CELIBACY OF JESUS COMMUNICATING THE GOSPEL IN TODAY'S WORLD THE DIVINITY OF CHRIST

THE FIRST FOUR COUNCILS GNOSTIC AND OTHER NON-NEW TESTAMENT WRITINGS IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH

OPUS DEI MARY MAGDALENE NEW TESTAMENT WOMEN IN THE CHURCH

Peter Bancroft

The Catechism of
the Catholic Church

Readings from the New American Bible

Opus Dei Questions and Answers

The Real Opus Dei Continued

This spiritual formation is meant to complement the pastoral care given by Catholic parishes, not substitute for it.  Opus Dei always carries out its activities with the knowledge and permission of the local bishop, and places on emphasis on love for the Church and obedience to her leaders.

While all are called to holiness, there are many ways to fulfill this call: being a member of Opus Dei is not for everyone. Membership, in fact, is seen as a vocation.  It involves a commitment to receive one’s spiritual guidance from Opus Dei, as well as a commitment to frequent reception of the sacraments, prayer, apostolate and, in general, a humble and constant effort to acquire virtue and strive for holiness in the spirit of Opus Dei.

One can join Opus Dei as an associate, a numerary or a supernumerary. Most members are married supernumeraries, and they strive to follow Jesus Christ by sanctifying their work both in the home and outside, maintaining a youthful love, generously receiving and educating the children God sends them, and sharing their faith with their children and friends. Numeraries and associates share the same vocation of seeking holiness through their work, friendships and ordinary secular activities. They commit themselves to celibacy, however, so that they can dedicate themselves more fully to carrying out Opus Dei’s activities of spiritual formation.  Numeraries and associates are not monks or nuns: joining Opus Dei does not involve any change for them in their professional work or their lay condition.

As of 2005, Opus Dei had 86,000 members (a little more than 3,000 in the U.S.). Around 98% of the members are laypersons; the rest are priests who have been ordained from among the lay members. The members are of many ethnic backgrounds, and are fairly evenly split between men and women. One must be an adult to join, but there are no educational, professional or income requirements. 

Peter Bancroft is the Communications Director for Opus Dei in the United States.  He studied philosophy at Calvin College and law at the University of Notre Dame.  He lives in New Rochelle, NY.   For more information on the Prelature of Opus Dei, visit their Web site, http://www.opusdei.org/.

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