Opus Dei

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The seal of Opus Dei

The Opus Dei ( Work of God ), officially since 1982: Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei (Latin Praelatura Sanctae Crucis et Operis Dei ), is a Roman Catholic institution (Latin Institutio ) that was founded on October 2, 1928 by the Spanish Priest Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer y Albás was founded.

Escrivá's goal was the “sanctification of work” and the “Christianization of society”. Celibate men joined his initiative. In 1930 he gave it the name Opus Dei . In the same year he established the celibate department. In 1943 he founded the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross within the men's department. He was their only member for a year, until three other Opus Dei members were ordained priests. Since around 1950, married lay people have also been able to belong to Opus Dei.

In 1941 the Archbishop of Madrid recognized Opus Dei as a pious association (Pia Unio) . In 1950 it was approved by Pope Pius XII. elevated to a secular institute of the Catholic Church and in 1982 by Pope John Paul II through the Apostolic Constitution Ut sit to a personal prelature , which is subordinate to the Vatican Congregation for Bishops . The constitution begins with the hope that Opus Dei will be "a powerful and effective instrument of its salvation mission for the life of the world" for the Catholic Church. According to the statutes of Opus Dei (Codex Iuris Particularis Operis Dei) in force since 1982 , the target groups of the organization are “people of all professions and classes of civil society, especially those who are called intellectuals”. In 2019 it had 94,300 members, including 2,100 priests and higher ecclesiastical dignitaries, in 69 countries. Its headquarters are at Villa Tevere in Rome .

history

Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer y Albás, founder of Opus Dei

Josemaría Escrivá, who saw himself as a Spanish patriot as well as a Catholic, looked for ways to consolidate students and employees in the Catholic faith and to protect society from secularization. Intellectual Catholic men were not the only target group he wanted to reach, but in time they were the first. He found comrades-in-arms among influential friends and acquaintances, wrote letters to priests and laypeople, and worked on the aristocracy.

In 1934 his first publication, Consideraciones Espirituales, appeared . With the end of the Spanish Civil War, the booklet Camino was created , in which the spirituality of Opus Dei is summarized. The German translation came onto the market in 1957 under the title Der Weg . The second edition followed in 1962. Since the third German edition, the text of the way has been weakened in some cases considerably compared to the literal translations of the first two editions, while the other editions of the Spanish Camino came out unchanged. When churches were destroyed and priests and religious were persecuted in the Spanish Civil War in the republican part of the country, Escrivá fled to the part of Spain occupied by General Franco in 1937 . The experiences of the civil war had had a decisive influence on him and Opus Dei, reported the English priest Vladimir Felzmann, who came from the Czech Republic and had left Opus Dei in 1982 on West German Broadcasting (WDR) in 1984 . In 1965 Escrivá asked him to translate his book Camino into Czech, the language in a " communist Eastern Bloc state ". In a conversation with him at the end of the 1960s, he had partially apologized for Hitler and even played down the Holocaust because Hitler had intervened in the Spanish civil war in favor of Franco and thus helped to save Spain from communism and for Christianity . For him it was not "Hitler against the Jews , Hitler against the Slavs ", but Hitler against communism. "Opus Dei spokesmen rejected Felzmann's statements because they" do not consider it plausible "that Escrivá had made such statements . Escrivá held "un curso de retiro" (Catholic "days of contemplation") for the Franco couple "at the beginning of the forties." In 1946 he gave them another " annual retreat ". Further meetings between Escrivá and Franco have been recorded for 1953 and 1962 In the 1950s, Opus Dei became an important pillar of the political system of Franquism , displacing the nationalist Falange . In 1957, three Opus Dei members were appointed ministers in Franco's government, and in 1962 another was added (see also List of Well-known Opus -dei members ). In the last years of Franco are ten of the 19 cabinet members who belonged to the Opus Dei. As members of the organization but are for the Franco era, only the four mentioned safely proven.

Escrivá himself abstained from direct political influence. However, he is accused of having been an admirer of Franco and of showing a closeness to fascism in his work The Way . Similar to the situation in other European countries, Spanish Catholicism was not opposed to authoritarian forms of government at the time. However, Escrivá demanded that all members should act freely in the Christian sense to the best of their knowledge and belief .

