Spiritual family "The Work"

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The spiritual family "Das Werk" (Latin Familia spiritualis opus , FSO) is a spiritual community in the Roman Catholic Church that was founded in 1938 by Julia Verhaeghe (1910–1997). On August 29, 2001, papal recognition as a "family of consecrated life" took place. At the same time, the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life approved the Constitutions. This contains the legal provisions with regard to the aim of the community and its management as well as the order of life and the integration of the members (cf. can. 587 CIC ).

Structure, members and leadership

“The Work” consists of a priestly community, which includes priests , deacons and seminarians as well as lay men , and a community of women. In addition to these members in the narrower sense, the “work” also includes members in the broader sense as well as believers who are spiritually connected with the community.

“The work” is one of the new forms of consecrated life according to can. 605 CIC , to which the common norms for all institutes of consecrated life (cf. cann. 578-602 CIC ) as well as special regulations set out in the constitutions apply.

The community is led by two lifelong “internationally responsible persons”, a priest and a woman of the community. A council is at your side in the management. Together they form the "family council". There are also regional and local leaders.

After "Das Werk" hit the headlines in 2014 on suspicion of sexual assault, the Vatican ordered a visit , according to the results of which in 2017 "Das Werk" had to change. A general chapter should be set up in order to select the leadership more transparently in the future, instead of determining it through an inner circle for life.

Name and symbol

The name The Work goes back to two passages from the Gospel of John . In his life Jesus glorified the Father and performed the work of redemption, cf. ( Joh 17.4  EU ). He founded the Church so that the gift of salvation could be bestowed on people of all times and that they would worship the Triune God. The name invites the members to take part in this great mission of the Church according to the word: "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he sent" ( Jn 6:29  EU )

The symbol of the “work” is a crown of thorns , the thorns of which are directed upwards. It is seen as a symbol of the atonement of the spiritual pride from which Jesus Christ redeemed people through his suffering . The female members wear a crown of thorns with a white veil during the festive divine prayers .

"Holy Covenant"

The members in the narrower sense make a “holy covenant” with the Heart of Jesus in the three evangelical councils , through which they consecrate themselves to God (cf. establishment decree). The integration takes place in the following chronological sequence: After a period of getting to know each other, the first “holy covenant” is concluded. It is followed by the “holy covenant in virgin love” in a public celebration, which is usually presided over by a bishop, after a time interval set by the constitutions. The members receive a white choir coat, which is worn during the liturgy. After at least one and at the latest three years, the member concludes the “holy alliance in the three evangelical councils” in an internal celebration. After at least three more years, the "eternal alliance" is concluded or the member is finally incorporated into the community. Members in the broader sense make a “holy covenant” with the Heart of Jesus appropriate to their state of life and which is regularly renewed.

Founder

Julia Verhaeghe was born on November 11, 1910 in Geluwe in West Flanders , Belgium . Her childhood overshadowed by the events of the First World War , her happy and cheerful nature and her religious upbringing shaped her significantly. Her spirituality was shaped in particular by the “Eucharistic Children's Crusade” of the Belgian priest Edward Poppe , by her membership of the Third Order of Carmel and by the Catholic action in Belgium, from which she later distanced herself because she considered it too superficial and spiritual considered their engagement too politically oriented. She wrote numerous letters and writings. Throughout her life in poor health, she still reached old age. After the establishment of the first branches outside Belgium, she lived for a few years in the House of the Community in Rome , in Innsbruck and Bregenz , largely withdrawn from the public. She died on August 29, 1997 in the Thalbach monastery in Bregenz, where she is buried in the monastery church.

