Thinking about applying to become an Opus Dei cooperator

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guillaume31
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
G

Guillaume31

Guest
Dear Members of the forum,

I’m so gratfeul to have found a place like this on the Internet. My name is Guillaume. I’m from France and am almost 30 years old.

Two years ago I came across the leterature of St. Josémaria Escriva and really loved his emphasis on finding sanctity in the daily life. Even if I’m protestant and happy to be and remain one, what Josémaria Escriva was saying in his books inspired me.

So I contacted Opus Dei in my area and loved the discussions we were having - also loved the really ressourceful website of the Prelature. I won’t say that I attended the meetings religiously and regularly but liked it.

Summer started and I started to think again about what my friend in the Opus dei told me about becoming a cooperator. He didn’t say much actually (“you don’t have to be catholic”, “you are supporting the Work spiritually and financially”, “you can go to meetings, and spiritual trainings”, “It will give you a spport in your personnal spiritual life”).

I went on the Opus Dei website for cooperators but found the informations there pretty generic and not specific. I browsed this forum and made a search to found any topic witten on being a cooperator of Opus Dei. It really helped but not entirely. That’s why I writing a post today because I know that I’ll find my answers in this loving and caring environnement.

I apologize for writing a list of my questions but it’s the only way I found to be clear in what I want to ask you :
  1. What really being a cooperator entails pratically - in your daily life - when you are a cooperator ?
  2. What difference being a cooperator can make in my spiritual life as a protestant ?
  3. Do we have to attend every meeting ?
  4. Are we free on what spiritual training sessions we want to attend ?
  5. What’s gonna happened when they will receive my request for being a cooperator - what’s the next step ?
  6. There are certain aspects of being a cooperator of Opus Dei that - as a protestant - don’t recognize (confessions with a priest or indulgences), will I have to do it anyway ?
  7. Do we have to renew our membership yearly ? How do we resign ?
  8. Can I openly say that I’m a protestant ?
I also could read on the Opus Dei website that Opus Dei doesn’t consider protestants as christians. It says “non-christians”. It bothers me a little because I cultivate my life with Christ as well as catholics. Could you enlight me on that ?

I would love to have your feedbacks on that because you can find pretty scary things saying on Opus Dei over the Internet but I’m feeling drawn to go deeper and know more about this.

Much love to you !

G.
 
Last edited:
I am not a member of Opus Dei, nor a cooperator. However, until the covid-19 pandemic, I tried to go to their monthly men’s recollections, I have good friends who are members, and at one point I went to an Opus Dei priest for spiritual direction. I have also read all of John Allen Jr.'s book on Opus Dei, which is very objective in its approach. So I would start with a recommendation of that book. At the same time, I think you should address your list of questions directly to your friends or the priest of Opus Deit. I have never found them hesitant to answer any question about the organization I might have. Now, this might be different in France, as the organization is much more decentralized than commonly thought and I do believe it’s “culture” does tend to vary a little from place to place. At one time, they were know for being rather secretive, but that is not the case as much anymore, at least in this country.
I am surprised that you read on their website they do not consider protestants Christians. In my experience, they do not deviate from the Church teaching in the least, and the Church teaches that anyone baptized in the name of the trinity is a Christian. Do you have a reference for that?
In general, while I do not think I have a calling towards joining Opus Dei, I do have a high regard for them.
 
Some of the best Catholics I know are in the Opus. However, several are very unhappy about the direction it is taking towards liberalism, which they see as a betrayal of Escriva’s vision.

As Im not a member I cannot comment further except to say that you should first be sure what you believe and then find out if the Opus correspoonds to that. Not the other way round.
 
Maximian said:
As Im not a member I cannot comment further except to say that you should first be sure what you believe and then find out if the Opus correspoonds to that. Not the other way round.
Click to expand...
I am not for sure this makes sense. Lets leave Opus Dei out of it for a second and just suppose that it is some protestant going to any other Catholic lay organization for spiritual development. The whole purpose of attending is figuring out what one believes. Very few converts (it does happen) become Catholic because they independently studied the Catholic faith and determine all on their own what they believe. No, they come across something they are attracted to, and go from there. Some people end up going much further and converting and some people end up not doing so. But it is very strange advice to tell them to ignore the first Catholic thing that attracted them. As I write this, I find I am actually sure I disagree, quite strongly.
 
Bonsoir!
I think the best thing to do is to ask for an appointment with the person in charge of these cooperators and ask your questions in person.
 
My mom is a member of Opus Dei(super numerary) and runs meetings for cooperators she is friends with. Opus Deid does consider Protestants Christians as long as they are baptized.

Anyone can become a cooperator even if they are not Catholic and all they have to do is commit to support Opus Dei spiritually(pray for them)and sometimes financially/through giving them some of your time, if they so desire.

One can attend(not required at all) meetings/circles for cooperators which just entails talks on the spiritual life, the Bible etc, and meeting with other cooperators. Cooperators are not official members of Opus Dei and is just for people who like Opus Dei and may benefit/resonate with its works and spirituality.

Opus Dei can be great for some people(it’s not for everyone) and does a lot in places they are located offering quality education, spiritual direction, charitable works etc. they really support lay people seeking sanctity in ordinary life and working hard and offering up all one does for God and growing spiritually. It’s members are not perfect, but many are great people who really are on fire for the faith

 
Last edited:
Thanks for the clarification. I noticed that you are not Catholic and wondered, as it did seem quite critical and lacking in evidence or argumentation which might, perhaps, undergird your advice.
May God bless you and all of the children of God mentioned in the thread.
 
Last edited:
jeannetherese said:
I noticed that you are not Catholic and wondered
Click to expand...
To clarify, I actually admire Opus Die for their steadfast conviction. There no denying their faithfulness to the Magisterium. Every member is unequivocally loyal to the church and truly live an authentically Catholic faith. In university I attended several meetings and found confession with their clergy to be a serious exercise in examining one’s shortcomings.
 
Thanks! I’m not very familiar with the group myself, but last night, after another poster put up a link to the cooperator info website, I spent about an hour reading their information.
I was really impressed about their call to sanctify everyday life and to serving others. I am involved with a Catholic online reading group and one of our members is affiliated with an Opus Dei institution.
Having done that bit of research last night, I am now wondering if the supportive way he guides our group might be an expression of the Opus Dei charism.
In another thread, we are discussing courtship, so I went ahead and read about that in the Opus Dei website. I found the reading insightful and wound up copying and pasting some info from it and the link to the courtship thread.
I’m learning something new every day, thanks to you and the other members of our CAF family.
 
Last edited:
Thanks… there just wasn’t any indication of mood or emotion, so I thought you were making a serious contribution without backing it up. No biggie. I just thought I’d ask, if you were serious, to explain your reasoning.
 
My point is that it is the writing of Escriva that attracted the OP; which the Opus is in the process of moving away from.
 
Actually I m not. I know some very senior Numeraries of OD who are very disturbed by the direction the Work is taking.
 
I also have a good friend who is a numerary, and a couple of friends who are supernumeraies (one is a perhaps my best friend), and I have had many conversations with them. Also, going to Opus Dei evenings of recollection. I have read much of St Jose Maria’s writings. I just do not see how they are moving away from his writings. Could you give some examples?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top