Opus Dei was founded in 1928 by St. Josemaría Escrivá. Its mission is to spread the message that work and the ordinary circumstances of life are occasions for growing closer to God, for serving others, and for improving society.
Opus Dei has around 85,000 members, both men and women; 98% are laypersons, most of whom are married. The remaining 2% are priests, drawn from the Prelature's lay faithful.
Contrary to portrayal in the Da Vinci Code, there are no monks in Opus Dei.
Life as an Opus Dei Member
What is it like?
There are no monks, no nuns, no cloisters nor convents in Opus Dei. Have you ever wondered what life is like as a member of Opus Dei?
The "Cloistered" Life of Numeraries, Part II
describes "people living and working in the world - with the cellular phone, with email, with schoolmates and colleagues, etc.."
The "Cloistered" Life of Numeraries, Part II
describes "people living and working in the world - with the cellular phone, with email, with schoolmates and colleagues, etc.."
BLESSED ARE THE SPIN DOCTORS
By Austen Ivereigh
- May 16, 2006
- How Opus Dei took on The Da Vinci Code's hype machine - and won.
Objective look behind the myths
The Way by Josemaria Escriva (Doubleday)
Since it was first published in 1939, more than four and a half million copies of The Way have been sold...
Reflecting Josemaria Escriva's belief that God can be found in professional and everyday settings, The Way blends passages from sacred Scripture with anecdotes drawn from Escriva's life and work, snatches of conversation...
Da Vinci Code and Opus Dei
Much interest in Opus Dei has been generated by Dan Brown's book The Da Vinci Code.
Here is an interesting blog ...
Here is an interesting blog ...
- Blog on the Da Vinci Code and Opus Dei
- "Silas the Monk: On a Hard Day's Night, He Should Be Sleeping Like a Dog" ... by John Wauck
- On John Wauck
- "My own story seems to connect - perhaps "collide" would be the better word - with The Da Vinci Code in several ways."...
- New York Times, February 7, 2006
- The real "Silas" is a stockbroker...
- No monks in Opus Dei...
- Opus Dei called 'complete opposite' of 'The Da Vinci Code' portrayal
- Controversy May Bring More Members to Catholic Organization
- ABC Nightline, April 19, 2006
Ironically, despite the negative slant that "The Da Vinci Code" presents, the exposure may actually bring new members to the group... - jesusdecoded.com
- The Truth to be Told, Leonardo and Art, the Catholic Church, the Buzz from Rome, New York and Hollywood. The site also has production information on the "Jesus Decoded" TV special, including information on air dates and times in cities around the United States. The program, shot on location in Israel, Turkey and Italy, includes interviews with international scholars versed in art, history and Scripture
- Barbara Nicolosi: The DVC movie ~ To See or Not to See?
- A must-read article by a Hollywood expert...
"Theaters are the new Church of he Masses ~ where people sit huddled in the dark listening to people in the light tell them what is is to be human." - 1930's theater critic
What is Opus Dei?
- Official Opus Dei Website
- Personal prelature that helps ordinary lay people seek holiness in and through their everyday activities, especially through work.
- Wikipedia on Opus Dei
- The Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei, commonly known as Opus Dei (Latin for "Work of God") or the Work....
- Trust the Truth
- Unofficial answers to frequently asked questions about Opus Dei.
Meet the People of Opus Dei: Joe Keefler
Husband, father, software engineer, amateur soccer player
...from www.stjosemaria.orgJoe Keefler plays soccer to win. Not because he is especially good at it or because he is paid to do so, but because that's how he lives his life: by throwing all his effort into his activities to offer them to God.
Joe is a successful software engineer with a great sense of humor. He appreciates St. Josemaria's teachings on turning ordinary activities into prayer by doing them well.
View Joe's video clip and profile from www.stjosemaria.org
Meet the People of Opus Dei: Molly Bowman
Recent graduate, aspiring writer
...from www.stjosemaria.orgMolly is a recent graduate of the University of California at Berkeley living in the Bay Area. Always quick to laugh, she enjoys hanging out with her friends and sampling the regions more economical wines...
