20th-century a Kempis

By Stratiotes Doxha Theon "Στρ ... (Richmond, Missouri) 5.0 out of 5 stars, June 14, 2007. A review of The Way.

This collection of inspirational sayings is too often underrated. Read it as Fr. Josemaria suggests in the preface of the book and you will find much with which to be challenged. It is a 20th-century Thomas a Kempis fortified with the importance of the so-called "small and insignificant" things of life.

It is a call for Roman Catholics in particular to gain from careful and continuous study of the scriptures along with the mystagogy that Roman Catholics have appreciated since the first century. Given careful consideration, the sayings can enhance your devotional life in a way that impacts every other aspect of your life. Fr. Josemaria reminds us again and again that every Christian has a vocation, a calling, and that bringing Jesus to ordinary life transforms and sanctifies that life. It is a message all Christians can find life-changing.

It is a simple teaching that one might wonder why it has caused such a stir. But it is in the application that this teaching can shake and transform our culture. For that reason, I think, it is feared by those resisting such change. It is only for the brave; your church and your culture may not be ready for the revolution it could bring. But little could compare to the rewards that await those brave. You will find versions of this and other of the author's works at escrivaworks dot org.

Relationship with non-members is one of respect

By Pat Delaney, answering allegations by someone against Opus Dei

The relationship between the members themselves and, between members and non-members is one of respect, and always cognizant of the personal freedom that is necessary and central to a person's ability for developing their spiritual life.

Opus Dei, if you request it, will provide a spiritual director. This is a well established practice in Catholicism. A spiritual director's job is to know the person and give advice in life situations so that a person can make their own choices informed about how their actions conform or not with Catholic Doctrine.

I totally disagree about confessors and the seal of the confessional. I confess to many priests in and out of the Work. Some of those in the Work are old friends. I also have a spiritual director that I keep in touch with on my own schedule. I have not recently contributed money to the Work, but I plan to resume that and other such activities on a very regular basis as this type of regular practice was interrupted due to my own life circumstances.

I have known the Work for many years. In fact, I have previously been a member, and did in fact "whistle." I was an active member for five years before I decided it was not quite right for me about 8-9 years ago. Nevertheless, the people in the Work are still very much a part of my life in some ways. I have NEVER encountered any of the conspiratorial nonsense that you allege. The types of things you allege cannot be proven otherwise as you allege they are done secretly.

What I have seen within the work are many highly gifted people who live saintly lives, and less gifted ones who are willing to struggle with themselves. As with any human organization, there is an occasional idiot or two hanging around that everyone tries to be patient with in the hope that they will grow.

I have also seen much of is something else. I have seen people who, when they see the the opportunity for much sacrifice in their life, the sacrifices that will really need to be done to reform their spiritual life, will recoil in disgust after making an initial attempt. This often happens in the spiritual development of any person and is referred to as the "the dark night." Saint John Chrysostom and Saint Theresa of Avila refer to these periods as occurring twice along the path to great spiritual perfection. This path is well know and is defined by three phases: Purgative, Illuminative and Unitive and are separated by these dark periods. This is all explained quite will in "Spiritual Passages" by Father Benedict Groeschel (not in Opus Dei).

Many people when they reach these dark phases, or encounter some other great temptation, give in to the temptation to just stop trying. These people sometime find their way back to spiritual development, sometimes not. Unfortunately, rather than realize this failure is the result of their own weakness, these people will try and blame their own personal decision on factors controlled by others.

I see this often among ex-members who wish to justify there own personal decision to leave the Work. They associate the demands of growing in the spiritual life, with the rigors associated with living the "Norms" and other activities that EVERY person, in and out of the Work will eventually need to undertake if they are to develop themselves and grow to be a person of great virtue, i.e., a saint.

Inside Opus Dei

By Courtny Gerrish in WTMJ-TV, MI, February 22

Strange rituals, and dark secrets. 'The DaVinci Code' exposed its version of 'Opus Dei' to the world. Turns out...Opus Dei has a stronghold in Milwaukee. But what exactly is it?

Opus Dei is an organization within the Catholic church. The Opus Dei we saw on the big-screen showed members inducing self-flagellation, and following cult-like practices. But we found...reality is very different from the fiction of 'The DaVinci Code'.

