Grace Thompson
Opus Dei is a highly secretive and controversial institution of the Catholic Church, founded in Spain in 1928 by Josemaría Escrivá. Its mission is to help its lay and clerical members achieve holiness in their everyday lives and occupations. The group is known for its conservative teachings and strict adherence to Catholic doctrine, emphasizing the universal call to holiness. Opus Dei has been criticized for its secretive nature, aggressive recruitment practices, and controversial traditions such as corporal mortification. Despite the controversies, Opus Dei remains a powerful body within the Catholic Church, with members in over 90 countries. Catholics considering joining Opus Dei should be aware of the group's teachings, practices, and potential criticisms before making a lifelong commitment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Status within the Catholic Church | Opus Dei is an institute of "pontifical right", under the direct governance of the Pope. |
| Membership | Membership is open to anyone and everyone, regardless of talents, abilities, or social standing, as long as they are baptised and believe they have received a vocation. |
| Joining process | It takes over five years to join, with a person's commitment to joining having to be renewed each year, before a lifelong commitment is possible. |
| Members' lives | Members lead ordinary lives, with traditional families and secular careers, striving to "sanctify ordinary life". |
| Teachings | Opus Dei teaches the universal call to holiness, the belief that everyone should aspire to be a saint. |
| Secrecy | Opus Dei has been criticised for its secretive nature, with some likening it to a "Holy Mafia". Members often do not disclose their membership outside the Church. |
| Influence | Opus Dei is considered controversial due to its influence within the Catholic Church, with some critics describing it as a "church within a church". |
| Criticism | Opus Dei has faced criticism for its recruitment practices, ultra-conservative teachings, and aggressive targeting of young people. |
| Structure | Opus Dei is the Catholic Church's only "personal prelature", with a global membership determined by personal criteria rather than geography. |
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What You'll Learn
Opus Dei's secretive nature and ultra-conservative teachings
Opus Dei, meaning "Work of God" in Latin, is a highly secretive and conservative organisation within the Catholic Church. It was founded in 1928 by Josemaría Escrivá, a Spanish Roman Catholic priest who said he had received a vision of its creation from God.
The group's secretive nature has attracted criticism, with other Catholic groups likening it to having Freemasons or the mafia operating within the Church. Opus Dei members generally maintain a level of secrecy, often choosing not to disclose their membership to people outside the Church. This has fuelled allegations that the group operates as a cult or elite secret society. Opus Dei has also been accused of aggressive recruiting practices, brainwashing new recruits, and isolating members from their families.
In addition to its secretive nature, Opus Dei has garnered controversy for its ultra-conservative teachings, even among Catholics. The group teaches that sanctity and holiness are within everyone's reach through their everyday work and ordinary lives, rather than through prayer or spiritual discipline alone. Opus Dei members believe they are called to serve God not just through personal spiritual acts but also through their professional and family lives. They abide by strict conservative teachings, including opposing sexual freedoms and promoting conservative morals.
Numeraries and other celibate members of Opus Dei practice corporal mortification, the deliberate experience of pain or discomfort to become closer to God. This often involves wearing painful items such as a cilice, a small spiked metal chain wrapped around the thigh, or using a small corded rope whip to self-flagellate.
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The organisation's recruitment practices and influence
Opus Dei, meaning '"Work of God" in Latin, is an institution of the Catholic Church founded in Spain in 1928 by Josemaría Escrivá. Its stated mission is to help its lay and clerical members seek holiness in their everyday lives and societies. Opus Dei is officially recognized within the Catholic Church, although its status has evolved. It received final approval by the Catholic Church in 1950 by Pope Pius XII.
Recruitment practices
Opus Dei has been criticized for its allegedly deceptive and aggressive recruitment practices. Prospective members usually attend Opus Dei events such as evenings of recollection, retreats, and other activities before joining. Opus Dei members carefully stage "vocational crises" at vulnerable moments in recruits' lives. Recruits are often told that God calls people at certain times in their lives, and if they say "no", they will never receive God's grace in their lives. Opus Dei members often tell their friends that failure to follow a calling to Opus Dei will lead to a life of misery and discontent, and possibly to eternal damnation.
Members of Opus Dei form teams and develop strategies to attract new members. For example, if a potential recruit enjoys skiing, the members may plan a ski trip, during which the recruit will be pressured to join Opus Dei. Members also befriend and cultivate young idealistic individuals through front groups at universities and schools and/or through affiliations with groups like Right to Life, young adult Catholic groups, and St. Thomas More Societies. Some groups are completely Opus Dei-run and exist primarily for attracting potential members.
Influence
Opus Dei has been criticized for allegedly seeking independence and more influence within the Catholic Church. Critics argue that Opus Dei's status as a personal prelature gives it too much independence, making it essentially a '"church within a church". Opus Dei has been described as a "Holy Mafia" or "Santa Mafia" due to its alleged inscrutable business practices and questionable business activities.
However, Catholic officials argue that church authorities have greater control over Opus Dei now that its head is a prelate appointed by the Pope, and its status as a prelature "precisely means dependence". Opus Dei's supporters also argue that criticisms are based on jealousy, fabrications by opponents, or misunderstandings of Opus Dei's nature.
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Opus Dei's relationship with the Catholic Church
Opus Dei, meaning "Work of God" in Latin, is an institution of the Catholic Church founded in Spain in 1928 by Josemaría Escrivá. Its stated mission is to help its lay and clerical members seek holiness in their everyday lives and societies. Opus Dei is officially recognized within the Catholic Church, although its status has evolved over time.
