What is Opus Dei?The best-selling novel, The Da Vinci Code, has brought under scrutiny a powerful and influential movement within the Catholic Church - Opus Dei. This institution, often charged with excessive secrecy, has had many critics. What is Opus Dei? offers a comprehensive profile of Opus Dei, and of its founder, St Josemaria Escriva. In this rigorous and well-documented book, its inspiration, history, sprituality, organisation and activities are all clearly detailed. Here are the answers to so many questions, authoritatively presented. Opus Dei, founded in 1928 by St Josemaria Escriva, proclaims that lay people can and ought to seek holiness in the context of their ordinary life. Through daily work, at home and in the family, men and women can spread the Gospel in the world in which they live. Flourishing both before and since the Second Vatican Council, Opus Dei anticipated what were to be the great pastoral themes of the Church at the beginning of the third millennium. |
Contents
Historical Overview | 1 |
Note to the Second English Edition | 7 |
The Spirituality of Opus Dei Historical Background 2256 | 26 |
Sanctification of work | 32 |
Freedom and Responsibility | 38 |
The Legal Structure of Opus | 52 |
Preparing the Definitive Juridical Solution | 63 |
The Opus Dei Prelature | 69 |
Incorporation into Opus | 77 |
Other Aspects of Its Spirituality | 100 |
Conclusion | 121 |
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Common terms and phrases
Alvaro del Portillo apostolic activities approval ascetical bishop of Madrid Blessed Josemaría call to holiness canon law Cardinal carry Catholic centres charism Christ Church clergy Club Congregation for Bishops countries cultural diocesan diocese divine doctrine Dublin ecclesiastical Escrivá de Balaguer everyday founder of Opus give Holy Cross homilies human incardinated Jesus Josemaría Escrivá juridical solution Kianda L'Osservatore Romano laity languages lay members live Lord Madrid members of Opus mortification nature one's Opus Dei Opus Dei's ordinary Christians organised pastoral personal Prelature political Pope John Paul Pope John XXIII Pope Paul VI prayer Prelate Prelate of Opus priesthood Priestly Society priests professional received religious responsibility Rome Sacred Congregation sanctify Scepter Second Vatican Council Secular Institute social souls spirit of Opus spiritual statutes supernatural teaching theology things tion Torreciudad University of Navarre vicar virtues vocation women