www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall What is Opus Dei?

I am an Eastern Catholic in a serious relationship with a woman who is a member of Opus Dei (numerary? I think they are called). I have had friends involved with them, and as an RC organization, they seem top-notch: zeal for personal holiness, fidelity to Catholic teaching, etc. But they are VERY Roman in their entire outlook. Indeed, they are so much so as to be possessed--in my limited experience--of a certain hostility toward the Eastern Churches. A personal example: my girlfriend had to get permission through several layers of the OD hierarchy to even continue *dating* me since I am even thinking about the possibility of a vocation to the married priesthood! She was told that she would be kicked out of OD if she married me and I was ordained--even as a deacon! They are thus highly jealous of their "charism" as a "lay" organization. I find their line of argumentation here specious when considered in light of our situation.
On the "cult" charge, I've talked with my g/f about it, and I think there is nothing to it.
On the possibility of OD expanding into Eastern countries/churches, we've talked about this as well. I think, as others have already written above, it would not work given their 'plan of life' with all its rosaries, novenas, etc. There would have to be a whole-scale adaptation to Eastern customs, and given their fierce Romanism, I don't see them as being genuinely open to doing so.

Adam,

Of course she'd be out if you two were married. If you married, she would become your rite by marriage, and this is an exclusively Roman Catholic organization. :-) God Bless you and her.

ICXC NIKA,
-Nik!

I have to agree with Dr John.

This is a true story: My friend's in-laws operate and own a Roman Catholic retreat center devoted to encouraging lay participation in the daily office. Everyone on retreat prays morning and evening prayer together, as well as an afternoon office. Other than that, one is free to do spiritual reading, go walking, attend a lecture, etc during the day. It is a wonderful retreat center out in the woods with a full kitchen, dinning hall, chapel, classrooms, dorm rooms, etc.

Once the local Opus Dei center heard about this place they were overjoyed. Where they reside, they do not have the space to provide a full retreat. This became a dream come true.

OD asked permission to use the retreat center once in a while for their own retreats. Permission was granted. However, the one thing that the directors asked of OD is that, while on retreat there, everyone must join together and pray the daily office. OD said no and does not use the retreat center.

For OD, if it is outside the "norms" then it is not done....even if it is part of Roman Catholic piety.

Greg

Dustin,

You state in part: "...there is no difference in spirituality between monastics and laymen..."

But there should be and that is the problem. The monastic way of doing things took over the Byzantine Church and now we are left with the "everyone is called to emulate monastic spirituality" attitude which frankly I find offensive. While I do not think Opus Dei is something Byzantines should be joining, Msgr. Escriva was quite correct in insisting the laity have a spirituality of their own. This is something the Byzantine CHurch once had and needs to restore. While we can't go back to Constantinople Cathedral usages of the 4th century, I also don't think we should contiue insisting monastic spirituality is the only true Byzantine spirituality. The nonmonastic laity and clergy have a right to a spirituality that recognizes their different vocation. We are all called to theosis, we are not all called to the monastery. Why then should we insist our spirituality be the same?

In Christ,
Lance, deacon candidate

Dear Lance,

A very interesting question, and the whole world of "spirituality" in a modern sense calls for much study!

In my limited experience, I have found (especially in the western Church) the idea that there are many "spiritualities". For example, Jesuit Spirituality, Carmelite Spirituality, Priestly Spirituality, Marian Spirituality, ...the list is endless.

In that it is rooted in human experience, I suppose it is possible to reflect in such categories. But I think it is more "eastern" to look at one Spirituality, which has the Spirit of God as its source. Since there is one Lord, and one Spirit of God, there is only one "spirituality" insofar as it is rooted in God, and insofar as it is his gift in the human soul.

So, for an eastern Christian to doubt the existence of several "spiritualities" reflects this starting point. (I myself back away more and more from the idea that there are several "spiritualities" suited to different people or classes of people. Though there is much literature to offer the contrary theories.)

So when speaking about "monastic" or "lay" spirituality, I am cautious.

With that being said, I understand your point, and there needs to be a call to all people (lay, clerical and monastic) to renewal in the spiritual life. And the call must be suitable to the one called, or it will not be understood or grasped!