Just ask Sharon Ruplinger...a busy mom of five. Or ask Chris Wolfe, a political science professor at Marquette. Both are members of Opus Dei.

"As a mother, I can find so much in the doctrine classes, in the talks that are periodically given on virtues," Sharon explains.

"I think in the long run that does make me a better professor. I hope so anyway," Chris says.

St. Josemaria Escriva founded Opus Dei in Spain in 1928. It calls on Christians to bring holiness into their everyday lives.

Sharon adds, "It's for lay people, in the middle of the world, to grow in holiness."

In addition to their daily routine, most Opus Dei members attend daily Catholic mass. Members get support not only from God, but from each other. They often gather at Opus Dei centers for mini-retreats. Chris says he enjoys the retreats.

"Pulling yourself out of the hub-bub of the day, and recalling to mind, well, what are the really important things in life," he says.

Tom Mammoser has been a member for 40 years, and lives at the Layton Study Center in Brookfield. "I guess you could say Opus Dei for me is a way of life, a guide in my life," Tom explains.

Today, there are over 60,000 Opus Dei members across 6 continents. But despite this popularity, many of us only know the 'DaVinci Code' version.

"It's less dramatic than the movie would present," Tom admits.

The movie portrays Opus Dei as an oppressive, secretive society. "I think people in Opus Dei don't have any secrets about being members of Opus Dei. But on the other hand, they're not out there wearing it on their sleeve," Tom says.

Despite the apparently flawed depiction, many members think 'The DaVinci Code' was a good way for the faith to progress.

"I think Opus Dei came out of the whole mess with a lot more people interested in it, and kind of an intriguing group," Chris says.

A study that started with a young Spanish priest...and continues today here in Milwaukee, and across the world.

"It's a wonderful thing, and a lot of people feel it's making a difference in their lives...and making a difference in society," Tom points out.

Opus Dei places a strong emphasis on family. In many cases both spouses are members, but they do worship separately. The reason: They say men and women each have different spiritual needs.

Anyone is welcome to attend Opus Dei events. Check out OpusDei.org if you want to learn more about the group.

Our Choices

By Deacon Keith Fournier at Catholic Online, 2/8/2008. Abridged.

LOS ANGELES (Catholic Online) - “Today I have set before you life and prosperity, death and doom.... I call heaven and earth today to witness against you: I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live, by loving the LORD your God.” (Deut. 30:15)

Jesus said to his disciples: “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and ... be killed and on the third day be raised.” Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9: 22-25)

The readings of the Liturgy on this Thursday following Ash Wednesday invite us to probe the meaning of the Christian vocation by examining our choices. Not only do we make choices, our choices make us. We become what we choose, changing ourselves in the process.

As we walk this Lenten pilgrimage we can reflect on how Jesus chose, in His Sacred humanity. He walked the path of surrendered love. So should we. In His Sacred humanity, Jesus shows us the model and then provides the means for our own transformation.

With His outstretched arms on the Cross, He freely chose love and bridged the gap between heaven and earth.

We are invited during Lent to embrace even that which we do not want as the very means of this transformation.

The Christian tradition insists that even undeserved and unmerited suffering, when joined in love to the sufferings of Jesus Christ, can produce extraordinary fruit within us and around us. This is the mystery of suffering in the Christian life.

Saint Josemaria Escriva once wrote “The great Christian revolution has been to convert pain into fruitful suffering and to turn a bad thing into something good. We have deprived the devil of this weapon; and with it we can conquer eternity."

How do we treat those circumstances that cause us to struggle? How do we deal with what we find unpleasant?

This day, let us ask for God’s grace to choose life and live; to choose the way of redemptive love. Let us pick up our cross, follow the One whose choice on our behalf secured our true freedom, and find the Way.

Benedict XVI: Work is a Means and Path of Holiness

By Benedict XVI's address to Italian Artisans

Dear friends, continue with tenacity and perseverance to preserve and put to good use the productive craft culture that can give life to important opportunities for balanced financial progress and encounters between men and peoples.

Furthermore, may you as Christians be committed to living and testifying to the "Gospel of work", in the awareness that the Lord calls all the baptized to holiness through their daily occupations.

