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?

My son was invited to work in an Opus Dei school in the South Brox

By Ridgerunner at Catholic Answers Forum

While my son was a freshman in law school, he was invited to work for the summer in an Opus Dei school in the South Bronx.

Well, the South Bronx is a far cry from Murray Hill. The purpose of the school was to tutor young black and Latino toughs in some academic subjects, athletics and lessons on character. I have no idea how they recruit the students; with the parents perhaps. I suspect some are told by the juvenile office to go, or else.

The living conditions were spartan, and the neighborhood where the kids came from and where the staff lived, was beyond awful. The kids were tough and street-smart. The "teachers" were expected to set a no-nonsense example of what it is to be a man...but a man of character. They first had some intensive schooling themselves. Some of the kids washed out. Some expressed to my son at the end how it had made a difference in their lives, including one kid who had tried to rough him up during athletics and learned he had made a mistake.

Kids who successfully completed the program were allowed to then attend, for free, a school in New York, run by Opus Dei, the academic excellence of which is beyond question. "Crotona" I think is the name of it.

Every once in awhile, the "teachers" were invited to Murray Hill. They were served an excellent but sparing meal in the dining room there, then repaired to a very nice lounge where various Opus Dei members would expound on various topics; religion, business, the law, physics, government...everything imaginable, and all from first-hand experience. Some of their credentials were incredible. He met the guy who designed the chapel at Murray Hill; a very accomplished architect named Henry Menzies. You can google his website. Those "discussion sessions" are a regular feature of life at Murray Hill, and my son felt privileged to be able to even be at them. The people he met were anything but removed from the "real world".

My son admired the people in the various levels of participation. Never did he feel anybody was being coerced into anything. Never did he feel he, himself was being coerced or bamboozled into becoming a member. But he knew from the beginning that this was a life that required a lot.

At the end, he could understand how people would do it. He likened it to being a Marine in a way. You could get there, but it would take every bit of effort you had. The Marines want particular sorts, and are unashamed in that. So, I guess, does Opus Dei. You really have to want to do it in order to do it. Some people don't. Some people think they do, then figure out that they don't.

At my son's graduation, one of his close friends' sisters, a very accomplished and wonderful young lady, mentioned that she was going to join Opus Dei shortly. After talking to her a bit, I could picture her making it. She explained to me how she had an interest in perhaps working in a school Opus Dei operates for young black women, where they're taught to be professional caterers, hoteliers and accomplished chefs. Not the worst project anyone could think of.

That's it. Everything I know about it is second hand. But one can't say anything bad about Opus Dei to my son without challenge.

Spiritual Steroids

By Kallyne Pudner in The Philosopher-Mom. Kallyne is "your typical Philosophy Ph.D with nine kids".


I'm BAAACK! I love my life! I love my husband, and my kids, and the mess I found when I walked through the door, because it represents OPPORTUNITY for me to love them and love God! Woo-hoo!

I hear someone thinking: "It's an imposter, a Stepford-Philosopher-Mom. Remove this blog from the reader; it's gonna be a goody-goody yawner from now on."

I hear someone else thinking: "She's on drugs."

And the latter someone is right, in a manner of speaking. I'm on spiritual steroids, which is what a retreat will do for you. There's nothing illegal, nothing that's gonna get Major League Baseball after you, about spiritual steroids; I can't recommend the injection highly enough.

To answer the questions about where I went and what it was all about: I went to Hoschton, Georgia, a place you will only have heard of if you're in the habit of driving on I-85 between Atlanta and the South Carolina line (so, like, if you're a NASCAR fan, maybe). The retreat I made was directed by Opus Dei; a team of albino monks was helicoptered in to train us in assassination methods.

JUST KIDDING!! (I know a lot of people like it, and God knows it's gotten more attention from the publishing industry than LOADING...PLEASE WAIT, but I think Dan Brown's Big Book is just silly.)

Seriously, Opus Dei is about getting closer to God doing whatever you normally do. How sweet is that? I sweep the salt off the kitchen floor, I get closer to God. I grade 130 papers in five days, I get closer to God. I walk up and down four flights of stairs four times a day twice a week, I get closer to God. I blog, I get closer to God.

I put eight sheets on eight beds, then find four of them in the pasture, having been made into cat-parachutes...and I get closer to God! As opposed to getting closer to court-ordered rehab!

