By Derrick Flannigan, of Washington, Missouri, who teaches music and theology. 8 March 2010
During this Lenten season, we are inclined to look at our lives and ask how we can better serve Our Lord and others by means of daily sacrifice. For some this may mean giving up chocolate or deciding to pray the Holy Rosary each day. But how are we to approach the spiritual life after these forty days in the desert? Are we to simply go back to our old habits?
These questions have lead me to the writings and work St. Josemaria Escriva, the "founder" of Opus Dei. Although this organization has been criticized in recent years, Opus Dei has helped members both in and outside of the Catholic Church to experience a life of virtue while living in society. Escriva is known for admitting that he did not begin Opus Dei ("work of God") saying, "I did not invent anything; another is acting and I am merely ready to serve [God] as an instrument". The essence of Opus Dei is to assist people in experiencing God in their work, study, family life and ecclesial worship.
After first encountering Opus Dei, I thought it was most likely started after the Second Vatican Council. However, Opus Dei was started in 1928 and actually was under scrutiny by many in the Church. Today Opus Dei is a personal prelature of the Church and has study centers throughout the world. By helping the faith to live lives of holiness, Opus Dei is ultimately fulfilling what the Council called all to: become holy...become saints! Anyone who has read Lumen Gentium knows that the Church calls all to holiness, not just priests and religious. And this is exactly what Escriva saw the need for when he "began" the Work!
Escriva challenges everyday Christians to live a life of heroic virtue. This type of virtue is one in which we strive to encounter Christ in our daily lives and are faithful to Him. Many of us won't be great saints in the Church, but we're all called to holiness, to live our faith the best we can and see Christ in others! I love the description that our current Pope Benedict XVI gave when commenting on Opus Dei: "Heroic virtue does not mean that the saint works out a 'gymnastics' of holiness that ordinary people could not tackle. It means, instead, that God's presence is revealed in the life of a person; it is revealed when the person could do nothing by himself or for himself" (Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, 9 Oct 2002: L'Osservatore Romano, page 3)
It's clear that we cannot do anything good without God. It's also clear that we have been called by God! Because of this call we can be sure that Our Lord will give us the gifts necessary to do His will and truly live a life of holiness. The primary gifts of Our Lord are the Sacraments, the means of grace for mankind! How often do we fail to remember that Our Lord gives of Himself freely in these seven gifts. We must strive to use such gifts for the good of our souls and those around us! Our Lord is waiting for us to respond...He wants to do so much good by means of us...let us go to Him!
And so, after prayer and reflection, I hope to pursue a vocation with Opus Dei, striving to learn from St. Josemaria Escriva practical ways to serve Our Lord and encounter Him as a theology teacher, son, brother, uncle, boyfriend, colleague and friend. Please pray for me as I begin this journey, which will begin this evening with my first session of spiritual direction with a priest of Opus Dei and an "Evening of Recollection" with other men of Opus Dei! Thank you for your prayers and for responding to God's call to holiness!
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