OPUS DEI

INTRODUCTION

Opus Dei is the first Personal Prelature in the Catholic Church, a new figure of government which was established by Vatican II.
Opus Dei is immediately and directly subject to the Holy See (N 171) and resides in the Congregation for Bishops.

The 1983 Code of Canon Law dedicates a sparse four canons to Personal Prelatures, NN 294 to 297. These canons say,
basically , the Personal Prelatures can be established by the Church for specific pastoral purposes, but their purposes, their
law, regulations and relationships are to be defined and set forth in their statutes.

Prior to 1982, Opus Dei was a Secular Institute, governed by statutes approved in 1950. The statutes of 1950 faithfully
represented the reality of Opus Dei, but since they had to correspond to the figure of a secular institute, they contained
elements unsuited to the secular reality proper to the charism of Opus Dei. These elements disappeared in its statutes as a
prelature.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Origin The idea of the juridical structure known as the personal prelature was introduced by the Second
Vatican Council.
The Council decree Presbytorium Ordinis stated that, among other institutions, special dioceses or
personal prelatures could be established to carry out special pastoral task in different regions or
among any race in any part of the world.
The Council laid down that this new juridical figure was to be flexible in nature, in order to
contribute to the effective spreading of the Christian message and Christian life. In this way the
Church could more aptly respond to the demands of its mission in the world.
The Code of Canon Law of the Catholic Church stipulates that each personal prelature must be
regulated by general Church law and by its own statutes.

Concept Most jurisdictions in the Church are territorial, as in the case of a diocese, where the faithful who
belong to it are determined according to their territory or domicile. However, jurisdiction is not alwas
linked to territory, but many depend on other criteria, such as employment, religious rite, immigrant
status or agreement with the jurisdictional body in question. The last mentioned applies in the case
of military ordinates and personal prelatures.
Personal Prelatures, as envisaged by the Second Vatican Council, are made up of a pastor, a
presbyterate consisting of secular priest, and men and women lay faithful. The prelate who may be a
bishop, is appointed by the Pope and governs the prelature with the power of governance or
jurisdiction.
The Church has the power of self-organization in order to pursue the aims set for her by Christ.
Exercising this power, she has established personal prelatures within her hierarchical structure, with
the special feature that the faithful of the prelature continue to belong to their local church and to
the diocese where they live.
For these and other reasons, personal prelatures are clearly different from religious institutes and
consecrated life in general, as well as from associations and movements of the faithful.

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Historical On 6 August 1966 Pope Paul VI opened the way for the creation of the personal prelatures which
Development has been envisaged by the Second Vatican Council. He specified that lay faithful should be able
to bind themselves to personal prelatures by means of a bilateral agreement between the lay
person and the prelature.
One year later, on 15 August 1967, Paul VI stipulated that personal prelatures should report to
the Congregation for Bishops, and that they should be established by the Roman Pontiff after
consultation with the relevant Episcopal conferences.
Opus Dei already formed a single organism made up of laity and priest cooperating in a pastoral
and apostolic task which was international in scope.
Pope Paul VI and his successors wanted a study to be undertaken of the possibility of giving Opus
Dei its definitive juridical form, corresponding to its true nature.
In 1969, a joint task force consisting of representatives of the Holy See and of Opus Dei started
investigating this possibility.
In 1981, the work was completed. The Holy See then sent a report to over 2000 bishops, in the
dioceses where Opus Dei already had a presence, so that they could add their own observations.
Once this latter phase had been completed, Opus Dei established by John Paul II as a personal
prelature of international scope. The document effecting this was the apostolic constitution UT
SIT of November 28,1982 which was formally executed on March 19, 1983. At the same time
Pope promulgated the Statutes which constitute the particular pontifical law of the Opus Dei
Prelature. The Statutes were the same as those prepared by the founder years before, with some
minor amendments necessary to adapt them to a new legislation.