Branches

  • Belgium:
Maison Damas, Place de Villers-Saint-Amand 2, 7812 Ath - the first branch of the “factory” and the only one of the first places of activity that have survived to this day.
Moeder Julia-huis, Moerput 7, 8940 Geluwe - home of the Verhaeghe family.
  • Austria:
    Thalbach Monastery, Bregenz
Thalbach Monastery , Thalbachgasse 10, 6900 Bregenz - was handed over to the "work" in 1983 in agreement with the responsible church authorities by the Dominican Sisterswho had been there since 1797and is the largest center of the community and the seat of those responsible internationally. Cardinal Leo Scheffczyk is buried inthe monasterycemetery.
Paulusheim, An-der-Lan-Straße 33a / 74, 6020 Innsbruck.
“Das Werk”, Brünnerstraße 9/1/5, 1210 Vienna and Cottagegasse 58, 1190 Vienna.
Parish of St. Sebastian, 6800 Gisingen.
  • Italy:
Piccola Casa, Via Aurelia 257, 00165 Rome - in the service of the Generalate of the White Fathers since 1965 , from 1975 establishment of the “Center of Newmanfriends”.
Collegium Paulinum, Via di Val Cannuta 32, 00166 Rome
Collegium Paulinum, Rome
- Seminary of the “Work”.
  • Netherlands: Huize Het Korenveld, Wilmenweg 1A, 6447 AW Merkelbeek.
  • Germany: “Das Werk”, Clemens-August-Straße 6, 81673 Munich, since December 2012 also in the Diocese of Limburg .
  • France: La Famille Spiritual “L'Oeuvre”, 43, rue Saint Nicolas, 33800 Bordeaux.
  • Israel: La Famille Spiritual “L'Oeuvre”, St. Anne's, 91190 Jerusalem.
  • England: Ambrose Cottage, 9 College Lane, Littlemore Oxford OX4 4LQ - Memorial to John Henry Newman .
  • Ireland: The Spiritual Family The Work, Bishop's House, Letterkenny, Co Donegal.
  • United States: The Spiritual Family The Work, Mother Julia House, 419 East 13th Street, New York, NY 10009 - at the Permanent Mission of the Holy See to the UN , also in Erie, Pennsylvania.
  • Slovenia: Duhovna družina "Delo", Kotna pot 8, Voglje, 4208 Šenčur.
  • Hungary: A "Krisztus Ügye" Lelki Család, Városkuti út 1 / a, 1125 Budapest.

Orientation and goals

In the establishment decree by the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life of August 29, 2001, it says: “The aim of the 'work' is to reflect the Church in praise of the Triune God and for the salvation of men to be and to testify to their supernatural beauty as the body of Christ and the family of God. Rooted in the Holy Eucharist, the source of unity with God and with one another, and in fidelity to the Successor of Peter and sound doctrine, the members want to help people understand more deeply the mystery of the Church and in love for her in the face of the signs be strengthened over time. In their contemplative and apostolic vocation and in their mission to sanctify the world, they are guided above all by the example of St. Paul and imitate his love for the Lord and his body, the Church. They also look with confidence to the Holy Family of Nazareth, in whom they see the true example of unity and complementarity in spiritual fatherhood and motherhood. "

reception

Cult-like structure

In the past, the “work ” was accused of having a “ sect-like structure” by former members . After the sect commission of the Belgian Chamber of Deputies had dealt with it, the then Justice Minister Tony Van Parys announced on September 10, 1998 that the proceedings had been terminated. Parys relied on the results of the investigation by the public prosecutor in Tournai, quoted from the report of the king's procurator of July 30, 1998 and stated that it was "a classic Christian community".

In 2014, the non-fiction author and priest Hermann-Josef Frisch again raised the charge of sect resemblance, as did the Englishman Darren Canning and a former priest of the work.

Sexual abuse

In the same year the book No More Me was published. The true story of a young religious (Edition a, Vienna), in which Doris Wagner , who had left the community, described her experiences. Cardinal Schönborn had a long conversation with Doris Wagner in January 2019. She is also one of the five protagonists in the film #Female Pleasure (2018).

The Order deeply regretted that “a priest in our community had had a brief intimate relationship with the then 24-year-old sister”. Due to Wagner's allegation of sexual harassment , which he denied, FSO member Hermann Geißler resigned as head of the theological department in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in January 2019 .

Interim injunction against Arte TV

On April 20, 2019, a court issued an injunction prohibiting the broadcaster Arte from continuing to present the film God's Abused Servants , which was broadcast on March 3, 2019, in its media library, whereupon it was removed. On the other hand, Arte goes to court. The spokesman for the spiritual family “Das Werk” in Bregenz , Father Georg Gantioler , told the Catholic News Agency that a lawyer from the community had obtained an injunction against Arte TV, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and Deutschlandfunk .

