Opus Dei

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For other uses, see Opus Dei (disambiguation).
File:Stjosemariaprayercard.jpg
Josemaría Escrivá, the founder of Opus Dei

Opus Dei, formally known as The Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei, is an international organization which is part of the Roman Catholic Church. "Opus Dei" is Latin for "The Work of God", and the organization is sometimes known simply as "the Work".[1][2]

Opus Dei emphasizes the Catholic belief that "everyone is called to become a saint" and that "ordinary life is a path to sanctity".[3] Hence, only a small minority of Opus Dei's approximately 85,000 members are priests.[4] The bulk of the membership, known as "Supernumeraries", lead traditional family lives and have secular careers.[4] The other three classes of members, "Numeraries", "Associates", and "Numerary-assistants", are required to be celibate, and often live in special centers.[4]

Opus Dei was founded in Spain in 1928 by Roman Catholic priest Josemaría Escrivá.[5] In 1950, Opus Dei was given final approval by Pope Pius XII.[6] In 1982, the organization was made into a personal prelature— its jurisdiction covers the persons in Opus Dei wherever they are, rather than being defined by a specific geographic region like a diocese.[6] Currently Opus Dei is the only Catholic organization of this type.[4]

Critics of Opus Dei have argued that the organization is cult-like, secretive, and highly-controlling.[7] In contrast, various Popes, Catholic Church leaders, and numerous others have strongly supported Opus Dei and its teachings, and they say that the accusations are mere myths.[8] Both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI have singled it out for high praise,[9] and in 2002, Escrivá was canonized Saint Josemaría Escrivá.[10]

History

Pope John Paul II, who made Opus Dei the first and only personal prelature.
See also: Opus Dei: A Historical Timeline

Opus Dei was founded by a Roman Catholic priest, Josemaría Escrivá, on 2 October 1928 in Madrid, Spain. According to Escrivá, on that day he experienced a "vision" in which he "saw Opus Dei".[11][12] He gave the organization the name "Opus Dei", which in Latin means "The Work of God,"[13] in order to underscore the belief that the organization was not his (Escrivá's) work, but was rather God's work.[14] Throughout his life, Escrivá maintained that the founding of Opus Dei had a supernatural character.[15] Escrivá summarized Opus Dei's mission as a way of helping ordinary Christians "to understand that their life… is a way of holiness and evangelization... And to those who grasp this ideal of holiness, the Work offers the spiritual assistance and training they need to put it into practice."[16]

Initially, Opus Dei was open only to men, but in 1930, Escrivá created a women's branch.[6] In 1936, the organization suffered a temporary setback when the events of the Spanish Civil War forced Escrivá to go into hiding.[17] After the civil war was won by General Francisco Franco's Nationalists, Escrivá was able to return to Madrid.[18] Opus Dei flourished during the years of Franco's rule, spreading first throughout Spain, and after 1945, expanding internationally.[6]

In the 1940s, Opus Dei found an early critic in the Superior General of the Society of Jesus, Fr. Wlodimir Ledochowski, who told the Vatican the he considered Opus Dei "very dangerous for the Church in Spain," citing its "secretive character" and calling it a form of Christian Masonry."[19]

In 1939, Escrivá published The Way, a collection of 999 maxims concerning spirituality.[20] In 1946, Escrivá moved the organization's headquarters to Rome.[6] In 1950, Pope Pius XII granted definitive approval to Opus Dei, thereby allowing married people to join the organization.[6] In 1982, Opus Dei was made into a personal prelature, meaning that members of Opus Dei fall under the direct jurisdiction of the Prelate of Opus Dei wherever they are.[21]

One-third of the world's bishops sent letters petitioning for the canonization of Escrivá.[22] In 2002, approximately 300,000 people gathered in St. Peter's Square on the day of Pope John II canonized Josemaría Escrivá.[23][24] According to one author, "Escrivá is... venerated by millions".[25][citation needed]

Doctrine

File:Stjosemariagettogethermen.gif
Josemaría Escrivá teaching a crowd of men
Main article: Teachings of Opus Dei

Opus Dei is an organization within the Roman Catholic church. As such, it ultimately shares the overall theology of the Catholic Church. Opus Dei does place special emphasis on certain aspects of Catholic doctrine.

