Opus Dei

Jillian is 26 years old. The joy she saw in others drew her to discover her own vocation in Opus Dei. “I see the world through new eyes, finding God in my daily work and simple acts of love.”

Mirian, from Brazil, is 34 years old and is a gynaecologist and obstetrician. She is married and has a three-month-old son. She was an associate of Opus Dei for a time, until, after a period of reflection in which she always felt supported and understood, she saw that her path lay elsewhere.

Mark first encountered Opus Dei in the 1990s but hesitated to say yes to God for decades, convinced he wasn’t ready. A retreat finally helped him realise that God does not call the perfect but helps the called to grow in holiness. Today, as a husband, father, and portfolio manager, he finds joy in prayer, strength in his work, and more presence with his family and those around him.

Gustavo was going to be a notary, but thanks in part to his vocation to Opus Dei, he discovered that his true calling was in the world of communications. He has worked with brands such as Warner Music, L’Oréal, Vocento, and Bankinter, and with artists and public figures including Alejandro Sanz, Chambao, Miguel Bosé… and Pope Benedict XVI. He was the one who convinced the Vatican to open a Twitter account, and he says the happiest day of his life was when @pontifex sent out his first tweet.

Laura is 31 and lives in Valencia, Spain. She learned to pray when she was very young, and that shaped the rhythm and substance of her decisions. For her, responding to her vocation as a numerary was the beginning of a path she now walks in her work an administrator in Opus Dei, a role in which she combines her passion for creativity, communication, and care.

Dani describes herself as a very competitive person who always aspired to more in life. She still sets high goals for herself, but now her perspective has changed: "Opus Dei has totally changed my life, because it's given me a different perspective on why we are here in the world."

Shiró is happiest spending time with people: “I need people, and feeling that they need me makes me want to give the best of myself. No man is an island... We need each other.” This openness led her to start her studies in healthcare, and later move to hospitality and catering in her country, Kenya. She also started a social initiative to help street children. All these experiences confirmed her vocation to Opus Dei as an assistant numerary.

Biomedical scientist Renata Silvestre describes how her vocation is intertwined with her work in advanced cell therapy, battling cancer while living the spirit of Opus Dei in her daily life. In her story, science and faith are both sources of inspiration and reasons for commitment.

Mónica was born in Cochabamba, in a family that represented "the rainbow of Bolivia," since her father was from La Paz and her mother from Santa Cruz. She studied at the German School and later in Buenos Aires, where she graduated with a degree in Agricultural Engineering from UBA. Subsequently, she studied philosophy and earned a master’s degree in teaching it. She has been involved in development projects and teaching, and tells us that her specialty is "change."

How can we love Christ, a living person we do not see? And how can we love others as He loved us? In both marriage and celibacy, the Holy Spirit transforms our senses to make our hearts more like his.