Vatican writer´s fair and balanced assessment of Opus Dei

Cath News ^ | 30 Mar 2005 | Cath News

[Always Right]

An interview with Allen in Newsweek focuses on the book´s role as an answer to the view of Opus Dei in Dan Brown’s best-selling thriller, The Da Vinci Code. Opus Dei, it says, is a secretive society of men and women who have sought political power to further the interests of a wealthy elite.

Here I always thought Opus Dei was a secret society of former freepers.

[sinkspur]

How many friends do you have in the Work?

Yikes! Is that what it's called?

I knew some folks who followed Werner Erhard's "EST" stuff in the 80s, and they called it "The Work."

[juzcuz]

Opus Dei is paganistic
--
Agree, .. Did Christ put on his own crown of Thorns? Did Jesus scourge himself?
Seems masochistic practices reminiscent of the Dark Ages. St. Augustine found that no matter how much he beat himself he could not earn reward. Martin Luther found the same thing. These Monks were indoctrinated into the lie that they could earn points with God if they mortified the flesh. Praise Almighty God who reached down upon these men (inspite of themselves) an allowed them to understand the FREE Grace of God which they could never earn by penance. If we could become more divine by killing our flesh, then we would not need GOD and the work he did. We would become our own little gods.

Satan enjoys nothing better than sight of man helping Him mortify God's creation.

[Campion]

I knew some folks who followed Werner Erhard's "EST" stuff in the 80s, and they called it "The Work."

Fallacy of naming? :-0 You certainly know enough Latin (I hope!) to know that "Opus Dei" means "Work of God". If you call it "Opus," everyone thinks you're talking about classical music or a penguin in the comics, so people call it "the work".

[sinkspur]

You don't think the corporal mortification is a problem?

It can be, given certain personality types.

The scrupulous and obsessive-compulsives will, naturally, think that if a little is good, a lot is better.

Virtue always lies in the middle. Leaders of these organizations must diligently watch for abuses.

[sinkspur]

I'm just a little uncomfortable with the shorthand, that's all.

[FourtySeven]

For a more comprehensive debunking of The Da Vinci Code, read The Da Vinci Hoax, published in 2003. (I can't recall the authors offhand). It's a very good read, and informative about early church history also.

[onyx]

BUMP.
Bravo!
Thank you.

[Campion]

1 Cor 9:27 - But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

The word in Greek translated here "discipline" literally means the blow under the eye intended to knock out a boxer. Look it up.

[juzcuz]

1 Cor 9:27 - But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection

Here, Paul is talking about living a temperate modest life as a role model to other Christians. He's definitely not telling us that we have to BEAT our selves.. If he promoted that than he would have been denying JESUS as his savior. Jesus who delivered him from all his sins.

Romans (8:3): For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh.. on the account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh. (ON THE CROSS)
(8:4) That the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the spirit.

We are free from having to beat our flesh to gain Sanctification. JESUS sanctified us.

[solitas]

Goody for you.

[blu]

Goody for you.

Wow! What a comeback! I am so glad I was courteous in my post to you.

[Domestic Church]

JPII himself has said that all suffering in the light of Christ is salvific...this is a Catholic perspective not just the view of Opus Dei.

[solitas]

You're looking for better? Look somewhere else. You solicited my answer to your question first - I didn't post to you first.

Good. Bye.

[Campion]

Here, Paul is talking about living a temperate modest life as a role model to other Christians.

That isn't what he says, though. That may be what you want to believe he said, or what your theology tells you he should have said, but that is not what he actually wrote.

He's definitely not telling us that we have to BEAT our selves.. If he promoted that than he would have been denying JESUS as his savior.

That's quite illogical. In fact, people who engage in corporal mortification (or any other kind) do so in order to share in the Passion of Christ, not "deny" it in any sense. Quite logically, if you love someone and see them suffering, it is quite natural to want to take some of that suffering upon yourself. It's even more natural if you know that you are, in part, the cause of that suffering.

[Campion]

Just as a point of information, I've been told that corporal mortification is not supposed to be done without the permission of one's confessor.

Our own chaplain is fond of reminding us that any kind of mortification can be abusive if it makes you, e.g., grouchy instead of Christlike.

And I honestly didn't know what a cilice was until we discussed the Da Vinci Code over dinner one night.

[Campion]

Why are they so secretive? What is there to be secretive about?

I don't know how they do things in New York, but down here in Nashville, all of our Opus Dei events and gatherings are so darn secretive that they're open to anyone, including non-Catholics. It says so right on the announcements they send out.

Now don't tell anyone I told you, 'kay?

[juzcuz]

Paul didn't demonstrate to the early Christians how to BEAT themselves. None of the writers of the New Testament talk of Self Mutilation (wearing spikes in legs, Christian blood letting, or self crucifixion) as a role model for Christians who were set FREE IN JESUS.

However, they did suffer tremendous torchers when they were fed to LIONS as sport. That suffering was from an outside force not something they inflicted upon themselves. This they did suffer because could not deny the LOVE they found in GOD.. Again Self Mutilation is a Lie from the DEVIL.