One central feature of Opus Dei's theology is its focus on the lives of lay Catholics, those who are not priests nor monks.[26][27][28] Opus Dei emphasizes the "universal call to holiness": the belief that everyone should aspire to be a saint, not just a few special individuals.[29] Opus Dei does not have monks or nuns, and only a minority of its members are part of the priesthood.[30] A related characteristic is Opus Dei's emphasis on uniting spiritual life with professional, social, and family life. Whereas the members of some religious orders might live in monasteries and devote their lives exclusively to prayer and study, most members of Opus Dei lead ordinary lives, with traditional families and conventional careers,[3] and strive to "sanctify ordinary life". Indeed, Pope John Paul II called Escrivá "the saint of ordinary life".[31] Similarly, Opus Dei stresses the importance of labor, and places great value on industriousness, diligence, and hard work.[32][33] While some religious orders encourage their members to withdraw from the material world, Opus Dei's members are exhorted to take an active role in careers or charitable works.[34] Opus Dei teaches that work is "a path to holiness",[35] and its founder advised members to: "Sanctify your work. Sanctify yourself in your work. Sanctify others through your work."[36]

Structure and activities

File:Bishopjechevarria.jpg
The present Bishop-Prelate of Opus Dei, Msgr. Javier Echevarria

Supporters often liken Opus Dei to a family, and many claim members of Opus Dei resemble the members of the early Christian Church.[37][38] Leaders of Opus Dei describe the organization as a Catholic teaching entity.[39][13]

In Pope John Paul II's 1982 decree known as the Apostolic constitution Ut Sit, Opus Dei was established as a personal prelature.[40] In addition to being governed by Ut Sit and by canon law, Opus Dei also has its own set of statutes that are specifically applicable to the prelature.[41]

The head of the Opus Dei prelature is known as the Prelate.[40] The Prelate is the primary governing authority and is assisted by two councils — the General Council (made up of men) and the Central Advisory (made up of women).[42][43] The Prelate holds his position for life. The current prelate of Opus Dei is Monsignor Javier Echevarria, who became the second Prelate of Opus Dei in 1994.[44] The first Prelate of Opus Dei was Msgr. Alvaro del Portillo, who held the position from 1982 until his death in 1994.[44]

Opus Dei's highest assembled bodies are the General Congresses, which are usually convened once every eight years. There are separate congresses for the men and women's branch of Opus Dei. The General Congresses are made up members appointed by the Prelate, and are responsible for advising him about the prelature's future. The men's General Congress also elects the Prelate.[45] After the death of a Prelate, a special elective General Congress is convened. They elect from their ranks one individual to become the next Prelate — an appointment that must be confirmed by the Pope.[45]

Opus Dei has about 85,000 members in more than 80 different countries.[46] About 60% of Opus Dei members reside in Europe, and 35% reside in the Americas.[47] The organization's assets total at least $2.8 billion.[48] Two members of Opus Dei, Juan Luis Cipriani and Julián Herranz, have achieved the rank of Cardinal.[49]

Opus Dei runs special residential centers throughout the world.[5] These centers provide residential housing for celibate members, undertake recruitment, and provide doctrinal and theological education (known by the term "formation"). Opus Dei is also responsible for a variety of non-profit institutions called "Corporate Works of Opus Dei", which include schools, universities, and medical facilities.[50] For example, the University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain is a corporate work of Opus Dei which has been rated as one of the top private universities in the country.[51]

Types of membership

Altar with the remains of St. Josemaria Escriva at the Opus Dei headquarters in Rome

Opus Dei is made up of several different types of membership:[4]

Supernumeraries, the largest type, currently account for about 70% of the total membership.[52] Typically, supernumeraries are married men and women with careers. Supernumeraries devote a portion of their day to prayer, in addition to attending regular meetings and taking part in activities such as retreats. Due to their career and family obligations, supernumeraries are not as available to the organization as the other types of members, but they typically contribute financially to Opus Dei, and they lend other types of assistance as their circumstances permit.