Founder Born in Barbastro Spain on January 9 ,1902

ST. JOSEMARIA 1915, family relocated to Logrono, where Josemaria sensed his vocation for the first time.
ESCRIVA Studied Law for a degree
Ordained on March 28,1925, began his ministry in rural parish and afterwards in Zaragoza.
1927, moved to Madrid to work on his doctorate in law
October 2,1928 founded Opus Dei.
1946 took up residence in Rome. There he obtained a doctorate in Theology from the Lateran
University and was named consultor to two Vatican Congregations , as well as honorary member of
the Pontifical Academy of Theology and prelate of honour to His Holiness.
Died June 26, 1975
Beatified May 17,1992 by Pope John Paul II
Canonized October 6,2002 by Pope John Paul II

Successors

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BISHOP ALVARO Ordained to priesthood June 25,1944

DEL PORTILLO Doctorate in civil engineering, history and canon law
Consultor to several congregations and councils of the Holy See such as;
Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith
Congregation for the Clergy
Congregation for the Causes of Saints
Pontifical Council for Social Communications
Founded the Roman Academic Centre of the Holy Cross (Pontifical University of the Holy Cross)

BISHOP JAVIER Ordained priest on August 7,1955

ECHEVARRIA Doctorate in civil and canon law
Consultor to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints since 1981
Consultor to the Congregation for the Clergy since 1995
Ordained Bishop on January 6, 1995 by Pope John Paul II
MONSIGNOR Present prelate
FERNANDO Degree in Physical Sciences , University of Barcelona,1966
OCARIZ Licentiate in Theology , Pontifical Lateran University, 1969
Doctorate in Theology , University of Navarra,1971
Ordained priest in 1971
Consultor for the Congregation of Doctrine of Faith since 1986
Consultor for the Congregation for Clergy since 2003
Consultor for Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization since 2011
Member of the Pontifical Theological Academy since 1984
Professor in Fundamental Theology in the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross

STRUCTURAL ORGANIZATION

a) Structure
The prelate and the vicars who represent him, have jurisdiction in Opus Dei.
The prelate is the proper Ordinary of the prelature.
Character of structure collegial type of government
The prelate and his vicars are assisted in their work by councils, made up largely of laity.
The prelate is helped in his work of government by one council for women (Central Advisory) and another for
men ( General Council). Both are based in Rome.
General Congresses of the prelature are usually held every eight years, attended by members from the
countries in which Opus Dei is present. During the congress the prelate appoints new councils.
To appoint a new prelate, a general elective congress is convened. The prelate is chosen from among the
priest of the prelature who fulfill the conditions of age,length of time in Opus Dei, priestly experience, etc.
His election must be confirmed by the Pope.
The prelature is divided into areas or territories called regions. At the head of each region, is a regional vicar
and two councils: a Regional Advisory for women and a Regional Commission for men.
Some of the regions are further subdivided into delegations. Within the limits of ite territory , a delegation
has a corresponding governmental organization: a vicar of the delegation and two councils.
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Finally at the local level, there are centers of Opus Dei. Centers maybe for women or for men. Each centre is
governed by a local council which is headed by a layperson (director) and consist of two other faithful of the
prelature. For the priestly care of the faithful attached to each centre, the Ordinary of the prelature assigns a
priest from his presbyterate.
No office of government is held for life other than that of the prelate.

b) Relation with the Dioceses

The Opus Dei is a jurisdictional structure belonging to the pastoral and hierarchical organization of the
Church. It is dependent immediately and directly on the Roman pontiff through the Congregation for
Bishops.
Opus Deis Statutes lay down criteria for ensuring a harmonious relationship between the prelature and the
dioceses within whose territory the prelature carries out its specific mission. The prelature always maintains
proper relations with the diocesan authorities.
Priest of the prelature depend fully on the prelate. He assigns to them their pastoral responsibilities ,in the
fulfillment of which they closely follow the pastoral guidelines for the diocese where they live.
The lay faithful also depend on the prelate in all that refers to the specific mission of the prelature. They are
subject to the civil authorities in the same way as any other citizen, and to other ecclesiastical authorities in
the same way as any other lay Catholics.

c) Faithful of the Prelature

Opus Dei is made up of a prelate, a presbyterate or clergy of its own, and laity both women and men.
The majority of the faithful of Opus Dei are supernumerary members. Generally they are married men or
women, for whom the sanctification of their family duties is the most important part of their Christian life.
Currently supernumeraries account for about 70% of the total membership.
The rest of the faithful of the prelature are men and women who commit themselves to celibacy, for apostolic
reasons. These are the associates wo live with their families or wherever is convenient for professional
reasons , numeraries who live in centers of Opus Dei to be completely available to attend to the apostolic
undertakings and the formation of the other faithful of the prelature and the assistant numeraries with
domestic responsibilities in the centers which is their ordinary professional work.
The priest of the prelature come from the laymen of Opus Dei, numeraries and associates who are freely
disposed to be priest and after years of belonging to the prelature and having done their studies required for
priesthood are invited by the prelate to receive holy orders. Their main pastoral activity is to serve the faithful
of the prelature and the apostolic activities promoted by them.

