Opus Dei

During the years of the civil war in Spain 1936-1939. Republicans severely persecuted all religious organizations in the country. The victims of these persecutions were 12 bishops and more than 6 thousand priests and religious. On the contrary, the then established Franco regime favored Catholicism in every possible way, giving all religious entities the opportunity to grow, and therefore the new government enjoyed some support among Catholics. There were several members of Opus Dei in the Franco government, which caused the organization to be accused of sympathizing with fascism and the desire for power. But the founder of society always emphasized that the members of Opus Dei have the same political freedom as all other Catholics, and can adhere to those political convictions that they like more, because the “Affair” is a religious and not a political organization ” ^{[ 3]} .

In 1947, Opus Dei was approved by Pope Pius XII with the Constitution of Provida Mater Ecclesia .

In 1946, St. Escriva de Balaguer relocates the organization’s leading center to Rome and in 1950, Opus Dei receives the status of a “secular institution” formally subordinate to the Congregation for the Religious Affairs, which allowed the organization not to be assigned to a specific diocese, but to work around the world, as, by the way , it already was in reality.

In 1982, Pope John Paul II assigned the organization "Opus Dei" the status of "personal prelature" - a structure included in the pastoral and hierarchical structure of the Church and led by the prelate. The word "personal" means that the jurisdiction of the prelature does not apply to a specific territory, as in the case of parishes and dioceses, but only to specific people - members of Opus Dei, who live around the world. Prelature may include both laity and diocesan priests.

The authority of the prelate extends to all matters relating to the special mission of the prelature (and is limited to these matters), and is carried out in conjunction with the authority of the diocesan bishop, concerning the usual pastoral care of the faithful of the diocese. The laity of the prelature is completely subordinate to the prelate in everything related to the mission of the prelature, and specifically in regard to special obligations - ascetic, educational, and apostolic - that they assumed in the agreement on joining the prelature. These obligations, in essence, are not within the competence of the diocesan bishop. The laity "Opus Dei" do not lose the position of the usual faithful of their dioceses, and therefore continue to submit to the diocesan bishop on the same issues as the rest of the laity.

The Opus Dei, in contrast to monastic orders, is subordinate not to the Congregation for the Institutes of the Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life , but to the Congregation for the Bishops .

As of December 31, 2008, the prelature numbered 1,654 centers of pastoral care, 88,904 members, of which 1972 were priests ^[5] . In the priestly society of the Holy Cross, in addition to the clergy of the prelature, there are about 2 thousand diocesan priests and several deacons incarnated in various dioceses around the world ^[6] .

Organization management is carried out by members of the “numbering”, who take on various obligations (members of Opus Dei do not give vows, because they are not religious, but lay). Many of them live in centers of prelature; some subsequently become priests. Among the "numbering" stands out a special group with a clearly defined number of members called "inscripts" ( inscribed ). From this group, the organization’s prelate appoints “electors” (electors) who participate in the selection of the next prelate.

Along with the organization’s numbering members, its composition also includes supernumeration, which take on certain obligations. They do not promise celibacy and may be married, but at the same time they are full members of Opus Dei.

Joining the "Opus Dei" is carried out by concluding a special agreement, the form of which is the same for everyone, between the "Opus Dei" and the believer who has decided to become a member. The procedure for joining the organization is rather complicated, and the process is finally completed no earlier than after six years. An adult candidate for membership in the organization submits a written request, which is considered within six months, then, after a year has passed through a formal declaration of a contractual type (renewable every year), the person receives the opportunity of exclusively temporary joining. After five years, there is the possibility of permanent joining the organization. An individual who has entered into a contract has a number of responsibilities: “to remain in the jurisdiction of the prelate with regard to the goals of the Prelature; observe the legal norms of the Prelature and perform other duties of the members of Opus Dei ” ^[7] .

Leaders of Opus Dei

• Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer (October 2, 1928 - June 26, 1975)
• Alvaro del Portillo (1975—23 March 1994)
• Javier Echevarria Rodriguez (1994-12 December 2016)
• Fernando Okaris Branha (January 23, 2017 to present)

The essence of Opus Dei is to provide its members and all comers with a means of spiritual education so that they can live in peace as befits good Christians.

- St. Josemaria

These tools include classes to deepen understanding of the truths of faith, regular spiritual exercises, personal spiritual guidance, etc. In addition, Opus Dei members usually organize various educational, social, and cultural initiatives in developing countries to help. to the local population. Such initiatives may include universities, schools, vocational training centers, small clinics, charitable organizations, etc. At the same time, members of the prelature contribute to the spread of the gospel among their environment, confirming their testimony with an example of their own lives. The main educational institution of the prelature is the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, one of the seven papal universities ^[8] .

Opus Dei is criticized. Critics, among whom there are Catholic priests, consider Opus Dei a dangerous organization. At the beginning of its existence, Opus Dei was called the “new heresy” because of the call for universal holiness, which was then adopted at the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). The danger is mainly seen in the secrecy and closeness of Opus Dei. There are publications in print media and on the Internet that state that Opus Dei uses many sect practices ^{[9] [10] [11]} . The approval of the Opus Dei was expressed by the Pope ^[12] .

• Opus Dei plays an important role in the plot of Dan Brown 's Da Vinci Code , although the author himself did not subsequently insist on the authenticity of the facts presented in the book.
• Among the temples given to the care of the priests of Opus Dei is St. Peter's Church , one of Vienna 's main attractions.
• Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer, founder of Opus Dei, is considered a saint by the Catholic Church. At this ^{[ which one? ] the} moment are the processes of beating the beatific (beatification) of several other members of the prelature, including one married couple ^[13] .
• One of the prelature initiatives was the opening of the famous University of Navarre in Pamplona (Spain).

• Ferruccio Pinotti . Opus Dei segreta. - BUR Futuropassato, 2010 .-- 472 p. - ISBN 978-88-1701-225-6 .

• Official site
• Profile of the organization "Opus Dei" on the portal "World of Religions"