Numeraries, the second largest type of members of Opus Dei, comprise about 20% of total membership.[52] Numeraries are celibate members who usually live in special centers run by Opus Dei. Both men and women may become numeraries, although the centers are strictly gender-segregated.[53] Numeraries generally have careers and devote the bulk of their income to the organization.[54]

Numerary assistants are unmarried, celibate female members of Opus Dei. They live in special centers run by Opus Dei but do not have conventional jobs outside the centers — instead, their professional life is dedicated to looking after the domestic needs of the centers.

Associates are unmarried, celibate members who typically have family or professional obligations.[54] Unlike numeraries and numerary assistants, the associates do not live inside the special Opus Dei centers.[55]

The Clergy of the Opus Dei Prelature are priests who are under the jurisdiction of the Prelate of Opus Dei. They are a minority in Opus Dei— only about 2% of Opus Dei members are part of the clergy.[52] Typically, they are numeraries or associates who ultimately joined the priesthood.

The Priestly Society of the Holy Cross consists of priests associated with Opus Dei. Part of the society is made up of the clergy of the Opus Dei prelature — members of the priesthood who fall under the jurisdiction of the Opus Dei prelature are automatically members of the Priestly Society. Other members in the society are traditional diocesan priests — clergymen who remain under the jurisdiction of a geographically-defined diocese. Technically speaking, such diocesan priests have not "joined" Opus Dei membership, although they have joined a society that is closely affiliated with Opus Dei.[56]

The Cooperators of Opus Dei are those who, despite not being members of Opus Dei, collaborate in some way with Opus Dei — usually through praying, charitable contributions, or by providing some other assistance. Cooperators are not required to be celibate or to adhere to any other special requirements. Indeed, cooperators are not even required to be Christian.[56]

Corporal Mortification

Main article: Mortification
Closeup of a cilice-- a small metal chain with inwardly-pointing spikes

Mortification is the voluntary infliction of pain or discomfort upon oneself.[57] Mortification has a long history in many world religions including the Catholic Church, but the practice has become rare among most modern Christians.[58] Members of Opus Dei cite Jesus's biblical command to "take up the cross",[59] holding that the mortification helps to remind them of Jesus's suffering on the cross and has a variety of positive psychological and spiritual benefits. Supporters of the practice point out that mortification has had a long history within the Catholic Church, that various popes have endorsed the practice, and that mortification has been used by numerous saints throughout history, in recent times including Mother Theresa and Padre Pio.[60][61] Critics have cited mortification as one of the reasons for their opposition to Opus Dei (see below).

Opus Dei Numeraries, Numerary Assistants, and Associates practice several forms of mortification. Many are small acts of discomfort or sacrifice such as taking a cold shower, sleeping without a pillow or sleeping on the floor, fasting, or remaining silent for certain hours during the day.[62][63] Some forms are more extreme, for example, once a week, numeraries briefly flail themselves with a small rope whip called a "discipline".[58][64]

One form of mortification involves the use of a cilice, in this case a small metal chain with inwardly-pointing spikes that is worn around their upper thigh. The cilice's spikes cause pain and may leave small marks, but typically do not cause bleeding.[65] Numeraries in Opus Dei generally wear a cilice for two hours each day.[62][66]

Papal support

File:Ratzinger Szczepanow 2003 10.JPG
Pope Benedict XVI is a vocal supporter of Opus Dei and Escrivá

After a slow start, Opus Dei ultimately grew to have the firm support of the Vatican. In 1960, Pope John XXIII commented that Opus Dei opens up "unsuspected horizons of apostolate".[9] Furthermore, in 1964, Pope Paul VI praised the organization in a handwritten letter to Escrivá, saying:

