Opus Dei

The mission of the prelature of Opus Dei is the same salvific mission as that of the whole Church, carried out in conformity with a specific charism of sanctification and apostolate in professional work and in the context of ordinary life.

The prelate of Opus Dei and the prelature itself depend on the Holy See: on the Roman Pontiff and the Congregation for the Clergy.

It is the Church itself, represented by the Pope, that makes the decision to create a personal prelature, after consulting the Bishops’ Conferences, in order to serve souls more effectively. Naturally this decision requires the existence of the elements that constitute a personal prelature: a community of faithful, presided over by a prelate, with a clergy that assists him in his pastoral task, and a specific ecclesial purpose.

The new deacons come from 15 countries and were ordained today by the Prelate in the Basílica of San Eugenio in Rome. We present some excerpts from Bishop Javier Echevarría's homily along with the names of the newly ordained deacons.

“In an environment that is not very Christian, how can we stand up for what we believe in?” This question, still relevant today, was put to St. Josemaría in 1972. Here is his answer (Weekly Video: 0’44”).

""Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ." Citing words of St. Jerome, the Holy Father advised all the faithful to read a passage from the Bible each day.

My name is Hector. I’m stationed on a frigate in the Spanish Navy, and am a member of Opus Dei. When I found out that we would be conducting maneuvers in the Red Sea with a four-day stopover in one of the poorest countries in the world, a group of us officers decided to try to do what we could to help out.

“If you put love into each day, each day is different.” This is the advice Opus Dei’s founder gives to those who want to flee from routine and find God in their daily lives (video: 1’53”).

On the solemnity of All Saints, the Holy Father stressed that not only all Christians are called to sanctity, but that every human being is called to be a saint.

What work is best? “That which is done with the most love for God,” says St. Josemaría in this video where he speaks about work and serving others (1:19).