d) Characteristic Feature
A characteristic feature of Opus Dei is its Christian family atmosphere. This is present in all activities the
prelature organizes. It is evident in the family warmth found in its centers, in the simplicity and confidence
with which the members deal with one another, in the readiness to help , the understanding, and the
kindness they always try to display in daily life.

e) Membership Distribution
The prelature is made up of more than 87,000 people of whom about 1,900 are priest. The numbers of men
and women are roughly equal. The geographical distribution is approximately as follow:
Africa- 2,000
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Asia and the Pacific 5,000

The Americas 30,000
Europe 50,000

f) Incorporation
In order to join Opus Dei a person must freely ask to do so, in the personal conviction, as stated previously,
of having received this divine vocation; and the request needs to have been accepted by the authorities of
the prelature.
The request is made in writing and admission is granted after a minimum of six months. After an additional
period of at least one year, the person can be temporarily incorporated into the prelature through a formal
declaration ofa contractual nature, which is renewable annually. After a minimum of five more years, the
incorporation can become definitive.
In accordance with the canon law , no one may be juridically incorporated into the prelature who has not
reached 18 years of age.
Incorporation into Opus Dei, on the part of the prelature, the commitment to provide the person with
ongoing formation in the Catholic faith and in the spirit of Opus Dei, as well as the necessary pastoral care
from the priest of the prelature. On the part of the person to be incorporated, it means the commitment to
remain under the jurisdiction of the prelate in all that concerns the aim of the prelature, to observe the
norms by which the prelature is governed and to fulfill the other obligations of its faithful.
The bond with the prelature ceases at the end of the term of the contract with the prelature or earlier if the
person so requests, by agreement with the authorities of the prelature. Lawful departure from the prelature
brings about the cessation of mutual rights and duties.

g) Professional and Public Activity

Joining Opus Dei prelature brings about no change in an individuals personal status. The rights and duties
he or she has as a member of civil society and the Church remain the same. The laity incorporated into the
prelature do not change their own personal theological or canonical status, that of the ordinary lay faithful,
and it is as such that they conduct themselves in all their activities. Each one acts with complete personal
freedom and responsibility and Opus Dei does not treat the decisions of its members as its own.

h) Religious and Spiritual Formation

The prelature provides its faithful with an ongoing religious and spiritual formation in a manner compatible
with each individuals professional, family and social duties.
The faithful of the prelature attend weekly classes called circles dealing with doctrinal and ascetical
topics. The monthly day of recollection involves setting aside some hours, on one day a month, for personal
prayer and reflection on topics to do with Christian life. In addition, once a year the faithful of the prelature
attend a retreat lasting between three and five days.
Similar activities are also offered to the cooperators , to the young people who take part in the apostolic
work, and to anyone else who wishes to attend.
This formation is given in the centers of Opus Dei prelature and in other appropriate places. For example , a
circle may be given at the home of one of the people who attend, and a day of recollection may be held in a
church whose parish priest permits it to be used for that purpose.

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i) Cooperators of Opus Dei

The cooperators of Opus Dei are men and women who are not incorporated into the Opus Dei prelature, but
who collaborate with the faithful of the prelature in the various educational, charitable and cultural
activities.
No vocation is required for a person to be a cooperator of Opus Dei. Generally cooperators come from
among the relatives, friends, colleagues and neighbors of the members of Opus Dei, from among those who
have devotion to St. Josemaria, those who take part in the apostolate of the prelature, or those who are
interested in the educational and social work carried out through the apostolic initiatives of the faithful of
Opus Dei.
The main contribution of the cooperators towards these ventures is that of their prayer, but they can also
help through their work or financially. They received the spiritual goods the Church grants to those who
collaborate with Opus Dei. These include indulgences , provided they observe the conditions established by
the Church. From the Opus Dei prelature they also receive the spiritual help of prayers of all its members.
They may take part, if they so wish, in the means of formation offered by the prelature, such as retreats and
circles.
Among the cooperators of Opus Dei there are some who are not Catholic, or not even Christian. These
include Lutherans, Jews, Muslims, Buddhist, as well as other men and women who are non believers or have
no religion. They are united by their desire to participate and help in many different initiatives which are
promoted in the service of the society by the faithful of the prelature in conjunction with others, and which
are always open to all.
Religious communities can also be appointed cooperators of Opus Dei. The cooperation of these
communities ( which currently number several hundred) consists of daily prayer for the work of the prelature.