"Your words resonate with the burning and generous spirit of the whole Institution, born in this time of ours as a vigorous expression of the perennial youth of the Church, fully open to the demands of a modern apostolate, ever more active, flowing and organized. We look with paternal satisfaction on all that Opus Dei has achieved and is achieving for the kingdom of God, the desire of doing good that guides it, the burning love for the Church and its visible head that distinguishes it, and the ardent zeal for souls that impels it along the arduous and difficult paths of the apostolate of presence and witness in every sector of contemporary life."[9]

Despite his praise, the relationship between Paul VI and Opus Dei has been described by one author as "stormy".[67][68] After the Second Vatican Counsel concluded in 1965, Pope Paul VI denied Opus Dei's petition to become a personal prelature.

With the 1978 election of Pope John Paul II, Opus Dei gained one of its greatest supporters.[69] John Paul II enthusiastically praised Opus Dei and its founder, and granted the organization its status as the church's only personal prelature.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). Stating that Escrivá is "counted among the great witnesses of Christianity," John Paul II canonized him in 2002, and called him "the saint of ordinary life."[70] Of the organization, John Paul II said:

"[Opus Dei] has as its aim the sanctification of one’s life, while remaining within the world at one’s place of work and profession: to live the Gospel in the world, while living immersed in the world, but in order to transform it, and to redeem it with one’s personal love for Christ. This is truly a great ideal, which right from the beginning has anticipated the theology of the lay state."[8]

The current pope, Benedict XVI, is also a particularly strong supporter of Opus Dei and of Escrivá. In 2002, Benedict XVI (then-named Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger), wrote that Escrivá was "an instrument with which God had acted" and spoke of Opus Dei's "surprising union of absolute fidelity to the Church’s great tradition, to its faith, and unconditional openness to all the challenges of this world, whether in the academic world, in the field of work, or in matters of the economy, etc."[14] He further explained:

"the theocentrism of Escrivá...means this confidence in the fact that God is working now and we ought only to put ourselves at his disposal...This, for me, is a message of greatest importance. It is a message that leads to overcoming what could be considered the great temptation of our times: the pretense that after the 'big bang' God retired from history."[14]

Controversy

Main article: Controversies about Opus Dei

Criticism

Opus Dei has been called "the most controversial force in the Catholic Church",[71] and Escrivá has been described as a "polarizing" figure.[72] In the English-speaking world, the most vocal critic of Opus Dei is a group called the Opus Dei Awareness Network (ODAN), a non-profit organization that exists "to provide education, outreach and support to people who have been adversely affected by Opus Dei."[73] Other critics include former members of Opus Dei, liberal catholic theologians and supporters of Liberation theology.[52][74]

Critics say that Opus Dei is either a "cult", or at least "cult-like". They state that Opus Dei is "intensely secretive"— for example, members generally do not publically disclose their affiliation with Opus Dei, and under the 1950 constitution, members were expressly forbidden to reveal themselves without the permission of their superiors.[13] This practice has led to rampant speculation about who may be a member.[13] Opus Dei has been accused of deceptive and aggressive recruitment practices such as showering potential members with intense praise ("Love bombing"),[75] instructing numeraries to form friendships and attend social gatherings explicitly for recruiting purposes,[54] and even requiring regular written reports from its members about those friends who are potential recruits.[76] Most of all, critics allege that the group maintains an extremely high degree of control over its members— numeraries generally submit their incoming and outgoing mail to their superiors to read,[77] and members are forbidden to read certain books without permission from their superiors.[77] Critics charge that Opus Dei pressures numeraries to sever contact with non-members, including their own families.[75] Critics have also claimed self-mortification is a "startling" and "questionable" practice— one which borders on masochism.[78]