Josemaría Escrivá, a Saint of our times, notes in this regard that since Christ who worked as a craftsman took it into his hands, "work has become for us a redeemed and redemptive reality. Not only is it the background of man's life, it is a means and path of holiness. It is something to be sanctified and something which sanctifies" (Christ Is Passing By, Homily, n. 47).

Women in Opus Dei

by Michelle Matouk


It might surprise people to discover that Opus Dei, shrouded in orthodoxy, is really a radical, revolutionary movement in the Catholic Church. I certainly was taken by surprise when I stumbled upon that reality in my spiritual searching about eight years ago.

Saint Josemaria Escriva, upon realising that God willed all people to seek holiness, founded Opus Dei as a way to provide spiritual support and doctrinal formation to the laity in order to achieve sanctity through one’s ordinary work and daily routine.

He broke down all barriers between the clergy and the laity by offering all people access to courses in theology, philosophy, spirituality, doctrine, and by providing personal spiritual guidance not only for members but for anyone who sought these spiritual services.

A brief look at the historic context of the inception of Opus Dei demonstrated to me more clearly just how ahead of his time Saint Josemaria was. In 1930, a year and a half after establishing Opus Dei for men, by divine inspiration he understood that it was meant for women as well.

It is worth noting that this took place at a time when women were not educated to work in professions outside of the home. It was not thought that women could lead an independent life without masculine support. In fact the laws did not allow women to be involved in any business without the sponsorship of men.

Yet, in this cultural atmosphere, Saint Josemaria wrote to “his daughters”: “Develop yourselves personally in society, among women, in work similar to that fulfilled in the world of your brothers; and undertake, as they do, all types of professional, social and political positions, etc.” (Letter, VII-29-1965, n 9). This was very progressive thinking.

How is it that Saint Josemaria became a pioneer of the role and mission of women in the world and the Church? He is not the author of a new spirituality, but the instigator of a rebirth of a new and old spirituality.

He revealed Scripture’s modern day relevance over and over again, as when, for example, he referred to Genesis 2:15 in a meditation and remarked that “after two thousand years we have reminded the entire humanity that man was created … to work” and that “there is no noble human task in the world which cannot be made divine, which may not be sanctified.”

Most importantly, the inspiration of this message comes from the biblical principle that God created man male and female. Since man is made in God’s image and likeness, what is specific to both male and female has its archetype in God. Therefore, from the beginning, God intended for male and female to collaborate jointly, to bring to all human activity a masculine and feminine perspective.

In his desire to want what God wants, Saint Josemaria embraced this Christian tradition of equality of men and women which celebrates and ennobles the differences between the sexes, the differences which complement and balance one another.

In marriage, he echoed Pope John Paul II when he considered the relationship between spouses as being reciprocal (Conversations, n.107-108). He encouraged women to help men to “make the family” by getting them involved in household and educational duties (Conversations, n 89, 91).

Saint Josemaria advises women not to fall into the trap of imitating men, that equality means that a woman’s feminine way of being is legitimate and valuable. In the public arena, he refutes the implication that there may be specific tasks for women alone: “As I said earlier, in this field what is specific is not the task or position itself, but the way in which the work is done.

There are values which a woman more readily perceives, and her specific contribution will often, therefore, change the whole approach to a problem, and can lead to the discovery of completely new approaches” (Conversations, n 90).

Finding Opus Dei gave me a sense of coming home, for these were the lessons taught to me by my devout parents, but lost somewhere in modern culture. Rediscovering anew the valuable lessons preached by Saint Josemaria has empowered me to infuse my professional work as a mother, homemaker, architect and teacher with warmth and sensitivity to humanity that has resulted in a more far-reaching, positive effect than I ever could have imagined.

St. Josemaria, the poor, and Catholic social doctrine

Interview with Fr. Enrique Colom, a Consultor to the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, and was contributing editor of their Compendium of the Social Teaching of the Church.


Q: How did St Josemaría practice charity and solidarity with the poor?
A: St Josemaría taught us that Opus Dei must be present “where there is poverty, where there is unemployment, where there is sadness, where there is suffering: to help people to bear suffering gladly, to make poverty disappear, to banish unemployment by educating and training people so that they can get jobs, and to bring Christ into everyone’s lives in so far as they want, because we are all in favor of freedom” (St Josemaría, speaking on October 1, 1967, cited in Una mirada hacia el futuro desde el corazón de Vallecas, Madrid 1998, p. 135). In this area, as in all others, he asked us for “unity of life”, meaning that we were to allow no separation between our faith and our life. That is why his teachings have inspired so many people to set up projects to help the poor, to enable them to achieve a decent standard of living and education.