More on Molly at www.stjosemaria.org
Meet the People of Opus Dei: Damon Owens
Husband, father, Entrepreneur, amateur singer
...from www.stjosemaria.orgWhen Damon Owens was a kid he started a business selling coffee to people waiting at the gas stations during the gas crisis in '78. Today, Damon is a successful entrepreneur who has worked in multiple fields. He is a devoted husband and father of five daughters. St. Josemaria's Spirituality has helped him to live as a Christian in every part of life, whether he is closing a business deal or spending time with his daughters.
Why Damon joined Opus Dei
What is life really like as an Opus Dei member?
- Opus Dei in Everyday Life
- Description of a typical day in the life of a member of Opus Dei, by Michael Pakaluk
On Corporal Mortification
"From time to time I have wondered which kind of martyrdom is the greater: that of the person who receives death for the faith, at the hands of God's enemies; or the martyrdom of someone who spends his years working with no other purpose than that of serving the Church and souls, and who grows old smiling, all the while passing unnoticed...
- "For me, the unspectacular martyrdom is more heroic... That is your way."
- I hope you weren't expecting more whips and chains, because I have something else in mind... by John Wauck
Other Links About Opus Dei
- The Columbia Encyclopedia: Opus Dei
- Brief historical overview.
- John Trigilio: Opus Dei
- Short explanation of the organization.
- Murray Hill Institute
- Devoted to the study of the distinct contribution that women make to society.
- Ordinary Christians in the World
- What is Opus Dei? By Russell Shaw.
- Cooperators of Opus Dei
- Explanation of the nature, involvement and benefits of Cooperators of Opus Dei.
- A New Way for the Church?
- Few descriptions of Opus Dei have been objective, so Antonio Gaspari decided to try to find out about the movement for himself. [Inside the Vatican]
- "Ut Sit" The Apostolic Constitution
- John Paul II erecting Opus Dei as a Personal Prelature.
- Romana
- Bulletin of the Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei. It includes documents from the Holy See, news about the activities of the Prelate and of the Prelature in the service of the Church and brief articles about apostolic initiatives fostered by members of the Prelature.
- Harambee 2002
- Fund for educational projects in sub-Saharan Africa, established at the canonization of Josemaría Escrivá on October 6, 2002.
- Holy See: Address of John Paul II to the members of Opus Dei
- Speech about Opus Dei given by the Pope on the occasion of the centenary of Josemaría Escrivá's birth.
- Opus Dei: Its Mission, Structure and Members
- Perspective on a Prelature [Zenit.org]
- First Things -Books in Review: Opus Dei
- Robert Royal reviews Opus Dei: Leadership and Vision in Today's Catholic Church by Vittorio Messori and Beyond the Threshold: A Life in Opus Dei by Maria del Carmen Tapia.
- Opus Dei Corporate Works
- Examples of apostolic works carried out by the Prelature of Opus Dei throughout the world.
- Catholic-Hierarchy: Opus Dei
- List of Opus Dei bishops and other information about the Prelature.
- The Pope and Opus Dei
- Article about the message of the Prelature of Opus Dei and John Paul II. Written by Father John McCloskey.
- 1000 Aussies Fly to Rome for Opus Dei Founder Canonisation
- Article about the group of Australians attending the canonization of Josemaria Escriva [CathNews]
- Shrine of Torreciudad
- Torreciudad is a shrine dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary in Aragon, Spain. The new shrine, which is maintained by Opus Dei, was built under the guidance of Saint Josemaria Escriva.
- Opus Dei - Catholic Sources
- Catholic perspectives on Opus Dei.
- Opus Dei Members
- Compilation of testimonials by Opus Dei members and an article by the Australian journalist and author William West.
- Who Is Opus Dei?
- Backgrounder on the Catholic lay organisation. [The Southern Cross]
- The Da Vinci Code, the Catholic Church, and Opus Dei
- A statement from the Prelature of Opus Dei in the United States on the Da Vinci Code, with links to reviews and articles.