Escrivá himself has also been a source of criticism. His opponents point out that Escrivá's personal mortification practices were even more extreme than the those typically performed by Opus Dei numeraries— in one incident, Escrivá flailed himself over a thousand times.[79][80] Opponents likewise criticize Escrivá's maxim on suffering: "Loved be pain. Sanctified be pain. Glorified be pain!" [62][81] Critics assert that Escrivá and the organization supported the Fascist governments of Francisco Franco[82] and Augusto Pinochet,[83] and it has even been alleged that Escrivá expressed sympathy for Adolf Hitler. [84] According to a former Opus Dei priest, Escrivá once remarked that Hitler had been "badly treated" by the world and he further declared that "Hitler couldn't have been such a bad person. He couldn't have killed six million [Jews]. It couldn't have been more than four million."[85][86][87] (see Opus Dei and politics)

Concerning the group's role in the Catholic Church, critics have argued that Opus Dei's unique status as a personal prelature gives it too much independence, making it essentially a "church within a church".[88] Some critics claim that Opus Dei exerts a disproportionately large influence within the Catholic Church itself, citing for example the unusually hastly (and otherwise irregular) canonization of Escrivá.[89] Lastly, Opus Dei, as a part of the Roman Catholic Church, also shares any criticisms of Catholicism in general— for example, some criticize the fact that female members of Opus Dei cannot become priests or prelates.[90]

Replies to criticism

Supporters have a variety of responses to the charges made by critics. Many supporters of Opus Dei often argue that Opus Dei is merely misunderstood.[91][7][75] One author explained this view by saying: "There are two Opus Deis: an Opus Dei of myth and an Opus Dei of reality."[92][93] For example, supporters claim Opus Dei's relative silence stems not from a secretive nature, but rather is the result of a deep commitment to privacy, humility, and "avoidance of self-aggrandizement".[94] Some argue that a certain estrangement from family is appropriate, quoting Jesus's biblical comment that "He who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me".[95] Opus Dei also says its level of independence from the rest of the Catholic Church has been exaggerated— supporters insist that Opus Dei works in complete harmony with local dioceses.[41]

In some cases, supporters deny the accusations outright. Supporters similarly deny that support of Franco during the Spanish Civil War was unique to Opus Dei. As one author observed: "it’s worth noting that in the context of the Spanish Civil War, in which anticlerical Republican forces killed 13 bishops, 4,000 diocesan priests, 2,000 male religious, and 300 nuns, virtually every group and layer of life in the Catholic Church in Spain was ‘pro-Franco’," and concluded that Opus Dei's founder was neither pro-Franco nor anti-Franco, because any political position goes against the notion of secularity: in matters of politics there is great pluralism in Opus Dei, this author declared. [96] One supporter moreover argued that connecting Opus Dei and the Franco government is a "gross slander,"[97] and he points out that at least one notable member of Opus Dei was a vocal critic of the Franco Regime. Similarly Alvaro del Portillo, the former Prelate of Opus Dei, said that any claims that Escrivá supported Hitler were "a patent falsehood," that were part of "a slanderous campaign".[98] He and others have stated that Escriva regarded Hitler as "a pagan and racist tyrant".[citation needed]

Supporters of Opus Dei have also questioned the motives and reliability of the critics. They point out that former members of any religious group may have psychological or emotional motivations to criticize their former groups, and they claim that such individuals are prone to create fictitious "atrocity stories" which have no basis in reality.[99] Many supporters of Opus Dei have expressed the belief that the criticisms of Opus Dei stem from a generalized disapproval of spirituality, Christianity, or Catholicism. Expressing this sentiment, one Opus Dei member claimed "Opus Dei has become a victim of Christianophobia."[100] Another author argues that critics oppose Opus Dei because "they cannot tolerate 'the return to religion' of the secularized society".[101]

Lastly, some supporters of Opus Dei have viewed the controversy surrounding the organization as a "Sign of contradiction". Proponents of this view hold that blessed, divinely-inspired Christian organizations will always be criticized, just as Jesus was criticized by his contemporaries. Accordingly, they see the very existence of critics as further proof of the organization's sanctity.[102][103][104]