In 1945 Opus Dei began working in Portugal . A year later Escrivá moved the headquarters of his work from Madrid to Rome , in the center of the Catholic Church. There the organization started its worldwide expansion, initially in the Spanish and Catholic countries Mexico , Argentina , Chile , Venezuela , Colombia , Peru and Ecuador . In 1950 it was the first institution of the Catholic Church to enable members of other denominations to participate (see below). In 1952 Opus Dei began work in the Federal Republic of Germany , in 1956 in Switzerland and in 1957 in Austria .

Organization and rules

University of Navarra in Pamplona
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The organization of the personal prelature and the principles according to which Opus Dei and its members operate are set out in the Vatican and internal regulations of Opus Dei. For the secular institute Opus Dei the Latin " Constitutiones " (German: " Constitutions" ) applied. According to Roman Catholic church law , the personal prelatures each have their own " statutes ". On November 28, 1982 Pope John Paul II enacted the Latin “ Codex Iuris Particularis Operis Dei ” (statutes) for the newly established personal prelature Opus Dei , which replaced the “Constitutions” .

In addition, the first prelate (head) of the Opus Dei personal prelature, Alvaro del Portillo , published seven extensive brochures internally between 1985 and 1990 with regulations and standards that can be traced back to the founder Escrivá and determine the life of the members. Five of them are written in Spanish, the two most important in Latin: 1. “De Spiritu et de piis servandis Consuetudinibus, 9-IV – 1990, Romae”, 2. “Regulae internae pro Administrationibus, Romae MCMLXXXV”. The institutions and activities of women are mentioned in the Opus Dei Administratio ("Administration"). The constitutions were kept secret at the time they were in force and were only published in full in 1986. The internal regulations of del Portillo have been made public since 1992 and 1995 against the will of Opus Dei in extracts and in German translation.

The set of rules of Opus Dei provides information about the hierarchy and life of the individual member groups - from the structure of the organization and instruction of lay members by the priests, the role of women, the use of penal instruments (scourge) and book censorship to the formation of capital by members and establishing foundations.

Membership structure

It is shown in the statutes . Opus Dei is divided into two sections, one for men and one for women. The women's section is "strictly" "separated" from the men's abbot. The clergy of Opus Dei belong to the male department and also form the top management group (" numerarians ", see below) of the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross .Priests and seminarians of the dioceses can join it without becoming members of Opus Dei. While the clergy of the prelature is subordinate to the prelate in a spiritual and institutional way and belongs fully to it, the laity are institutionally subordinate to the local bishop. They are under the jurisdiction of the prelate with regard to all matters relating to the fulfillment of their particular ascetic, educational and apostolic obligations, which they have voluntarily undertaken through the commitment to dedicate themselves to the aim of the prelature.

admission

Admission to Opus Dei takes place in three stages. At the earliest at the age of sixteen and a half, the applicant sends a registered letter to the prelate of Opus Dei and asks for admission at the age of 17. He indicates which member group he would like to belong to. The head of a country or region ( regional vicar) carries out the simple admission (Admissio). After one year there is preliminary incorporation (oblatio) and after five years final incorporation (fidelitas), which must be confirmed by the prelate of Opus Dei. During the provisional and final incorporation, the prelature and the candidate assume mutual rights and obligations before two witnesses in a formal declaration which Opus Dei classifies as a “ contract ”.

When the constitutions were in force (1950-1982), young people could become members at the age of 15. Analogous to Catholic Church Law (CIC) , this is no longer possible. Now fourteen and a half year old Opus Dei candidates write to the responsible regional vicar and ask to be accepted into Opus Dei at the age of 17. They are then "aspirants" and introduced to the inner workings of the intended, usually celibate, group of members. The affiliation of young people to the organization has led to international conflicts, especially since Opus Dei leaders have advised them to keep their steps a secret from their parents.

Types of Membership

The statutes distinguish three types of members in both departments: numerarians, associates and supernumerarians.

The male numerarians have two groups: 1. clerics of the personal prelature (including seminarians as aspirants), 2. lay members.

The numerarians who are lay members also consist of two groups: 1. "Numerariae" (= numerarians) and 2. "Numerariae Auxiliares" (= numerar assistants), who have been referred to as "auxiliary numerarians" in the German-language Opus Dei for some time .

The names of the clerical numerary, if they are cardinals, bishops and papal honor prelates are i m Pontifical Yearbook . In addition, the names of the priests in those are dioceses where the personal prelature has officially established a center, usually in the schematisms called (personal directories) of the respective diocese. Since the lay members of Opus Dei are not supposed to reveal their membership to the outside world - with the exception of some members of the central management and local directors - the percentage shares of the individual groups in Opus Dei can only be estimated from outside.