Curious thing about the Opus Dei (an organization I tend to respect and admire for much of what they have done for the sanctity individuals and for our Church and Society), is that if we were to describe their spirituality, can we really call it "lay"? To me, the vows they take (though technically private), the radical commitment to obedience, the manifestation of thoughts to the superior, the daily prayers, penances and mortifications, sums up much of what is commonly associated with the penitential aspects of monasticism? The renunciation is different of course, as I understand it, the numery does not utterly renounce the world (I am not an expert in "the work"), but stands in the world as a challenge and witness to all that is "worldly". I do not think it is so far from the monastic experience.

I think finding a way to preach and call lay people to un-compromising holiness remains one of the greatest challenges to our Church. The radical call of the Gospel is the thirst and deep need of our age. Opus Dei makes a great contribution, but it is not (and self admittedly, cannot be) eastern.

Perhaps a challenge can be issued? Is there a Msgr. (now blessed) Jose Maria in our midst in our Byzantine Church?

Elias

Are not the military dioceses a personal prelature?

Axios

Dear Fr. Elias,

Yes, I don't think we should be aiming for competing spiritualities (if there can be such a thing) as in the Latin Church. Rather, monastic and parish/lay spirituality should complement each's state of life and one another.

But I do think it is important that we recognize the differences in need and way of living the one Christian vocation and spirituality. For example, many people on this forum ask about a rule of prayer. What is often suggested to them? Byzantine Daily Worship, the Jordanville Prayerbook? Excellent resources, but appropriate for a working father or mother's rule of prayer? I don't think so, and I am sure you agree. The problem seems to be those who a serious about a prayer rule are offered a monastic rule, while those who can't possible practice that rule are left with books like Byzantine Book of Prayer. Again, a fine resource, but basically a missal with devotional material.

It has been over thirty years since Vatican II called for making the Liturgy of Hours a reality on the parish level and in the laity's life and yet no serious attempt has been made in our Church (or any Church as far as I can tell). Why has there been no attempt to produce a Byzantine version of Christian Prayer (one volume Latin Liturgy of the Hours)? We need something connected to our tradition yet suitable for personal prayer. This has to be the basis of any serious progress toward a Byzantine lay spirituality.

I also agree about Opus Dei. Blessed Jose had the right idea but the result looks fairly monastic/clerical to me too.

In Christ,
Lance

Axios,

The Military Archdiocese is just that an Archdiocese, although the nature of its jurisdiction is based on persons not territory. Opus Dei is one of a kind and a new breed, the only personal prelature in the Catholic CHurch, although there are territorial prelatures. (Why they aren't just made diocese I don't know) Also, Tridentines and Anglican-Users have been asking to be erected into personal prelatures as well, and some have suggested this is a carrot the Vatican is holding until the entire SSPX agrees to return from schism.

In Christ,
Lance

I know that Opus Dei falls pretty much squarely on the Roman side of the fence, but I recently received a call from a life-long friend who was concerned about her brother and his family... wondering if they were mixed up with some cult-like Catholic organization.

Margaret's dad passed away this spring. At the funeral home, her sister-in-law said that they (she and her husband) already have their wooden caskets picked out and that they will be buried in brown robes.

Margaret and her brother were raised Lutheran. Her brother became interested in the Roman Church during high school under the influence of one of his teachers (public school). In fact, he went to seminary for a year or so, but decided his calling was to have a family. His wife is a convert to the RC Church from a fundamentalist background. They now have six or seven kids (after several doctors told them that the wife could never have children!).

Margaret, who works "on the Hill" has heard of Opus Dei through some of her friends (all staunch Republicans), who have nothing good to say about the group. One of her friends even going so far as to call them evil. Suspicions were further intensified by the arrest of the FBI agent (name escapes me at the moment) who was arrested for selling secrets to the Russians.

Anyway, Margaret is confused and a little scared. Is this an Opus Dei thing? Everytime she or one of her sisters invites the family for a gathering, the response is usually, no, we will be in church or we have church activities. They also homeschool ALL their children. And they apparently have very strong ties to the University of Steubenville.