It is refreshing to find holiness in my daily work

By Kathleen Miller in The Daily Grotto

I discovered Opus Dei just after my reversion to Catholicism about 11 years ago. A friend (my youngest daughter's godmother) invited me to a women's evening of recollection and it was there that I learned how this great saint founded Opus Dei by divine inspiration on October 2, 1928.

Going to these recollections given by an Opus Dei priest and some of its members opened a whole new world for me which included going to daily Mass, frequenting the Sacrament of Confession, making visits to the Blessed Sacrament, and growing in my love for the Eucharist, and Our Lady.

Saint Josemaria Escriva, a priest from Barbastro, Spain was canonized by John Paul II on October 2, 2002. Seeking "sanctity" in your ordinary day was something this saint strove for daily.

In his own words St. Josemaria Escriva points out "Your daily encounter with Christ takes place right where you work, where your aspirations and your affections are. There we must seek sanctity, in the midst of the most material things of the earth, serving God and all humankind. Heaven and earth seem to merge, my daughters and sons, on the horizon. But where they really meet is in your heart, when you strive for holiness in your everyday lives."-St. Josemaria Escriva, from the homily Passionately Loving the World, October 8, 1967.

I would love to spend time in a monastery and pray for hours and hours on end. But that is not what I am called to do. There are meals to cook, bills to pay, floors to mop, a husband and children to care for. It is refreshing to me that I too can find holiness in my daily work.

To learn more about this wonderful saint whom I hope that you will turn to for intercessions go to St. Josemaria Escriva.

An Eastern Catholic on Opus Dei

By Taylor Black, an Eastern Catholic writing for The Gonzaga Witness

In recent years, Opus Dei has often been under attack for a number of different practices that people either attribute to it or misunderstand about it. As an Eastern Catholic who has attended many Opus Dei activities and has many friends who are Opus Dei members, I thought I would share my experiences as answers to some common misconceptions.

One of the first misconceptions of Opus Dei is that it is somehow promoting a fascist philosophy. One of my good friends, whom we shall call Hank, is a numerary (a celibate member of Opus Dei). He grew up in Cuba under the socialist regime that was taking over at that time. He remembers family members and friends being shot to pieces in front of his eyes. His own father was shot after he and his mother escaped to United States and became legal immigrants. This same Hank helped run a summer course that I and about 30 other boys from around the West Coast attended called "Leadership for America."

In the four years that I attended the camp, we looked at the leadership philosophy of Abraham Lincoln, Henry V, Saint Thomas More and many others. We also played a lot of football, watched some John Wayne classics and went to Mass and confession. I never heard mention of anything that sounded like fascism. We were all having good, old-fashioned American boy fun and learning about good, virtuous democratic leaders.

Many other misconceptions that abound about Opus Dei concern the lives of the members. There are rumors that they live the lives of monks, that they whip themselves, that they are held in psychological obedience to their superiors and that they look down on women. All these misconceptions center on the novelty of a person who is dedicated to God, living in the world and making it a better place.

Escriva believed that a person didn't have to become a monk or a nun to be holy. He believed that each and every person can become a saint simply by living a holy life by sanctifying and offering to God their daily work and lives. This is the very beauty of Opus Dei. It is the beauty of God's calling any person, wherever they are in their lives to a life of holiness.

There are powers with which we are at war

By David Werling, who reviewed Michael Walsh's book at Amazon.com

If those writing negative reviews about this book are Opus Dei members, then those writing positive reviews about this book are limp wristed liberals. Give me a break. Try reviewing the book instead of pushing your agenda. Of course, people who liked this book were swayed by the agenda than any actual facts contained therein.

I'm not a member of Opus Dei, and even though I've read portions of The Way, I'm far from being an expert about Opus Dei. However, it was so glaringly obvious that Michael Walsh has a bone to pick and had skewed his facts so badly it really was an utter waste of time to continue reading.

How in the world can a Jesuit criticize any religious organization for meddling in secular politics? It's laughable.

One has to wonder why so many people have gone so far out of their way to throw insults and slander at others trying to live simple, Christ-centered lives as they go about their humble, normal, everyday activities. There are powers with which we are at war... powers that would like to see less Christ-centered, humble people running around.

What I love about Opus Dei

By Chuck Zimmerman, an Opus Dei cooperator in mid-Missouri

Today’s feast of the Baptism of the Lord reminds us of our own baptism into the family of God and our call to grow in holiness: “You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt. 5:48).

