Questions About Catholic Groups

[Maximilianus]

FSSP is outstanding, I've never really heard anything negative about them...I wish my deanery had an FSSP parish. Opus Dei gets critisized by Libs and Uber trads, just like it's founder, so they must by A-Okay...right?

[JenDeMaria]

[quote name='Maximilianus' timestamp='1303857757' post='2233634']
Opus Dei gets critisized by Libs and Uber trads, just like it's founder, so they must by A-Okay...right?
[/quote]

Lol. I've heard they were investigated by the Vatican and cleared of all charges at least once, which works for me.


This looks fascinating:

[quote=Wikipedia]Sociologists [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_L._Berger"]Peter Berger[/url] and [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_P._Huntington"]Samuel Huntington[/url] suggest that Opus Dei is involved in "a deliberate attempt to construct an alternative modernity," one that engages modern culture while at the same time is resolutely loyal to Catholic traditions[/quote]

But now that I've read that a few times, isn't that exactly what sanctifying ordinary life means?

[Cherie]

[quote name='JoyfulLife' timestamp='1303856354' post='2233624']
Wow! That says a lot.


I don't quite understand what FSSP and Opus Dei are. Are they special Churches and Priests in the Roman Catholic Faith? Do they differ in any way on the teachings and faithfulness to the Pope? Are they fannatics or extremists?

How do you look up to see if there are any of these Churches in your area?
[/quote]

Read this [url="http://www.opusdei.us/art.php?p=10877"]Opus Dei's Place in the Church[/url] - it will help you understand what kind of institution Opus Dei is.

Very basically, from their website: "Opus Dei is a Catholic institution founded by Saint Josemaría Escrivá. Its mission is to help people turn their work and daily activities into occasions for growing closer to God, for serving others, and for improving society."

A lay member's daily life requires a few things, it's almost like being a member of a third order, but they don't take vows. It includes daily "norms of piety" of which really [i]every[/i] Catholic should have a habit; maybe not to the [i]degree[/i] of a member of Opus Dei, but still: everyone should have daily norms of piety. Here is an example of the daily schedule of a particular member of Opus Dei:
[list=1][*]Awaken saying 'Serviam' (I will serve)[*]Daily Mass[*]Rosary[*]1/2 hour mental prayer in the AM and the PM[*]Noontime Angelus or Regina Coeli depending on the season[*]10 minute meditiation on a spiritual reading[*]5 minutes reading the New Testament[*]Short prayers throughout the day called 'aspirations' such as 'Everything with Peter to Jesus through Mary'[*]A daily set of prayers in Latin called the Preces, which include invocations to the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Guardian Angels, then prayers for the Holy Father, the Bishop, unity among those working to spread the gospel, and invocations to Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Peter, Paul, and John (patrons of Opus Dei)[*]A Daily visit to the Blessed Sacrament (often immediately ater supper) and includes 3 Our Fathers, 3 Hail Mary's, 3 Glory Be's, and making a "Spiritual Communion" meaning an act of union with Christ that doesn't involve physically receiving communion during Mass.[*]A daily examination of conscience[*]Saying three Hail Mary's as an intention for holy purity and blessing onesself with Holy Water before going to bed.[/list]
Please read this from EWTN: [url="http://www.ewtn.com/library/SPIRIT/OPUSLIFE.TXT"]http://www.ewtn.com/...IT/OPUSLIFE.TXT[/url] -- it is a lay member of Opus Dei recounting his daily life and schedule. It is well worth the read.

Even if I am not a member, I model my own life after the Opus Dei spirituality. St. Josemaria Escriva is one of my FAVORITE Saints, and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE his books. Worth EVERY penny and really helps you strive for holiness. He has a way of saying JUST what we need to hear. The whole Opus Dei mentality is actually something I learned in the convent, where the Sisters had many close friends who were members of Opus Dei.