Letter from the Prelate on the Motu Proprio Regarding Personal Prelatures

The Prelate of Opus Dei writes about the August 8 Motu Proprio of Pope Francis regarding personal prelatures.

08/10/2023

Pdf: Letter from the Prelate on the Motu Proprio Regarding Personal Prelatures

My dear children: may Jesus watch over my daughters and sons for me!

As you will have seen, the day before yesterday Pope Francis published a letter in the form of a Motu proprio about personal prelatures. In it, modifications are made to two canons in the Code of Canon Law, in line with what is established in Praedicate evangelium, on the reform of the Roman Curia, and the Motu proprio Ad charisma tuendum.

I am writing to share with you that we accept with sincere filial obedience these provisions of the Holy Father, and to ask you that we all remain closely united in this as well. Thus we follow the spirit with which Saint Josemaría and his successors accepted any provision of the Pope related to Opus Dei. Since the Work belongs to both God and the Church, the Holy Spirit is guiding us at all times.

Moreover, the Motu proprio dated August 8 must also be taken into account in adapting and updating the statutes of the Work, which has been underway for a year. Therefore I now renew the request for your prayers that I addressed to you several months ago, so that this work may come to fruition. I would also like that each day, with God’s grace, the realization of being children of the Church, brothers and sisters of a united family who seek to embody in their lives the message received by Saint Josemaría, may be strengthened in us. Let us be apostles who magnanimously sow understanding and charity, with the joy that comes from encountering our Lord.

The modifications established in these canons refer to the general law regarding personal prelatures. In the addition that refers to the laity (Opus Dei's reason for being: ordinary Christians in the middle of the world, who seek God through their professional work and ordinary life), the fact that they are faithful of their dioceses, like any other Catholic, is made explicit. In the case of the Work, moreover, they are members of this supernatural family, thanks to a specific vocational call.

Lastly, I encourage you to continue accompanying me on my pastoral trip in the upcoming days in Australia and New Zealand, as I recently requested, and to have recourse to our Lady’s motherly intercession on the approaching solemnity of the Assumption of Mary.

Your Father blesses you with all his affection.