History of Opus Dei

Opus Dei is a personal prelature of the Catholic Church, founded in 1928 by Spanish priest St. Josemaría Escrivá. Its…

By Staff , in Religion , at October 1, 2024 Tags: 1928, religion

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Opus Dei is a personal prelature of the Catholic Church, founded in 1928 by Spanish priest St. Josemaría Escrivá. Its full name is The Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei, which translates to “The Work of God” in Latin. Opus Dei’s primary mission is to promote the idea that all people are called to holiness, and that everyday work and life can be a path to sanctity when done with a spirit of service to God and others.

Founding (1928)
Opus Dei was founded by Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer, a Spanish priest, on October 2, 1928 in Madrid, Spain. According to Escrivá, he experienced a divine inspiration that showed him how God wanted people to sanctify their lives through work and everyday activities. The term Opus Dei, meaning “Work of God” in Latin, reflects this core idea that ordinary work can be a means of serving God and attaining holiness.

Escrivá’s mission was to help Catholics live their faith fully, not just in churches or monasteries, but in their everyday environments — at work, with family, and in social life. This concept was groundbreaking at the time because it emphasized the role of laypeople (those not part of the clergy) in the pursuit of holiness.

Early Growth (1930s-1940s)
Opus Dei initially faced many challenges. The 1930s were a tumultuous time in Spain, with the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) leading to anti-religious violence. Escrivá was forced to flee from persecution during this period. Despite these hardships, he continued to spread his message, especially through personal spiritual direction.

In 1930, he extended the work of Opus Dei to include women, a significant decision that emphasized the universal call to holiness. By the 1940s, the organization started to gain more recognition, especially among university students and young professionals in Spain.

Expansion and Vatican Support (1950s-1970s)
The 1940s and 1950s marked a period of international expansion. Escrivá moved to Rome in 1946, from where he directed the growing organization. Over the next decades, Opus Dei established itself in several countries, including Portugal, the UK, the US, and various Latin American nations.

In 1950, Opus Dei received formal approval from Pope Pius XII, which helped legitimize the movement within the Catholic Church. This period also saw Opus Dei members, particularly numeraries (celibate members), becoming prominent in professional, academic, and political fields.

Becoming a Personal Prelature (1982)
One of the most significant moments in Opus Dei’s history came after the death of St. Josemaría Escrivá in 1975. He was succeeded by Álvaro del Portillo, who led Opus Dei through a critical phase of its formal relationship with the Vatican.

In 1982, Pope John Paul II granted Opus Dei the status of a personal prelature, a unique legal structure in the Catholic Church. This meant that Opus Dei operated independently of the local dioceses and reported directly to the Pope. It was the first (and remains the only) organization to hold this specific status. The personal prelature allowed Opus Dei to more freely pursue its mission, emphasizing that ordinary Christians could live out their faith in everyday life.

Canonization of Josemaría Escrivá (2002)
Josemaría Escrivá’s legacy was honored by Pope John Paul II when he was canonized as a saint in 2002, less than 30 years after his death. His writings, particularly The Way, a collection of spiritual maxims, became widely read and influential.

Opus Dei in Contemporary Times
By the late 20th and early 21st century, Opus Dei had grown into a global organization with approximately 90,000 members worldwide. It has become involved in numerous educational and social initiatives, including universities, schools, and technical institutes.

Controversy and Public Perception
Despite its successes, Opus Dei has faced criticisms over the years, including accusations of secrecy, elitism, and a conservative, hierarchical structure. These criticisms were heightened by the popularity of Dan Brown’s novel The Da Vinci Code (2003), which portrayed Opus Dei in a negative light, depicting it as secretive and extreme. While the portrayal was fictional and inaccurate, it brought public attention to the organization, prompting efforts from Opus Dei to clarify its mission and practices.

Current Leadership and Role in the Church
Today, Opus Dei remains a significant spiritual and educational force within the Catholic Church. Its current prelate, Fernando Ocáriz, was appointed by Pope Francis in 2017. Opus Dei continues to expand its reach in various countries, emphasizing the integration of faith into everyday professional and family life. It remains aligned with the broader teachings of the Church while focusing on the sanctification of work and the layperson’s role in the Church.

Throughout its history, Opus Dei’s main contribution has been the emphasis on the universal call to holiness, making it one of the most distinctive and impactful movements in the Catholic Church today.