Opus Dei means the work of God, but at the same time it is the name given to an institution that is part of the Catholic Church. Opus Dei founded in Spain at the end of the 1920s by the Spanish priest Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer, who after his death was canonized by Pope John II.
A synthesis of Opus Dei’s ideology
In the work entitled “Camino” the founder of this institution reflects on the ideology that should inspire the members of Opus Dei. Some of the most significant ideas and moral proposals are the following:
– The proposal of a life dedicated to faith and love and inspired by the figure of Jesus Christ.
– An invitation to a type of life based on serenity, will and energy as daily attitudes.
– A firm commitment to self-sacrificing work and professional ambition as an approach to satisfy God, as well as contempt for laziness and frivolous attitudes.
– The consideration that marriage is a sacred institution and that it must be based on the love of the couple and on procreation.
– The aspiration to achieve a holy and exemplary life, for which joy and optimism become powerful weapons.
Key facts about Opus Dei
Its headquarters are in Rome and Opus Dei is currently spread throughout the world with centers and projects dedicated to religious activity, education or health. Regarding the members of this institution, they are divided into several categories: some with full dedication and called numeraries, the aggregates that are dedicated to apostolic activity but in the background and, finally, the supernumerary members, who do not have the obligation to respect celibacy and that they can be married or single.
Opus Dei currently has more than 90,000 members, of which there are more than 2,000 priests.
Main criticisms
There are sectors that accuse Opus Dei of having been an institution supported and promoted by the Franco dictatorship and that from its origins it has acted as a lobby to defend an ultra-conservative ideology. On the other hand, there are those who maintain that it is a sectarian group and that its members are inspired by a megalomaniac and manipulative leader. There are numerous testimonies from former members who denounce the permanent “brainwashing” by the top officials. Lastly, Opus Dei has received harsh criticism for controlling the private lives of its members.
Photos: iStock – stock_colors / Aldo Murillo
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