A Clandestine Power or a Catholic Organization?

Ever since the publication of the controversial book “The Da Vinci Code” by Dan Brown, the Catholic organization of Opus Dei has become famous worldwide; a subject of curiosity for many. The Catholic hierarchy advises us to be on the alert; that the novel is purely fictional, the work of imagination, and not a historic novel, and hence cannot be a relevant source of information on the subject matter. Sadly, there are many who cannot tell the difference and take the things in the novel, which is full of blasphemous allegations and falsifications, as facts that are historically proven. Brown's arrows are aimed particularly at the Catholic Church and Opus Dei. He says that Jesus is just an ordinary man who was married to Mary Magdalene, that the Church is a great impostor deceiving humanity, that the Emperor Constantine created the Church, that the Church wrote the Gospels in the IV Century and falsified them, that the Church is the enemy of Truth and of the female gender, and that the Church commits felonies. Brown glorifies the pre-Christian pagan religions that worshiped the female deity, who practiced ritual sex, and reckons that the Church should change its doctrine on sexuality and allow women to take Holy Orders. Opus Dei – according to Dan Brown – is a clandestine power in the core of Roman Catholic Church that is not even above murder to achieve its goals. Therefore many people today wonder, what this organization is about after all? Who are its members? How does it function? What are its goals and activities…?

Opus Dei is a Catholic organization acting with a Personal Prelature within the Catholic Church, with the Head Office in Rome . The full title of the organization is the Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei. The idea of the juridical structure known as Personal Prelature was introduced by the Second Vatican Council: By the decision of the Council, it permits founding of “special dioceses, or personal prelatures for performing special pastoral tasks in various regions or among races in all parts of the world”. The Council decreed that this new form should be of a flexible nature, in order to be able to contribute to the successful spreading of the Christian-life-message. In that way, the Church would be able to respond to the demands of its mission in the world. The majority of Church-supervisory-offices are territorial, as in the case of “diocese”- where the community is determined by their place of residence. But the office of superior is not necessarily related to a territory. It can depend on other criteria like employment, religious rite, immigrant's status, or an agreement within the office of authority institutions. The latter for example, is applied in the cases of military ordinariats and personal Prelatures. The personal prelature, in the way it was envisioned by the Council, is constituted by a Prelate, a Presbyterate - or clergy of its' own, and laity, both men and women. The Prelate, who can be a Bishop, is appointed by the Pope, and has ordinary authority over the Prelature.

The main task of Opus Dei is helping ordinary people live out the daily vocation of their Christian lives by offering them spiritual support and education. Opus Dei promotes a consciousness of the universal call to holiness, especially to the holiness achieved through ordinary work and daily obligations. This includes conversion of the soul, participation in the Eucharist, frequent acceptance of the other Sacraments, spreading the Gospel message to all those who are far from the faith, initiatives for the benefit of those in need, active participation in the catechism courses and other Parish activities and cooperation with Episcopal institutions. The Prelature members attend weekly lectures on the issues of religious doctrines and ascetic practices. The monthly spiritual renewal takes a few hours, one day a month, and consists in personal prayer and contemplation on the issues of Christian life. Apart from this, once a year the faithful participate in spiritual exercises or retreats, usually for a duration of three to five days.

Male and Female Members

Corporative Apostolic Works - as they are called - are promoted by Opus Dei members and co-operators of the assembly with other people, and have the moral support of the Prelature who take care of its' Christian orientation. These are non-profitable initiatives of a civilian character: Schools, Universities, Women's Education Centers , Medical Clinics in undeveloped areas, Agricultural Schools , Professional Education Institutions, Students' Hostels etc.

The full article can be found on pages 52-57 of Vol 2
2007 issue.