literature

  • Annuario Pontificio 2012. Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2012, ISBN 978-88-209-8722-0 . Pp. 1690-1691.1891.
  • Joseph Ratzinger: Living Jesus' founding thoroughly. Sermon at the Thanksgiving Mass for the papal recognition of the spiritual family “The Work”. In: Collected Writings. Vol. 8/1: Church - Signs Among the Nations: Writings on ecclesiology and ecumenism. Herder, Freiburg 2010, ISBN 978-3-451-30218-3 , pp. 423-427.
  • John Paul II: Messaggio alla Famiglia spirituale “The Work”. Dovete servire la Chiesa e l'uomo gioiosamente. In: Insegnamenti di Giovanni Paolo II , XXIV / 2, 2001. Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2003, ISBN 88-209-7457-6 , p. 692.
  • Philip Boyce: Das Werk , article in: Marienlexikon , ed. by Remigius Bäumer and Leo Scheffczyk, Vol. VI. EOS Verlag, St. Ottilien 1994, ISBN 3-88096-896-9 . P. 714.
  • Leo Scheffczyk: Sections from a testimony about mother Julia Verhaeghe. In: Maria Katharina Strolz, Peter Willi: She loved the church. Pp. 293-300; engl .: She loved the Church. Pp. 203-208; Italian: Ha amato la Chiesa. Pp. 203-208.
  • Rik Devillé, “Het Werk. A Catholic sect? ”Van Halewyck, Leuven 1996, ISBN 90-5617-089-9 .
  • Maria Katharina Strolz, Peter Willi: She loved the church. Mother Julia and the beginnings of the spiritual family “Das Werk”. Self-published, Bregenz 2005, ISBN 3-9502071-0-4 ; engl .: She loved the Church. Mother Julia Verhaeghe and the Beginnings of the Spiritual Family The Work. Family Publications, Oxford 2009, ISBN 978-1-871217-87-2 ; Italian: Ha amato la Chiesa. Madre Giulia Verhaeghe e gli inizi della famiglia spirituale "L'Opera". Vita & Pensiero, Milano 2007, ISBN 978-88-343-1498-2 .
  • Lutgart Govaert: The work Article in: Lexicon for Theology and Church , 3rd edition. Vol. 10. Herder, Freiburg 2001, ISBN 3-451-22010-5 , Sp. 1094