We may not all be called to the same level of spiritual or intellectual insight as the likes of Augustine or Aquinas and we may never be martyred like St. Paul or St. Thomas Moore, but we are certainly all called to be saints. What I love about Opus Dei is that it encourages the sanctity of the ordinary Christian life:

“It doesn’t matter what age you are; it doesn’t matter what your position is or what your circumstances are or who you are: you have to convince yourself, commit yourself, and desire holiness. You well know that holiness does not consist in extraordinary graces received in prayer, or unbearable mortification and penance; nor is it the inheritance only of those who live in lonely oases, far from the world. Holiness consists in faithful and loving fulfillment of one’s desires, in joyful and humble acceptance of God’s will, in union with him in your everyday work, in knowing how to fuse religion and life into a fruitful and harmonious unity, and in all sorts of other ordinary little things you know so well.”

(From Jesus as Friend by Fr. Salvatore Canals)

Opus Dei is not as its enemies either think or want others to think

By Brian Crozier, English historian, Distinguished Visiting Fellow on War, Revolution, and Peace of Stanford University's Hoover Institution

The charge that Opus Dei had been aiming at political power, and had achieved it at last, was heard in February 1957, when Ullastres and Navarro Rubio joined Franco’s cabinet.

In this bare form, the charge seems to be unfounded because based on a misconception of what Opus Dei is. It is not, as its enemies either think or want others to think, a political party; nor is it a political pressure group. Nor, for that matter, is it a kind of super labour-exchange for politicians...

What happened was more pragmatic and less sinister. Franco had heard of the intellectual and technical merits of Ullastres and Navarro Rubio and sent for them; they happened to be members of Opus Dei. On the same occasion, he had heard of the intellectual and technical merits of Castiella and Gual Villalbi and sent for them; but Castiella and Gual Villalbi happened not to be members of Opus Dei.

In other words, Opus Dei was not a group to be conciliated by being given a share in power, as the Monarchists were, or the Falange, or the Army.

"How does one who is not a professional preacher preach Christ?"

By David Schütz, at Sentire cum Ecclesia. David is a Catholic, married to Cathy, father of Maddy & Mia. Presently, he is the Executive Officer of the Ecumenical & Interfaith Commission of the Archdiocese of Melbourne. He was once a Lutheran pastor.

That's a question that Jeff Tan asks on his blog. And it is a good one--one that became acute for me about six and a half years ago...

Jeff's best answer is that of St Josemaria Escriva--which accords very well with the Lutheran theology of vocation. As Jeff puts it, that is "In my ordinary work, lived extraordinarily with Christ at its centre."

There may be opportunities for verbal witness as well as active witness. Family, friends and work colleagues (probably in that order) are the best possibilities--at least statistically.

If you are married and have a family, then the question is a no-brainer. Evangelise your spouse and children. Of course, if they are Christian too, this becomes mutual evangelisation which is really neat and what makes a strong spiritual family.

If you are a member of a parish, evangelise other members of the parish. No, really. We often forget that the best place for witnessing to our faith may be our faith community. Christian communities need to be constantly evangelised (which is why Father preaches homily every week, although he may have forgotten that). What about talking about the homily over coffee after mass instead of sport/weather/the kids etc.? Small groups and fellowship groups and bible studies etc. are great places to offer one another mutual evangelisation. Or get involved in RCIA (they could do with the help!). Hospitality to other members of the parish or to new members or even potential enquirers is another way. Invite them over for a meal and encourage them in the faith. Become a mentor to the young people in the parish. Organise a youth group aimed at strengthening young people in their committment to the faith! The possibilities are endless.

And never discount the blog. Yeah, you might only get a few readers, and most of them might already be Christian (in which case what I said above may apply), but that's a few readers more than you would be witnessing to without the blog! Also it is a very unintrusive method of evangelisation. It is pure "proposition" rather than "imposition".

I'm not keen on door knocking or on pestering your workmates with "do you have a personal relationship with Jesus." But you might find a work mate who is a lapsed Christian who might be open to some encouragement or might (if he/she knows you are Christian) come to you for advice. This happened to me when I was working as a school librarian. Teachers, and even the the headmaster (who was a lapsed Catholic), would drop into the Library every now and again with a personal question relating to religion or faith. You have to be ready for these opportunities.

As for doorknocking, well, this does work if there is a good purpose in it. Eg. If you are door knocking to let people know when service times are for Christmas in the local parish, or when trying to make contact with Catholics in the area who may not have made contact with the parish. But it has to be done as an official program of the parish, be supported by the priest, come with training, and is best done by someone who holds an office in the parish.