Margaret, who is divorced, is at that age that if something should happen to her, she wants to be sure her daughter is taken care of. (Her daughter has been attending a Catholic parochial school for the last several years. Margaret is delighted with the education and moral structure that her daughter is receiving.) She is very leary now of naming her brother guardian for her daughter should she die. Her two other sisters aren't really in the position at this time to take care of her daughter.

So, long story long... what's with the coffin and robe thing... is this an OD thing?


It's interesting to go on the Internet and see the articles related to Opus Dei... everything from the group being the salvation of the Western World to a dangerous (and political) cult.

The coffin and robe thing sounds as if they are members of the Secular Franciscan Order,formerly called the Third Order of St. Francis. Members of this are lay persons or secular clergy who wish to be a part of the Franciscan Order, but do feel a call to the religious life. They have a Rule of Life to follow, certain prayers every day and attempt to form their spiritual lives according to the spirituality and traditions of the Franciscan Order and St. Francis. One of the "perks" of being a Secular Franciscan or Tertiary, is the priviledge of being buried in the Francican habit...usually brown, but may be black or gray. Under certain circumstances it may even be worn while living. This doesn't mean they belong to a cult and because of their association with Franciscan University in Steubenville, I would assume this is the case with your friend's relatives. Hope this offers some light on the subject. Don

Dear Don:

Thanks for your speedy reply. I was pretty sure these folks weren't a member of a cult, but they had my friend kinda worried... the coffin/robe, to her, sort of smacked of the Heaven's Gate group.

Question... hypotheically, could one be a member of both a group such as Third Order Franciscans and Opus Dei?

Sweatin' it out here in D.C.

Nope.


If you are a secular Franciscan, you cannot be a member of another secular or Religious Institute.


Sharon


Sharon Mech, SFO
Cantor & sinner
sharon@cmhc.com

Sharon,
While this is true, that one could not be an Oblate of St Benedicte as well as a secular Franciscan, I am not sure it is true in regards to Opus Dei.

Opus Dei is not a secular or religious institute. It is a personal prelature. I think it would have to go to the statues as it says in Canon Law.

TITLE IV: PERSONAL PRELATURES

Can. 294 Personal prelatures may be established by the Apostolic See after consultation with the Episcopal Conferences concerned. They are composed of deacons and priests of the secular clergy. Their purpose is to promote an appropriate distribution of priests, or to carry out special pastoral or missionary enterprises in different regions or for different social groups.

Can. 295 �1 A personal prelature is governed by statutes laid down by the Apostolic See. It is presided over by a Prelate as its proper Ordinary. He has the right to establish a national or an international seminary, and to incardinate students and promote them to orders with the title of service of the prelature.

�2 The Prelate must provide both for the spiritual formation of those who are ordained with this title, and for their becoming support.

Can. 296 Lay people can dedicate themselves to the apostolic work of a personal prelature by way of agreements made with the prelature. The manner of this organic cooperation and the principal obligations and rights associated with it, are to be duly defined in the statutes.

Can. 297 The statutes are likewise to define the relationships of the prelature with the local Ordinaries in whose particular Churches the prelature, with the prior consent of the diocesan Bishop, exercises or wishes to exercise its pastoral or missionary activity.

As Canon Law has a different section dealing with personal prelatures I do not think they are the same.

This is something that has confused me.


David

Dear David,

Opus Dei operates very much like a Religious Order and to join it would mean to leave any particular Third Order one belonged to.

Their prayer pattern, such as what our dear and wonderful Brother, Don, discussed in his brilliant post (am I overdoing it Don? ), is very much like what one would do in a Third Order or as an Oblate.

The Secular Carmelites also have the privilege to be buried in the full Carmelite Habit, as do the Third Order Dominicans and some others.

Orthodox monks often kept their wooden coffins with them in their cells to remind them of their death.

St Theophilus the Fool for Christ of Kyiv kept food supplies in his cell coffin that he would later distribute to the poor (presumeably without upsetting their appetite by telling them the nature of the "cupboard" from whence it came . . .).

I knew one Franciscan Monk who, one day, I saw carry a bag of potato chips in his hood.

He said, smiling, "Alex, there are many uses for a religious habit."

And as his name was "Robin" well, you can guess what I called him . . .

Alex

I was once a cooperator in Opus Dei. It would not go over too well.

Greg