A question that lingers in your mind is: why? Why did I make that decision? Why did I get it wrong? Why did I fail? And I think that’s a mistake.
I am the second of seven siblings. My parents are not members of Opus Dei, but they strongly believed in the spiritual formation it offered. So, they encouraged all of us to go to the club, receive formation, and also take part in activities to build a group of friends there.
That’s how I came to know Opus Dei, and in 2009, I decided to ask for admission as an assistant numerary. The years went by, and I moved to the center of studies, where I stayed for an additional year. But then, my body began to speak. With great affection and care, I shared what I was experiencing, and I was accompanied through the process until I finally made a decision—one that was very difficult for me because I deeply love the vocation of an assistant numerary.
I was supported throughout. It was a tough process. I refocused on discerning what the Lord wanted for me at that moment. When I decided to share my thoughts with my parents, I arranged to meet with my mother. When I told her that I was experiencing many doubts, she said to me, “Inma, in times of darkness, do not make changes.” She encouraged me to take some time to rest that summer, assuring me that when I reached a decision, they would support me in whatever I chose.
After the summer, I was set to go on an Erasmus program in Ireland, partly to gain some distance from both families — Opus Dei and my own home — so that, without being surrounded by so many people who knew me, I could try to see my life more objectively, reflect on who I was, and listen to what God wanted for me at that moment.
The Lord arranges everything so well. In Ireland, He placed people in my path who were a great help. They treated me with so much kindness and accompanied me through that time of discernment, understanding that I was only there for a short while and that my ultimate goal was to return home, where my parents were. That was a powerful lesson for me. That’s why, when I say that Opus Dei is made up of people, I usually add that they are generally very good people.
A question that lingers in your mind is: why? Why did I make that decision? Why did I get it wrong? Why did I fail?
When you recognize your worth simply for who you are, you are truly free to make decisions. We are body, soul, and mind. With all the help I received from both my natural family and my Opus Dei family, I learned to understand the signals my body was sending me: the headaches, the back pain, the sudden food intolerances… I began to piece together the puzzle and finally realized that my vocation was not the one I had been living.
Earlier, I said that I love the assistant numerary vocation deeply, and I say it in the present tense, not the past, because I still love it. I believe their role is to go unnoticed—but perhaps not entirely, right? I think we need to highlight their presence within Opus Dei because, in my everyday life, I see their reflection in my mother. She embodies the motherly role within families—the spirit of service, of being there even when tired or having a bad day, of asking, “How are you? What do you need?” If you need to see a doctor, she goes with you. It’s about being present in those small, hidden details of daily life that may go unnoticed but ultimately make a house a home.
When I hear friends or others who were part of Opus Dei speaking negatively, I understand their pain. But I also see that they haven't been able to distinguish Opus Dei itself from what causes harm. Opus Dei is made up of human beings—people like me—who, unintentionally, because they have their own stories, can make mistakes and hurt others. Once you understand this and forgive, you realize that Opus Dei is always there and always will be.
Looking back, I don’t regret those nine years at all because I believe that I, Inma, am who I am, personally, professionally, and spiritually, thanks to both my family and my Opus Dei family. And I believe that, even if the Lord asks something different of me now, my place is still within this family that is the Work. Because for me, it is a clear path to encountering the Lord in moments of everyday life.