For Opus Dei Peeps

[aloha918]

Opus Dei is a personal Prelature of the Catholic Church that helps ordinary lay people seek holiness in and through their everyday activities, especially through work.

this is their "mission statement" on their website......

this is my question and only this:

From this mission statement it seems to me that this should be the goal of every catholic across the board.......so why do i need to belong to Opus Dei?......why is there such a draw to it when it doesn't seem to be any different then just belonging to the church?

thanks &
God bless,

[Cam42]

[quote]From this mission statement it seems to me that this should be the goal of every catholic across the board.......so why do i need to belong to Opus Dei?[/quote]

It is a vocation. If one feels that one is called to live this life in a purer way, then Opus Dei is a viable option. Yes, everyone is called to live this life in the Church, but one may want to explore this in a more formal situation.

An ecclesiastical or religious vocation is the special gift of those who, in the Church of God, follow with a pure intention the ecclesiastical profession of the evangelical counsels. That is the definition of a vocation. This is why those who want to live this life are formally part of Opus Dei.

Remember....one of the ideas of Opus Dei is that of Cooperator. Those who do not formally belong to the Prelature, but live their lives and possibly donate to the Work. We are all called to be cooperators. As a matter of fact, a Cooperator may or may not be Catholic....that aspect is open to anyone.

Again, I think that this speaks to my point, "Those who belong to a religious order not only follow the evangelical counsels for themselves, but are accepted by the Church, more or less officially, to represent in religious society the practice of the rules of perfection; and to offer it to God as a part of public worship." (Catholic Encyclopedia c. 1910)

[quote]Why is there such a draw to it when it doesn't seem to be any different then just belonging to the church?[/quote]

There is a difference. I think that I have spoken to it. The question of vocation itself so far as the candidate is concerned may be put in these terms: Are you doing a thing which is pleasing to God in offering yourself to the Work? And the answer depends on the preceding data: yes, if your intention is honest, and if your strength is sufficient for the work at hand in the Prelature. The second is decided for one by the Prelature, A further question may be put to the candidate for the priesthood: if you do well in desiring to become a priest, would you perhaps do better by becoming a religious? It is to be remarked that the candidate for the priesthood ought already to have the virtues required by his state, while the hope of acquiring them is sufficient for the candidate for the religious life.

The vocation to Opus Dei is not to the priesthood, but to the Work. From those in the Work, the Prelature will decide whom they want as priests....not unlike that of any religious order.

Cam42

[Sinner]

[quote name='aloha918' date='Feb 3 2005, 04:55 PM'] .......so why do i need to belong to Opus Dei?......why is there such a draw to it when it doesn't seem to be any different then just belonging to the church? [/quote]
YOU DON'T NEED TO BELONG.....But it seems you are interested; and you might really enjoy and benefit from it. It is somewhat difficult to compare to other aspects of the Church as it is currently the only Personal Prelature in existence. Opus Dei is not a religious order. On the other hand, why would anyone want to belong to a Third (lay) Order of Franciscans, Dominicans or Benedictines (Oblates)?? Why belong to the KofC? Why belong to a youth group of your Parish? The answer to all the above is that you may find a Way to grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ by sharing your faith and service in these groups. As for Opus Dei in particular, I will speak for myself and say I have received many benefits that are difficult to obtain in the Church at large such as Spiritual Direction on a regular basis, specific ongoing religious formation, instruction in the mechanics of a "Plan of Life" or how to obtain a deeper spiritual life in a concrete daily plan, regular retreats to review and revise my life and make resolutions to improve. The list goes on. We still do "just belong to the Church"...... The Work just helps us to improve our abilities to be a better instrument for the Church.