Just some ways. But St Escriva is right, your ordinary work done extraordinarily with Christ at the centre is always the base line for "non-professional" preachers!

The truth of Opus Dei

By J. Michael Parker, in Religion News Blog

Almost everybody from Kilimanjaro to Kalamazoo seems to know Opus Dei as a “rich, powerful, secret sect” that’s supposedly out to rule both the Catholic Church and the world. But most of this prevalent public image of Opus Dei (Latin for “Work of God”) seems based on a combination of anecdotal complaints from ex-members and popular fiction such as Dan Brown’s blockbuster novel “The Da Vinci Code.”

Brown produced a highly entertaining book that apparently has convinced millions that its claims about Opus Dei are factual while bearing little resemblance to the real organization, according to Opus Dei representatives.

John L. Allen Jr., Vatican correspondent for the independent National Catholic Reporter newspaper, had a different objective in mind: Comparing myth with reality. He is likely the only person to visit eight countries on four continents at his own expense for this purpose.

While his newest book won’t settle all questions to everyone’s satisfaction, it at least provides a factual basis for evaluating the 85,000-member movement’s character and practices.

Allen lays out his investigation and his conclusions in thorough detail, yet in a lively, eminently readable style.

He engages the reader while giving both defenders and critics of Opus Dei a due hearing and showing that many statements and attitudes in Opus Dei are open to differing interpretations.

Allen sees a significant gap between the myth and reality on almost every point: corporate wealth, elitism, secrecy, blind obedience, discrimination against women, an ultraconservative political agenda, manipulative and relentless recruiting tactics and concern for social justice. Yet he shows why the myths appear plausible to many.

Without casting doubt on critics’ claims of high-pressure, deceptive recruiting and mind control tactics, Allen concludes that such behavior is largely a thing of the distant past and even then was very exceptional, not the rule.

He points to the much larger numbers of Opus Dei members and ex-members who have had happy experiences with the movement and extol its contributions to their spiritual lives.

Whatever Opus Dei’s recruiting tactics, its nearly flat membership growth pattern seems to belie the image of an octopus-like monster grasping for control. Ditto for its finances. Its U.S. financial holdings are more analogous to a mid-sized diocese than to a corporate giant.

Most Opus Dei-related institutions aren’t owned by Opus Dei as such but by its members who found and operate them, he says.

Power in the Vatican? Same thing. Only about 20 Opus Dei members work there, and they tend to be in middle-level jobs without major influence. Only two cardinals and 20 bishops in the world have Opus Dei connections.

Two points where image and reality agree, he says, are Catholic orthodoxy and the resort of a minority of Opus Dei members to physical mortification.

On the first point, Opus Dei unapologetically emphasizes “thinking with the church” on matters of basic, settled doctrine. But he adds that most people who gravitate toward Opus Dei tend to be theologically conservative already; such attitudes aren’t imposed on them by Opus Dei.

Corporal mortification isn’t limited to Opus Dei and has centuries of history in Catholic spirituality, although it’s rare today. While crediting Opus Dei leaders for candor and sincerity, he encourages them to be pro-active in de-mystifying the movement’s finances, affiliated institutions, policies and the demands it makes on its members so as to dissipate the widespread suspicion.

Either you go totally for God or you don't

By Uncle Dick or rliong in Tsinoy.com, a Chinese-Filipino site.

Many thought that the Da Vinci Code is anti-Opus Dei but the fact is: it is anti-Christ. Mixing some facts with fiction with the aim of selling a book and making piles of money. But I am digressing.

Opus Dei means many things to many people. For some, it is a sneaking Catholic secret society. For others, it is a group of fanatics - the predecessors of the El Shaddai. Still for some, it is a group of snobbish, elitist, holier-than-thou conservative Catholics. For those who know them well - including myself - it is a Catholic organization trying to spread Christ's gospel and to help people to get into heaven in their own disciplined way.

Who is right? It depends on which side you are in when looking into the Opus Dei. Since it is an organization of men - and not everyone is perfect - it is not perfect with a few snobbish, elitist members. As for being fanatics and ultra-conservative, well, either you go totally for God or you don't. It is not whether you are conservative or progressive. There is only one Catholic Church teaching, you either follow it or not. (I was tempted to take the easy way out many times - to be a born-again following the bible in the way I want to interpret it and following my own conscience, the way I was brought up.)

