Review: Ordinary Work, Extraordinary Grace

By LifeTeen.com Name: Ordinary Work, Extraordinary Grace Publisher: DoubleDay Author: Scott Hahn Our Call: Story: Dr. Scott Hahn always makes his theology very personal, and this book is no different. Drawing on his painful journey from being a Protestant pastor to becoming a Catholic theologian, he offers the readers a glimpse at how many of the men and women in Opus Dei helped him on his journey. Many in the media label Opus Dei as a ‘secret society,’ even portraying them as the evil group behind the plot of the inaccurate Da Vinci Code. The reality is that Opus Dei, meaning the Work of God, has only one agenda: the passionate love of the world. Hahn shows us in this book just how Saint Josemaria Escriva embodied this agenda of loving the world without becoming worldly. A Christian is to live this passionate love through, shockingly plain enough, one’s ordinary work. Hahn spends an entire chapter explaining the concept of becoming God’s son or daughter, and weaves this theme throughout the book. All of the other practices of Opus Dei must be seen through this lens. Focusing upon the spirituality of Opus Dei rather than defending its mission from the media turns out to be the best choice, as Hahn does an excellent job of showing God’s Work in every detail of ordinary life: one’s job, school, marriage, children, and social activities. From this vantage point, Hahn then goes into depth on the theology of work that is both sublime and practical, spending several chapters on this endeavor. He also treats topics of the Marian spirituality, of the example of Saint Joseph and how divine grace filled his hidden labors as a carpenter, and how the marriage bed can lead the spouses to holiness. One of my favorite chapters is on the importance of friendship and confidence. Did you know that in the first 300 years of the Church, during intense persecution, the Catholic Church grew by 40% every decade? This was not because Christianity was fun; any public exercise of Christianity often ended through torture and death. It was solely through the friendship of Christians with non-Christians and the holiness of their daily, ordinary, graceful lives. Objectionable: Nothing. Pro-Social: Do you ever think that if you want to be holy, you have to work for the Church, like being a youth minister, nun or priest? This book shows us how to be saints in the secular. Holiness is universal. Summary: This book is for anyone wishing to know more about Opus Dei or St. Josemaria Escriva. Its insights can renew your faith and spirituality and your work ethic in school, at home, and on the job.