Opus Dei

God is a Father, St. Josemaría tells us, who is with us both in good and not so good times, when we laugh and when we cry (Weekly Video: 00'39'').

The Pope raised his eyes and looked intently at him. "The best way to help the Church in Finland," he said, "is to do Opus Dei." Fr. Barto Menchen recalls this encounter.

Saints in ordinary life: an attractive goal for all Christians. How can we attain it? By loving our spouse, caring for our children, working with professional excellence… “And God will help us,” says St. Josemaria (Weekly Video : 01’27”).

God comes to save us. With that hope, Bishop Echevarría suggests we prepare our hearts during Advent so that Jesus will be pleased to dwell there.

November 28th marks the 25th anniversary of the Apostolic Constitution "Ut Sit," by which the Servant of God, Pope John Paul II, gave Opus Dei the canonical form of a Personal Prelature.

IIT was set up in commemoration of the centenary of the birth of St. Josemaría Escrivá, the founder of Opus Dei, a Catholic institution. He was greatly concerned about helping the less privileged members of society to improve their social conditions, such that they could obtain the needed resources to live more dignified lives.

In 1982, with the Apostolic Constitution, "Ut sit," John Paul II erected Opus Dei as a personal prelature. The following video records the first Prelate, Msgr. Alvaro del Portillo, receiving the bull "Ut sit" in the Basilica of Saint Eugene in Rome.

To give thanks to God for Opus Dei’s 25 years as a Personal Prelature, Bishop Echevarría invites the Prelature’s faithful to strive to go even more fervently to the intercession of God’s Mother during this year.

No part of the Church constitutes "a church within the Church."

Naturally this vocational requirement is not essential to personal prelatures, which could be based on very diverse circumstances, usually linked to social bonds among its faithful.