In 1947, a year after Escrivá moved the organization's headquarters to Rome, Opus Dei received a decree of praise and approval from Pope Pius XII, making it an institute of "pontifical right", i.e. under the direct governance of the Pope. In 1950, Pope Pius XII granted definitive approval to Opus Dei, allowing married people to join and secular clergy to be admitted to the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross.
Opus Dei is the Catholic Church's only "personal prelature", meaning its global membership is determined by personal criteria rather than a geographical area. This special status has been a source of controversy, with some Catholic scholars likening it to a "church within a church" and criticizing the influence it wields within the Catholic Church. Opus Dei has been described as a "Holy Mafia" or "Santa Mafia" due to its secretive nature and allegedly inscrutable business practices. Its recruitment practices have also been criticized as aggressively targeting young people.
Despite the criticism and controversy surrounding Opus Dei, it has received support from prominent figures within the Catholic Church. Pope John Paul II was a strong supporter, and in 1982, he made Opus Dei a personal prelature through the apostolic constitution Ut Sit. Pope Francis, a former Jesuit, is also considered a friend of the group and has appointed its current prelate, Monsignor Fernando Ocáriz.
In summary, Opus Dei is officially recognized as part of the Catholic Church, but its unique status and secretive nature have led to criticism and controversy both within and outside the Church.
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The personal call from God to join Opus Dei
Opus Dei, which translates to "Work of God" in Latin, is an institution of the Catholic Church. It was founded in Spain in 1928 by Josemaría Escrivá, a Spanish Roman Catholic priest who claimed he had received a vision of its creation from God.
Opus Dei emphasizes the "universal call to holiness," which is the belief that everyone should aspire to be a saint, as per Jesus' commandment to "Love God with all your heart" (Matthew 22:37) and ""Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:48). This call to holiness is extended to everyone, regardless of their place in society.
Membership in Opus Dei is seen as a personal, intimate call from God to place one's whole life at His service, spreading the message of the universal call to holiness in ordinary work and social life. It is considered a vocation, akin to the life-changing decisions of getting married or entering the priesthood.
The decision to join Opus Dei is a serious one, and members typically become involved in Opus Dei activities such as retreats, classes, and spiritual direction before joining. They also strive to acquire consistency in Christian practices such as frequent reception of the sacraments, prayer, apostolate, and a humble and constant effort to acquire virtue and struggle for holiness.
Any adult Catholic, regardless of gender, marital status, background, nationality, or socioeconomic condition, may join Opus Dei. However, it is important to note that membership is a personal call from God and is discerned through regular involvement in Opus Dei activities and a commitment to Christian practices.
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Opus Dei's practices of corporal mortification
Opus Dei, a Latin term for "Work of God", is an institution of the Catholic Church founded in Spain in 1928 by Josemaría Escrivá. It is officially recognized within the Catholic Church, although its status has evolved. The organization emphasizes the ""universal call to holiness", believing that everyone should aspire to be a saint. Opus Dei does not have monks or nuns, and only a minority of its members are priests.
Opus Dei has been described as a "Holy Mafia" or "Santa Mafia" due to its secretive nature and allegedly "inscrutable business practices". Its recruitment practices have also been criticized for allegedly targeting young people aggressively. The organization is known for its ultra-conservative teachings, which include the practice of corporal mortification.
Corporal mortification is a regular practice within Opus Dei, and it is considered one of the most startling aspects of the group's life for outsiders. It involves the deliberate infliction of pain or discomfort to become closer to God. While some traditional forms of mortification such as fasting are considered helpful in curbing the desires of the flesh, other practices within Opus Dei are seen as more extreme. These include:
- The Cilice: A small, spiked metal chain wrapped around the upper thigh for two hours daily, except on feast days, Sundays, and certain times of the year. This practice leaves small prick holes in the flesh and is considered the most shocking form of mortification.
- The Discipline: A cord-like whip used on the buttocks or back once a week, resembling macrame. Members must ask permission to use it more frequently, and many do.
- Meals: Members practice small mortifications at every meal, such as drinking black coffee or skipping dessert.
- The Heroic Minute: Members are encouraged to jump out of bed and kiss the floor in the morning while saying "Serviam," Latin for "I will serve."
- Silences: Members do not speak to each other after making an examination of conscience at night until after Holy Mass the following morning. They also try to avoid speaking in the afternoons until dinnertime.
These practices are mandatory for numerary (celibate) members who wish to fully live the "Spirit of Opus Dei". While some critics argue that these practices can lead to unhealthy attitudes and pride, Opus Dei members believe in the necessity of mortification of the flesh for spiritual liberation.
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Frequently asked questions
Opus Dei is an institution of the Catholic Church founded in Spain in 1928 by Josemaría Escrivá. Its mission is to help its members seek holiness in their everyday lives and occupations. It is officially recognized by the Catholic Church and has around 93,510 members worldwide.
Opus Dei has been criticized for its secretive nature, aggressive recruitment practices, and ultra-conservative teachings. It has also been accused of cult-like practices, political ambitions, and modern slavery. However, it is not a sect or a religious order, and its members do not take vows.
Any lay Catholic above the age of 18 can join Opus Dei, regardless of talents, abilities, or social standing. However, it is a serious commitment, and members are expected to donate a significant portion of their income to the organization.
Opus Dei provides a supportive environment for serious, prayerful Catholics who want to seek holiness in their ordinary lives. It emphasizes the importance of uniting spiritual life with professional, social, and family life. Members also have access to Opus Dei centers, which offer social and intellectual stimulation.
Opus Dei has been criticized for its conservative teachings and practices, such as corporal mortification, which involves experiencing minor physical suffering to become closer to God. Members are also expected to make significant financial contributions, and the organization has been criticized for its lack of financial transparency.