Luckily, I met this group with an unbiased mind when there were no bad publicity surfacing yet. I was able to see it as it was - a religious group just like any other with its positive and not-so-positive sides. I believe that there is no such thing as "negative sides" in an institutions approved by our Catholic Church. It is more of a matter of more positive or less positive. The "negatives" belong to the "dark side."

I saw many dedicated priests and members. Like any institution, it has its share of "ex-members", its friends and foes, for many different reasons. For the same reason, there are people who hate and campaign against Mother Teresa and her works too.

What I simply know is this: St. Josemaria helps me when I asked for his intercession and he will surely help the institution that he had founded. Look at the "good apples" in the barrel and let those "bad ones" rot.

No, I am not a member and not everyone in the Opus Dei is my friend.

The best way to dispel the aura of mystery surrounding Opus Dei is to shine a bright light on it

By Ed Dobeas of Amazon.com

For readers of The Da Vinci Code, John Allen's book on Opus Dei may be something of a revelation. One opens it expecting to find at the very least GPS coordinates pinpointing albino monk training camps. Or perhaps full disclosure of untold wealth flowing through offshore bank accounts.

Instead one finds exhaustive research, interviews and careful analysis that reveal a group alive with ideas and purpose, but a bit short on sinister plans. Removing the sense of mystery surrounding Opus Dei may not serve future thriller writers well, but the journey is fascinating in its own right.

Allen's biography of Opus Dei is also necessarily a brief biography of Saint Josemaría Escrivá, born in Spain in 1902, whose vision of the sanctification of work gave birth to Opus Dei, or "The Work" as its members call it. The idea of finding sanctification through work was not original to Escrivá, but the power of his vision certainly brought it to a fuller realization within the Catholic church.

Allen explores this central idea that "one can find God through the practice of law, engineering or medicine, by picking up the garbage or by delivering the mail, if one brings to that work the proper Christian spirit." For Escrivá sanctification flowed in equal measure both in and outside the walls of the church.

Much of Allen's own work getting to know Opus Dei is done with numerous, wide-ranging personal interviews, from the halls of the Vatican, to Africa, to U.S. suburbs. Allen is also careful to include voices of ex-members. He recognizes the best way to dispel the aura of mystery surrounding Opus Dei is to shine a bright light on it, and with a remarkable degree of cooperation from Opus Dei itself, that is exactly what he does.

His aggressiveness in countering conspiracy theory with information reaches its apex in the only slow-going chapter in the entire book, a survey of Opus Dei's financial holdings and activities where a double-shot of cappuccino is recommended before attacking the endless lists detailing financial information.

Ultimately, Allen's work comes across as a balanced, perceptive inquiry into a group that, while perhaps not preferring the center stage limelight, does not suffer greatly when exposed to it.

Secret of Opus Dei: members do not wear religion on their armsleeves

By Fr. John Trigilio in EWTN

Msgr. Escriva devised a spirituality of and for the laity.

Opus Dei, the Work of God, is a means by which the Catholic faithful sanctify themselves and the world in which they live and work. It is comprised of all walks of life, doctors, lawyers, homemakers, teachers, students, bus drivers, retirees, etc.

The goal is for each member of Opus Dei to bring their Roman Catholic faith into their whole life, home, work & play.

As leaven in the world, the laity being in the world bring Christ and the Catholic Faith into that same world by the way they practice their Faith. The clergy's function is to help the laity find their spirituality and to help them bring the faith to the world.

Opus Dei, then, is a vehicle by which its members sanctify the world by sanctifying themselves in whatever situation and condition and vocation they find themselves.

The so-called "secret" of Opus Dei is that the members do not wear their religion on their armsleeves. They are very well read in the Magisterial teachings of the Church, are very loyal to the Holy See, and they quietly but effectively defend Church dogma and faithfully practice their Catholic Faith 24 hours a day without crediting it to Opus Dei, necessarily. Their absence of self-publicity breeds contempt from their enemies who see them as clandestine. In reality, it is nothing more than humility.

Opus Dei members study the Faith and they INFUSE Catholic virtues into a secular world and secular society. Rather than selling out to the social mores of the pagan culture like modern sycophants, Opus Dei members uphold the moral and doctrinal teachings of the Church and encourage all men and women of all faiths to obey the Natural Moral Law. Due to their resistance of diluting Church law, many opponents accuse Opus Dei of being anti-ecumenical.

All in all, Opus Dei is a superb method for any Catholic Christian to know their Faith more fully, to create a concrete strategy for Christianizing the world and to build up the kingdom of God via ALL members of the Church, lay and clergy.