File:DaVinciCode US.png
Main article: Criticisms of The Da Vinci Code

Since 2003, Opus Dei has received world attention as a result of Dan Brown's novel The Da Vinci Code.[105] In the novel, Opus Dei is portrayed as a villainous organization that is involved in a sinister international conspiracy.[106] The depiction of Opus Dei in the 2006 Da Vinci Code movie was scaled back and significantly less ominous than its depiction in the novel.[107]

In general, few scholars give much credence to The Da Vinci Code's allegations of a global conspiracy involving Opus Dei. Many academics have pointed out a number of inaccuracies in the novel. For example, the major villain in The Da Vinci Code is a monk who is member of Opus Dei — but there are no monks in Opus Dei.[30] The Da Vinci Code implies that Opus Dei is the Pope's personal prelature — but the term "personal prelature" does not refer to a special relationship to the Pope; it means an institution in which the jurisdiction of the prelate is not linked to a geographic territory but over persons, wherever they be.[58] Nonetheless, Brown claims that his portrayal of Opus Dei was based on interviews with members and ex-members, and books about Opus Dei.[108]

Other Wikipedia articles on Opus Dei

Sites Supporting Opus Dei

Sites Critical of Opus Dei

Footnotes

  1. ^ "Decoding secret world of Opus Dei". BBC News. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  2. ^ Bill Tammeus (October 19, 2005). "Bishop confirms connection to group". Kansas City Star. Retrieved 2006-11-28. mirrored on RickRoss.com, as well as here and here
  3. ^ a b "What is Opus Dei? The Message". Opus Dei Official Site. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Opus Dei". BBC Religion and Ethics. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  5. ^ a b "Religious Movements Homepage Project entry on Opus Dei". University of Virginia. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Historical Overview". Opus Dei Official Site. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  7. ^ a b Kim Lawton (June 29, 2001). "Opus Dei". PBS Religion & Ethics Newsweekly. Retrieved 2006-11-28.
  8. ^ a b "Opus Dei's focus on secular life". Opus Dei Official Site. Retrieved 2006-11-27.; Allen, John, Jr. Opus Dei, 2005 and Messori, Vittorio, Opus Dei, 1997.
  9. ^ a b c "Papal statements on Opus Dei". Opus Dei Official Site. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  10. ^ "St. Josemaría Escriva de Balaguer". Catholic Online. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  11. ^ "Opus Dei". JosemariaEscriva.info. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  12. ^ "Vatican proves the power of Opus Dei Founder". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  13. ^ a b c d "The Ways of Opus Dei". Time Magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  14. ^ a b c "Pope Benedict XVI on St. Josemaría Escriva". Opus Dei Official Site. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  15. ^ "The Founding of Opus Dei". JosemariaEscriva.info. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  16. ^ Escrivá, Josemaría. "Conversations 60". Retrieved 2006-05-16.
  17. ^ "Josemaria Escriva: Highlights of His Life". Eternal Word Television Network. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  18. ^ "Historical Overview". JosemariaEscriva.info. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  19. ^ Philip Copens. "Deciphering the Da Vinci Code". Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  20. ^ "The Way". EscrivaWorks.org. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  21. ^ "Opus Dei". MSN Encarta. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  22. ^ "Blessed Josemaría Escrivá to be canonized". Opus Dei Official Site. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  23. ^ John L. Allen Jr. "300,000 pilgrims turn out for canonization of Opus Dei founder". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  24. ^ "The Process of Canonization". JosemariaEscriva.info. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  25. ^ John L. Allen Jr. "300,000 pilgrims turn out for canonization of Opus Dei founder". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  26. ^ Fr. John McCloskey (March 1995). "The Pope and Opus Dei". Crisis Magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-27. mirrored on CatholiCity
  27. ^ "Opus Dei's focus on secular life". Opus Dei Official Site. Retrieved 2006-11-28.