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ The Spiritual Family “The Work” - Foundation and History
  2. ↑ The Spiritual Family “The Work” - Papal Approval
  3. ↑ Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger delivered the sermon at the Thanksgiving Mass on November 10, 2001: Joseph Ratzinger: Living Jesus' Foundation Thoroughly. Sermon at the thanksgiving mass for the papal recognition of the spiritual family “Das Werk” , in: Gesammelte Schriften. Vol. 8/1: Church - Signs Among the Nations: Writings on Ekklesiologie und Ökumene , Herder, Freiburg 2010, ISBN 978-3-451-30218-3 , pp. 423-427
  4. ^ Cf. Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life: Decree of Establishment. In: Maria Katharina Strolz, Peter Willi: She loved the church. Mother Julia and the beginnings of the spiritual family “Das Werk”. Self-published, Bregenz 2005, ISBN 3-9502071-0-4 , pp. 275-277; engl .: She loved the Church. Mother Julia Verhaeghe and the Beginnings of the Spiritual Family The Work. Family Publications, Oxford 2009, ISBN 978-1-871217-87-2 , pp. 193-194; Italian: Ha amato la Chiesa. Madre Giulia Verhaeghe e gli inizi della famiglia spirituale "L'Opera". Vita & Pensiero, Milano 2007, ISBN 978-88-343-1498-2 , pp. 193-194.
  5. ↑ The Spiritual Family “The Work” - A Spiritual Family
  6. ↑ The institutes of papal law that have been established in this form so far are listed in the Annuario Pontificio 2012: Altri Istituti di vita consacrata , pp. 1690–1691. It says: "Ai precedenti Istituti di vita consacrata si aggiungono le nuove forme di vita consacrata," con cui la bontà di Dio arricchisce la sua Chiesa perché segua il suo Signore in perenne slancio di generosità, attenta agli appelli di Dio che si rivela mediante i segni dei tempi »(cfr. Esortazione Postsinodale del Beato Giovanni Paolo II Vita Consecrata del 25 mar. 1996, n. 62). Dette forms hanno una struttura che, inglobando gli elementi essenziali della consacrazione, si organizzano tuttavia in maniera diversificata delle norm del CIC (cfr. Cann. 604–605). "( Note storiche. P. 1891.)
  7. ↑ See Annuario Pontificio 2012. Altri Istituti di vita consacrata , Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2012, ISBN 978-88-209-8722-0 . P. 1690.
  8. ↑ The appointment of the two superiors for life is carried out according to the procedure laid down in the constitutions.
  9. ↑ "The work" has to change statutes according to the visitation , on kathisch.de from September 1, 2017.
  10. ↑ John Paul II: Messaggio alla Famiglia spirituale “The Work”. Dovete servire la Chiesa e l'uomo gioiosamente. In: Insegnamenti di Giovanni Paolo II , XXIV / 2, 2001. Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2003, ISBN 88-209-7457-6 , p. 692. Philip Boyce: The work. Article in: Marienlexikon , ed. by Remigius Bäumer and Leo Scheffczyk, Vol. VI. EOS Verlag, St. Ottilien 1994, ISBN 3-88096-896-9 . P. 714.
  11. ↑ The Spiritual Family “The Work” - Symbol
  12. ↑ Cf. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger on the symbol of the crown of thorns: Joseph Ratzinger: Jesu Foundation Thoroughly Live. Sermon at the Thanksgiving Mass for the Papal Recognition of the Spiritual Family “The Work” In: Gesammelte Schriften. Vol. 8/1: Church - Signs Among the Nations: Writings on ecclesiology and ecumenism. Herder, Freiburg 2010, ISBN 978-3-451-30218-3 , p. 426: “This crown is the true royal crown with which Christ identifies himself as the true Lord of the world and shows us the face of the living God, love and forgiveness is for us even into death. Through communion with the suffering Christ we are in the midst of the tribulations of this time in communion with his glory, the glory of love: love is stronger than suffering than death. "
  13. ^ Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and for Societies of Apostolic Life: Errichtungsdekret , in: Maria Katharina Strolz, Peter Willi: Sie Liebte die Kirche , p. 275.
  14. ↑ The Spiritual Family “The Work” - A Spiritual Family
  15. ↑ Sermon by Bishop Gregor Maria Hanke at a choir mantle celebration in 2009 (PDF file; 59 kB)
  16. ↑ Cf. Maria Katharina Strolz, Peter Willi: She loved the church. Mother Julia and the beginnings of the spiritual family “Das Werk” , self-published, Bregenz 2005, ISBN 3-9502071-0-4
  17. ↑ Leo Scheffczyk: Sections from a testimony about mother Julia Verhaeghe. In: Maria Katharina Strolz, Peter Willi: She loved the church. Pp. 293-300
  18. ↑ La Famille Spiritual “L'Oeuvre” - Adresses
  19. ^ Note from the Archdiocese of Vienna
  20. ^ Parish of St. Sebastian Gisingen
  21. ^ The International Center of Newman Friends - Rome ( Memento of August 28, 2011 in the Internet Archive )
  22. ↑ Press release diocese of Limburg ( Memento of June 14, 2013 in the Internet Archive )
  23. ^ The Catholic Church of The Holy Land
  24. ^ The International Center of Newman Friends - Littlemore
  25. ^ Diocese of Raphoe - Religious Houses
  26. ^ The Spiritual Family The Work sisters arrive in Erie Diocese
  27. ^ Parish of Šenčur
  28. ↑ Maria Katharina Strolz, Peter Willi: She loved the church. P. 276.
  29. ↑ http://daswerk-info.blogspot.com/
  30. ^ Sect process of the Belgian parliament 1997, p. 157ff. (PDF file; 38.69 MB)
  31. ↑ See files of the Belgian House of Representatives, 49th session, session 1997-1998, Thursday 10 September 1998, short report of the public commission meeting, C 630 Justice, afternoon - official translation.
  32. ↑ Hermann-Josef Frisch: Not church sheep, but courageous Christians. Patmos Publishing Group , August 26, 2014. ISBN 978-3-8436-0547-2
  33. ↑ Michael Weiß: Das Werk: Dropouts raise serious allegations , in: orf.at of November 8, 2014.
  34. ↑ Conversation between Cardinal Schönborn and Doris Wagner , br.de, accessed on February 7, 2019
  35. ↑ kath.net: “Das Werk” comments on allegations from ex-sister, November 9, 2014; accessed on February 7, 2019
  36. ↑ The clergyman is said to have sexually molested the religious woman at confession. Stuttgarter Zeitung of January 29, 2019
  37. ↑ Head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith resigns. kath.net from January 29, 2019
  38. ↑ Benjamin Emonts: Arte removes abuse documentary from the program. In: Süddeutsche Zeitung . April 23, 2019, accessed April 27, 2019 .
  39. ↑ Christiane Florin: Spiritual Abuse - "I fit into the loot scheme". In: Deutschlandfunk . January 28, 2019, accessed April 27, 2019 .
  40. ^ Temporary injunction against the station "Arte" - Catholic community "Das Werk" had the abuse film blocked. In: kathisch.de . April 27, 2019, accessed April 27, 2019 .