Should You Join Opus Dei?
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- Опубліковано 4 лют 2025
- Former Opus Dei member gives practical advice for any young person considering the possibility of joining Opus Dei.
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:
opuslibros.org... (Right click and choose "Translate to English. The articles cited at the bottom of this page are particularly useful.)
BEST RESOURCES TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OPUS DEI:
Best Websites
Odan.org (Opus Dei Awareness Network)
Best English language website about Opus Dei.
Opuslibros.org
Most comprehensive source for accurate information about Opus Dei. Includes many testimonies from former members. The “Correspondence,” “Your Writings,” and “Vocation Trap” sections are the most useful. It is a Spanish language website. However, by right-clicking and choosing “Translate to English,” Google provides a decent although imperfect translation.
Best Books
Beyond the Threshold: A Life in Opus Dei , by Maria del Carmen Tapia.
The book Opus Dei hates more than any other. Ms. Tapia simply recounts her experiences of Opus Dei and Josemaria Escriva. The problem with this book, for Opus Dei, is that Ms. Tapia paints a picture of Josemaria Escriva which is very much at odds with the false hagiographies it pushes. And her writing is eminently believable. This book may be out of print, but used copies are generally available on Amazon.
Saints & Schemers: Opus Dei and Its Paradoxes , Joan Estruch.
1994 Oxford University Press book that traces the many contradictions in Opus Dei’s telling of its early history. Out of print, but available used on Amazon.
Opus Dei as Divine Revelation: Analysis of Its Theology and Its Consequences in Its History and People , E.B.E.
Former South American member of Opus Dei provides an accurate understanding of how Opus Dei sees itself. This book may be of interest principally to former members of Opus Dei. For anyone looking for a deep dive.
NOT RECOMMENDED
Opus Dei: An Objective Look Behind the Myths and Reality of the Most Controversial Force in the Catholic Church , John Allen, Jr.
John Allen is an excellent journalist. Unfortunately, he widely missed the mark in this book. Kudos to the Opus Dei PR team for dodging a bullet!
Anything approved of or promoted by Opus Dei or its members
These works are pure hagiographies and do not even mention (let alone explain or contextualize) Josemaria Escriva’s many and serious defects. The histories of Opus Dei written by Opus Dei members or sympathizers omit so many important details that they can only be described as materially false.
I've watched all of your videos, and I'm pretty much on the verge of becoming an associate numerary. I'm not a young person, I'm well into my career, early 30s, single, and met Opus Dei through a friend. I have always been a pretty devout Catholic but The Work just spoke to me so much more.
I have to say, of what everyone has said about The Work, I haven't experienced with my own eyes. I’ve seen some of the opposite, in fact, but I take all of what everyone's experiences are in my own discernment. Maybe it’s my region - I'm in a large US city where it seems like The Work is thriving or at least doing well, we have recollections in various parishes, and even a number of Prelature of the Holy Cross priests who of course know St. Josemaria well.
I’ve spoken to a number of numeraries who have dedicated their lives to Opus Dei and they are truly happy it seems. But what I can see and observe is that it's absolutely not for everyone. And I can see empathetically where if Opus Dei isn't the right fit, it REALLY isn't the right fit.
I feel like I thrive on the norms and plan of life. I am still on the tip of the iceberg since I haven’t whistled yet, but that next step is very close for me. But again, perhaps because I'm no longer a teen or young person in my early 20s, the process is different? As I don't feel pressure, my director is working so well in guiding me to make the right decision, and I’ve met some of the other associates as well who all are very impressively accomplished and seem just like genuine women.
I will say that it was my director who saw my vocation as an associate, so maybe that was a little sketch lol. But to be honest, I don't have the desire to marry and have had a call on my heart to dedicate myself fully to God, and Opus Dei opens that up for me. Being a religious isn't really my desire, I want to use my work and established life to reach others through God. Being a religious would mean giving that all up. And doing it on my own means a major lack in community, formation, and support that so few parishes actually offer for those of us who crave going deeper.
I guess I write all this to say that I've looked at all the sites, Reddit, etc and I see a stark contrast in my personal experience. I think in fairness to Opus Dei anyone who is considering joining needs to do a full spectrum discernment. I do think that recruitment of kids shouldn't be done, and no one under 21 should be allowed to whistle. That gives someone up to about 27 years old (the 6 years it takes to go from whistle to fidelity) to know if this is right or not for them.
But to throw the entire Prelature under the bus I think is kind of unfair.
@jenteller5154 I remember you from Reddit. I wish you the best of luck on your journey!
Somebody said this that helped me to see the truth, and I hope it helps many too:
If you cannot say “no”, your “yes” means nothing.
One other thing; if you’re thinking about joining Opus Dei just say no and see the reaction. if they keep pushing and pushing and pushing to exhaust the number of “no”, which it is a tactic they do.
Hey Sir, you and also a subreddit really helped me, I was almost living as a student in a OD house. (they still think I am, but I'll tell them sunday I changed my mind) and you probably (and people from reddit) stoped me from joinen a cult..... Thank you very much for making these videos!!
And yes it was there suggestion that I might want to live there
i wonder maybe i wouldn't be so stunted if i didn't join them, i wish this video existed then
Have hope, Jesus is real and he is yours. Opus Dei doesn’t have a monopoly on God. In time God takes care of our wounds and heals the broken hearted.
In my country (Poland) there should be now around 100 people thinking about joining Opus Dei. How many around the World..
My suggestion based on experience. Avoid this organization if you wish to keep thinking for yourself.
I wonder how many OD lay members would have just gone on to be good diocesan priests if left alone. :(
I wanted to be a priest before I join Opus Dei :( :( :(
Thanks
Does somebody know if JD Vance is in opus dei?
He is not but is connected to people in Opus Dei.
May I ask the title of the book from Oxford University press 19946
Saints and Schemers by Joan Estruch
Opus Dei is not changable so its better it doesnt exist. If not, there will be still people with broken lifes, mental problems etc....
For some reason i have felt driven to this . Even though i have no way to contact anyone . I have served as a 4th degree knight for years but feel unfullfiled
Thomas Aquinas existed hundreds of years before the Jesuits.
Thanks! If you watch the video again, you will see that I already corrected that error.
@@davidgilbert9606yea I did. I’m debating joining Opus Dei. Anyway I can contact you?
Your uuuuuuummmmm over and over again is very annoying
Ha ha. Sorry about that!
He's thinking. It's a serious topic. It's fine.
@@Jackjohnjayvery dangerous waters to navigate into...just normal to speak slowly.