Q: Can you give an example St Josemaría’s contribution to the social teaching of the Church?
A: Something I heard him say several times was that he would like to see Catholic catechisms include points showing that social action is a Christian duty, compatible with pluralism of ideas and methods in this field. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, do now include such points, and I hope this may become universal practice in the catechisms published at diocesan level. Then people will learn right from the start that they need to take part in social affairs, in order to make them more human and more in accordance with the teaching of Jesus Christ.
St Josemaría also stressed the political freedom all Catholics have within the moral order. Specifically, he used to say that the whole life of the faithful of Opus Dei is – and I quote – “a service with exclusively spiritual aims, because Opus Dei is not, and will never be – nor could it be – a tool for temporal ends. But at the same time, it is also a service to mankind, because all you are doing is trying in an upright way to achieve Christian perfection, acting most freely and responsibly in all the areas of civil life. It is a self-sacrificing service that is not degrading, but uplifting; it expands the heart (making it more Roman, in the most noble meaning of the word) and leads you to pursue the honour and the good of people of every nation – to try to see that every day there are fewer people who are poor and uneducated, fewer souls without faith, without hope; fewer wars, less uncertainty, and more charity and peace” (St Josemaría Escrivá, letter dated May 1, 1943, cited in Pedro Rodriguez et al., Opus Dei in the Church, Four Courts Press, 1994, p. 107). I could quote plenty more examples, but I think that what I have just quoted summarizes the social teaching of the Church.

The people's modern Saint and the pro-life movement

By George H. Kubeck in CINOPS BEGONE


Behold, we have the people’s modern Saint! I am trying to digest the notes from Saturday’s Conference on the above Saint, the founder of Opus Dei and want at this point only to focus on him. The only book I have read that he authored is The Way. Years ago, I reread the book several times. (877-785-6736) www.stjosemariaconference.org

What is extraordinary for the pro-life movement in America is that here is a Saint of the Ordinary. Pope John Paul II on Oct. 6, 2002 called him that. He was canonized that day. When you think of the pro-life movement, we are made up of ordinary people who are trying to do extra-ordinary things in this secular America.

Joemaria had a sense of poignant identity and humor. Three words in Latin translated into Always like a Donkey. He was God’s donkey, needing little, doing a lot, no airs, no facade, and he struggled like many of us. This Saint had beautiful symbolic language. His portrait of the donkey as a small animal that can carry heavy loads, stubborn at times and refuses to botch: As pro-lifers we will never give up.
You find God in the little things and the unimportant things of life. He had many different mottos. For example, from Latin two words: Today, Now! If you can do it now, do it now instead of tomorrow.

Here we have a Saint of the Ordinary for all time. How Beautiful! Father Paul Donlan recalls the time the Saint blessed the last stone where Opus Dei resides in Rome. We were there for the last time, Jan, 9, 1960 and the Saint had these words inscribed on the brick, The End is Better than the Beginning. The importance of finishing things, to persevere as the Saints: To finish counts most.
And this is also the goal of the U.S. pro-life movement.

On one Jan. 9th, there was a birthday party for the future saint. Everyone was gathered around. When asked why he was so happy? Well, it is because he made a good examination of conscience and many acts of contrition.

He was as he was. Reflecting on the passing things of this world and how we become Saints in the ordinary things of life. God spawned a new spirituality.

At one time there was a viewing of a Blessed Damian film. And with a booming voice he said. There is a great deal of leprosy today, the leprosy of religious ignorance, of the human mind as regards to God, the human mind and the Catholic Church. For pro-life it is the leprosy scandal of Catholic-in-name-only Politicians.

Let’s vote out the CINOP candidates from their high horse; and as they fall to the ground may they come to their senses? May they have a conversion that can even influence our own conversion? Nothing is impossible with God for as we enter the pearly gates of heaven we have Lou Correa and Loretta Sanchez as our brother and sister. This would be in the spirit of St. Jose Maria Escriva.

The leprosy of uninformed voters is our biggest challenge in 2008 and in the country. Can we count on you to participate in that challenge?