j) Priestly Society of the Holy Cross

The Priestly Society of the Holy Cross is an association of clergy intrinsically united to Opus Dei . It is made
up of the clergy of the prelature, who are automatically members and other diocesan priest and deacons.
The prelate of Opus Dei is the president of the society.
The diocesan clergy who belong to the Priestly Society seek exclusively spiritual help and strive for holiness
in the exercise of their ministry according to the spirit of Opus Dei. Their membership of the Priestly Society
of the Holy Cross does not involve incorporation into the presbyterate of the prelature. Each one continues to
be incardinated to their own diocese and depends solely on his own bishop. In regard to his pastoral work
he gives an account only to his bishop.
The specific means of formation of the diocesan priest of the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross receive are
similar to the lay faithful of the prelature, such as doctrinal or ascetical classes and monthly days of
recollection. These spiritual and formative activities do not interfere with the ministry entrusted to them by
their bishops. The coordination of these activities is the responsibility of the spiritual director of the Opus dei
prelature who has governmental role in the prelature.
As in the case of lay people incorporated into the Opus dei prelature, for a priest to be admitted into the
Priestly Society of the Holy Cross he needs the inner conviction of having received a call from God to seek
sanctity according to the spirit of Opus Dei.
Some 2,000 deacons and priest incardinated in different dioceses throughout the world belong to the
Priestly Society of the Holy Cross

CHARISM AND OBJECTIVES

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a) Characteristic and Mission

The aim of Opus Dei is to contribute to that evangelizing mission of the Church, by promoting among
Christians of all social classes a life fully consistent with their faith, in the middle of the ordinary
circumstances of their lives, especially through the sanctification of their work.

b) Main Features of the Spirit of Opus Dei

Divine Filiation
Ordinary Life the ordinary Christian can seek holiness in and through the ordinary circumstances of life.
Sanctifying work, sanctifying oneself in work, sanctifying others through work.
Love for freedom
Prayer and Sacrifice

c) Apostolic Initiatives
The faithful of the prelature and the cooperators, together with many other Catholics and non-Catholics
throughout the world, set up educational, charitable and cultural undertakings, with the clear aims of
providing formation and of rendering a service to society. These include schools, hospitals, universities,
centers for professional formation, and suchlike.
The Opus Dei Prelature can enter into various types of agreements with the apostolic activities:
1. In the case of the corporate works of apostolate, Opus Dei morally guarantees the Christian
orientation of the activities they provide;
2. In other cases, Opus Dei provides spiritual help, but without officially giving any moral guarantee
as regards the formation offered. This spiritual assistance can take a variety of forms, such as
priestly ministry or religion classes.
Such agreements with the prelature do not modify the civil nature of these entities in any way.
Responsibility for their functioning and government always rests with their directors and not with the Opus
Dei Prelature.

Corporate Works of Apostolate

o Corporate works of apostolate are those that are promoted by members of Opus Dei in
collaboration with others, and bear the moral guarantee of the prelature. Opus Dei takes
responsibility for all that relates to their Christian orientation.
o Among the corporate works are secondary schools, universities, vocational training centres,
medical clinics in underdeveloped areas, school for farmers, institutes for professional education,
and student residences. Some examples are:
1. The University of Navarre, founded in Pamplona Spain in 1952. Tha Pamplona campus
has 20 departments and includes a university hospital
2. Institute for Higher Business Studies in Barcelona (business school)
3. University of Asia and the Pacific ( phiippines)
4. University of Piura (peru)
5. University of La Sabana ( Colombia)
6. Monkole, in Kinshasa, is a hospital which every year attends to thousands of people in
situations of extreme need. Attached to Monkole is the Higher Institute of Nursing which
prepares young Congolese women for the nursing profession.

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7. Punlaan, in Manila is a specialist professional school for the catering and tourist industry.
Its educational system includes direct contact with hotels and restaurants.
8. Midtown Sports and Cultural Center in Chicago, situated in a multiracial neighborhood
where many young people live, offers programmes providing academic, human, spiritual
and sportinf formation.
9. Toshi, to the west of Mexico City, is an educational institute for women in a rural area
populated by numerous ethnic groups. It offers administrative training to help women find
positions in business and public life in nearby cities.

PERTINENT ISSUES
Aggressive Recruitment
Undue Pressure to Join
Lack of Informed Consent and Control of Environment
Alienation from families