Opus Dei. I have a weekly chat with a Numerary. I confess weekly, but just once a month to a priest of the Work.

Edward, thanks for your response.
I don’t have time to repeat all over, but if you’re a supernumerary, you should access to Opus Dei’s catechism. Read the question 216 and the answer regarding the confession.
Maybe you live in an area where an Opus Dei’s priest is not available weekly, in that case you’ll don’t have another choice.
I didn’t say that you can not discuss whatever you want with the priest.
I said that the Spiritual Counseling in Opus Dei is not performed by their priest, is done by a lay person assigned to you.
Regarding your weekly chat with a numerary, did you choose him or was assigned to you?

 

[Mark12]

Dear Edward:

I have been going to Evenings of Recollection. They told me I could confess to what ever priest I like to. I like going to EOR because they make be feel great for being ordinary. They make stay at home mom especially feel that even while cooking and cleaning, I can glorify God. My whole life, I have never been the best at anything. With Opus Dei that is not important. When people speak about a few, (one sided) bad apples well, that does not speak for everyone. They have given me prayer books, prayed for me , and they have given me a book about Opus dei and I have only been to a few EOR. They answers questions and seem pretty open to me. They are having a meeting in a few month that I am invited to see if I could be interested in becoming a cooperator.

People who don’t know, don’t know. I am sorry for those who might had directors on power trips. People like that are completely anti-opus dei’s whole mission. They would never condone that. They make family first. They guide you, like any Pastor/Priest should be doing. The nice thing is they actual have the time for you. My husband Does NOT want to join Opus Dei. They don’t care. They are like “we all have different callings”.

Lastly, I seeked them out. No one recruited me. They gave me my nearest center . I called the center they explain where, what time and what EOR was. Ummmm not secret. Also at these nites there really is no time to socialize and bomb people with questions. I got one supernumery and number she got mine. She don’t bother me. She lets me call her with any questions.

I think they want serious inquiries only. Not people that think this is some status group.

ok, thats all.

Jillian, you’re not an Opus Dei member, so all the things that we’re sharing on this blog do not apply to you in any way.
I don’t know anyone on this thread that’s “anti” anything. We’re just saying that some things need to be improved.
I know lots of numeraries that their parents (or anyone in their families) are not Opus Dei members, and that’s perfectly OK.
In all my years in Opus Dei I don’t remember ever to be forced to have anyone on my family to join.

 

[JillianRose]

Jillian, you’re not an Opus Dei member, so all the things that we’re sharing on this blog do not apply to you in any way.
I don’t know anyone on this thread that’s “anti” anything. We’re just saying that some things need to be improved.
I know lots of numeraries that their parents (or anyone in their families) are not Opus Dei members, and that’s perfectly OK.
In all my years in Opus Dei I don’t remember ever to be forced to have anyone on my family to join.

Okey dokey… I am just praying about it. I just know if I stay like I am there, just attending EOR, they are fine with that. I dont’ know what God wants me to do. I just know that ODAN scared the socks off me at first. They do seem to frown on telling people you are Opus Dei. One thing I did like is that they seem to make sure you like it first before they pursue you. I just like to read about it, because I am a control freak by nature and do not like the unknown. Thanks for you honesty.

 

[Mark12]

Edward, thanks for your response.
I don’t have time to repeat all over, but if you’re a supernumerary, you should have access to Opus Dei’s catechism. Read the question 216 and the answer regarding the confession.
Maybe you live in an area where an Opus Dei’s priest is not available weekly, in that case you’ll don’t have another choice.
I didn’t say that you can not discuss whatever you want with the priest.
I said that the Spiritual Counseling in Opus Dei is not performed by their priest, is done by a lay person assigned to you.
Regarding your weekly chat with a numerary, did you choose him or was assigned to you?