  28. ^ "'Da Vinci' And Opus Dei". The New York Sun. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  29. ^ "A Glimpse Inside a Catholic 'Force': Opus Dei". National Public Radio. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  30. ^ a b "Opus Dei called 'complete opposite' of 'The Da Vinci Code' portrayal". Catholic News Service. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  31. ^ "Decree of Canonization". JoseMaria.info. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  32. ^ Josemaría Escrivá. "Chapter 15: "Work"". Furrow. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  33. ^ "Josemaria Escriva: Work and Holiness". Eternal Word Television Network. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  34. ^ "Opus Dei as a Political Force in Post Cold War Latin America: Civil Society, Associationalism, and Democracy". American Political Science Association. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  35. ^ "Interview with Opus Dei National Spokesman". ABC News. Retrieved 2006-11-27. mirrored on RickRoss.com
  36. ^ "Homily of Bishop Echevarría". Romana: Official Bulletin of Opus Dei. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  37. ^ "St. Liguori et Als on vocation and Opus Dei". Opus Dei : A Dialogue Between Friend and Foe. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  38. ^ Domingo Ramos-Lissón. "The Example of the Early Christians in Blessed Josemaria's Teachings". Romana: The Official Bulletin of Opus Dei. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  39. ^ or a "great catechsis" "Catechetical Trips". JosemariaEscriva.info. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  40. ^ a b Pope John Paul II. "Ut Sit". Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  41. ^ a b "Place in the Church". Opus Dei Official Site. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  42. ^ Dennis Dubro. "Government, Direction and Control in Opus Dei". Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  43. ^ "What is Opus Dei - Governance". Opus Dei Official Site. Retrieved 2006-11-28.
  44. ^ a b "Opus Dei". IdeasRapidas.org. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  45. ^ a b "1982 Statutes of Opus Dei". Opus Dei. Retrieved 2006-11-27.mirrored on Odan.org. Original Latin version on Opus Dei Official Site
  46. ^ Ruth Gledhill. "Controversial Catholic group is given care of parish church". Times Online. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  47. ^ "Opus Dei: Its Mission, Structure and Members". Zenit News Agency. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  48. ^ "Opus Dei has stake in new pope". Newsday. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  49. ^ "Cardinals Tauran and Herranz installed at their titular churches". Opus Dei Official Site. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  50. ^ "Opus Dei Corporate Works". Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  51. ^ "University of Navarra Named Top Private University". IESE Business School Site. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  52. ^ a b c d "Catholics scrutinize enigmatic Opus Dei". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2006-11-27. mirrored on RickRoss.com and here
  53. ^ "Conservative Catholic Influence in Europe". Center for Research on Population and Security. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  54. ^ a b c James Martin, S.J. "Opus Dei In the United States". America: The National Catholic Weekly. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  55. ^ "Opus Dei". Cephas Library. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  56. ^ a b Raphael Caamano. "The Priestly Society of the Holy Cross". Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  57. ^ "A look inside Opus Dei". MSNBC. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  58. ^ a b c "The Da Vinci Code, the Catholic Church and Opus Dei". Opus Dei Official Site. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  59. ^ Mark 8:34
  60. ^ "Opus Dei and Corporal Mortification". Opus Dei Official site. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  61. ^ "Opus Dei and corporal mortification". Opus Dei Official Site. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  62. ^ a b c "Corporal Mortification in Opus Dei". Opus Dei Awareness Network. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  63. ^ David Ruppe (June 18, 2001). "Opus Dei: A Return to Tradition". ABC News. Retrieved 2006-11-28. mirrored at rickross.com and here
  64. ^ "The Mysteries of Opus Dei". US News and World Report. December 22, 2003. Retrieved 2006-11-28.
  65. ^ "They Whip Themselves, Don't They?". The Da Vinci Code & Opus Dei. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
  66. ^ Suzanne Smith (November 28, 2005). "An inside look at Opus Dei". Australian Broadcasting Corporation "Lateline".
  67. ^ Ruth Bertels. "The Ethics of Opus Dei". TakingFive.com. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
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