Opus Dei

After Cloti and Antonio had been married for some time, Cloti, who works at an optical store with many clients, was often asked the same question: "Don’t you have children?"

"At first, I couldn't find God in my work," says Autimio, a Brazilian dentist. He explains how, thanks to Saint Josemaría, he discovered the secret of working well: seeking to love God and others by taking care of the smallest details.

Malina learned to get along with Muslims, atheists and Christians in her own family. "My family is an example of the mix of cultures and religions that exist in my country, Malaysia," she says. Her father is an atheist, her mother is Catholic, and her sisters converted to Islam. She decided to be baptised at the age of 16. That was the beginning of a search that would eventually lead her to Opus Dei as an assistant numerary.

No two people are the same, nor are there any identical lives. Opus Dei is every person who embodies its charism, as the Prelate often reminds us. "One by One" is a mosaic of faces from around the world, telling the stories of their lives and their encounters with the Work.

Cecilia was born into a Catholic family in Ontario, Canada. The faith she received in her childhood is, to some extent, from her great-grandfather (the English intellectual Malcolm Muggeridge) and his tireless search for truth. The legacy Malcolm and his wife Kitty left their family was this spirit of inquiry and dedication. In her vocation to Opus Dei as an assistant numerary, Cecilia seeks to make people loved and valued through her professional work and to bring them closer to God.

The Genesis account tells us that Jacob spent an entire night wrestling with God. It was a physical struggle that ended with a dislocated femur… and God’s blessing. Alonso’s battle was even longer but no less hard or intense. And, just like Jacob, God won – which means that they both won.

2 February is the feast of the Presentation. Mary offers her Son to God and learns that she too will share closely in Jesus' redemptive mission.

A recollection is time spent in silence with God, talking to Him and “recollecting” who we are before Him. This is a package of resources for a recollection in your own home, including a downloadable PDF.

Anaca is an assistant numerary of Opus Dei. Her mission is to bring people together, creating a sense of family so that each person forms part of a symphony of harmony and happiness.

Marina is an assistant numerary of Opus Dei. She is involved in several social projects to help children in hospitals, distribute food to families in need, and care for elderly people. Her vocation gives unity to all these activities and motivates her to give in concrete ways, sharing God's affection with others.