- Opus Dei Files
- Compilation of articles dealing with Opus Dei or its founder, Josemaria Escriva.
- Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei
- Information on Opus Dei in Ireland, particularly in the Diocese of Limerick.
- Opus Dei Woman's Cause for Beatification Opens
- Cardinal of Madrid begins beatification process for Guadalupe Ortíz de Landázuri a lay woman who worked closely with Blessed Josemaria Escriva, founder of Opus Dei [Zenit.org]
- John Paul II Hails Opus Dei's Priest-Laity Collaboration
- The Pope exhorts lay people to become missionaries of society during a meeting with members of Opus Dei [Zenit.org]
- Opus Dei Has 5 in Line for Canonization
- The cause of canonization of a Guatemalan pediatrician has made significant progress as it obtained the "nihil obstat" of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. He is the fifth member of Opus Dei in line for possible canonization [Zenit.org]
- Canonization Cause to Open for Opus Dei Bishop
- The Vicariate of Rome will open proceedings in the canonization cause of Bishop Alvaro del Portillo, a longtime collaborator of Opus Dei founder St Josemaria Escriva [Zenit.org]
- Opus Dei - Quick Facts
- Quick facts about Opus Dei: What is Opus Dei, where to find it and a brief history.
- Opus Dei Prelate Urges Students to Participate in Eucharist
- Summary of the homily by Bishop Javier Echevarria, prelate of Opus Dei, at the start of the academic year of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross [Zenit.org]
- Opus Dei: Fact and fiction
- A long-time member of Opus Dei suggests that the facts and myths about the institution 'could not be more different.' [The-Tidings.com]
- 8 from Opus Dei in Process of Canonization
- Causes for canonisation are open for eight faithful of Opus Dei. [Zenit.org]
- Opus Dei Prelate Unfazed by "Da Vinci Code"
- Article on an interview with the prelate of Opus Dei, Bishop Javier Echevarria, on the book, "The Da Vinci Code". [Zenit.org]
- Vatican Crusade Against "Da Vinci Code"? Hardly
- Clarifications about debate organized by Genoa archdiocese; Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, clarifies the nature of Opus Dei. [Zenit.org]
- Decoding Opus Dei - Newsweek Society
- A Vatican writer discusses the Roman Catholic Church's most controversial organization ? and how it was misrepresented in "The Da Vinci Code".
- Opus Dei Prelate Ordains 42 Priests
- The head of Opus Dei ordained 42 members of the prelature to the priesthood and urged them to be "priests in love with Christ" [Zenit.org]
- Answers.com - Opus Dei: Definition and Much More
- Definitions and explanations of Opus Dei from resources available online.
- La Repubblica - Interview with the Prelate of Opus Dei
- An interview with Bishop Javier Echevarria published in the Italian newspaper La Repubblica. The Prelate of Opus Dei answers candid questions about Blessed Josemaria, Opus Dei, and the Church in the Third Millenium [La Repubblica]
- Opus Dei: Fact and Fiction
- Reply from Opus Dei officials to questions about issues raised in The Da Vinci Code [Catalyst, March 2004]
- A Look Inside Opus Dei
- Video and transcript of commentary by MSNBC analyst Msgr Thomas McSweeney from Hardball with Chris Matthews of MSNBC.com
- Vatican Writer's Fair and Balanced Assessment of Opus Dei
- The National Catholic Reporter's Rome correspondent John Allen is about to publish a study of Opus Dei that challenges its common depiction as a secretive and sinister cult within the Catholic Church.
- A Day in the Life of an Opus Dei Supernumerary
- A special report on Opus Dei from the program "Hardball with Chris Matthews".
- Opus Dei Prelate on a Springtime for the Church in Germany
- Part 1 of an interview with Bishop Echevarria on World Youth Day 2005 [Zenit.org]
- Opus Dei Prelate on a Springtime for the Church in Germany
- Part 2 of an interview with Bishop Echevarria on World Youth Day 2005 [Zenit.org]
- Opus Dei's Governance
- Interview with Marlies Kücking, of the Central Advisory Office of Opus Dei [Zenit.org]
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