In the statutes of Opus Dei, the employees (see below) are also listed under the "Believers of the Prelature", although they are not members of Opus Dei.

Numerarians

The numerarians are the most important membership group in Opus Dei. The term numerarian is derived from the Spanish "Miembro numerario" (countable, full member). Numerarians are celibate male and female members who mostly live in the centers or in corporate institutions of Opus Dei “with the greatest possible personal availability”. Almost without exception, they are academics who should also have an academic title if possible. People suffering from a chronic illness cannot be admitted to Opus Dei as numerarians - unlike associates and supernumeraries. The task of the numerarians within Opus Dei is to take on management tasks and to train the members. Laypeople among them are sometimes also active in civil professions, e.g. as doctors, university lecturers and bankers, while clerics, who are basically supposed to provide pastoral care in Opus Dei, sometimes take on tasks in dioceses as priests, bishops and cardinals as well as in the Vatican curia. When entering Opus Dei, the numerarians transfer their inheritance to the organization in a will. This is called "Christian detachment". Possible income in professional life, with the exception of pocket money, goes to Opus Dei.

Numerarian priests and diocesan clergy

Numeraries of the male department selected by the prelate of Opus Dei, seldom also celibate associates (see below), start studying theology at the Roman University of Opus Dei, the Pontificia Università della Santa Croce , at the earliest at the age of 25, and then become Degree ordained a priest . They should be available for pastoral work in Opus Dei. The head of the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross , to which they then belong, is the prelate of Opus Dei. The rules of the priestly society are contained in the statutes of Opus Dei . The diocesan clergy who join it without becoming a member of Opus Dei apply for membership by registered letter to the Prelate of Opus Dei, the Superior General (Latin: Praeses Generalis) of the Society of Priests. Some of them are also trained at the Roman University of Opus Dei. In the dioceses they are organized in circles and assigned to specific centers. In contrast to the names of the priests among the numerators, the membership of the priests, bishops and possibly also cardinals who have joined Opus Dei through the priestly society is not published in the Pontifical Yearbook ( Annuario Pontificio ) or in the diagrams of the dioceses.

Auxiliary numerarians

The auxiliary numerarians, who belong to the member group of numerarians, only perform manual work or domestic duties such as cooking and cleaning in the facilities of the Opus, which numbered 1980 worldwide in 2019. You can receive home economics training in appropriate facilities of the organization. According to some authors, their chances of advancement within the work are worse.

The number of numeraries is around 20 percent. Estimates for the numerary groups: clerics 2.5-3%, male laymen 10%, female numerarists 3%, female numerarists 6%

Associate

Associate members in both departments are exclusively lay people who, like the numerarians, lead a “life of apostolic celibacy”, but who live outside the houses of Opus Dei due to professional or family responsibilities. As a rule, they have no higher scientific education. They "take on all tasks and obligations like the numerarians". The number of male associates is estimated at 15%, that of women at 10%.

Supernumerarians
This article treats supernumerarians as members of Opus Dei. For the terms “supernumerary Droste” and “supernumerary Amtmann” see Amtmann .

Supernumerarians (surplus, newcomers) take part in the assignment and tasks of Opus Dei like numerarians and associates, but live - like associates - in their own house due to professional and family obligations. Unlike numeraries and associates, they can get married or are married. However: "As far as they are men, they observe the same rules of life as numerarians and associates". An applicant wishing to become a numerarian or associate will initially be admitted as a supernumerarian. If someone turns out to be unsuitable as a numerarian or associate, he can become a supernumerarian. The proportion of supernumerarians is estimated at 30 to 35 percent and the proportion of female supernumerarians at 20 to 25 percent.

Retirement

A member who wishes to leave the organization needs the approval of the Opus Dei prelate. Former members report that the pressure that has been exerted on them in some cases is strong to prevent them from leaving. In addition, a member can be excluded, whereby voluntary resignation should first be suggested. After resignation or exclusion, a member cannot make any claims to the personal prelature for work or financial contributions.

Employee

The employees of Opus Dei are recorded in the statutes like the three groups of members under the title “ Believers of the Prelature ”. They should "participate in the work of Opus Dei through prayer, donations and their work". Members of other denominations and religions can also become such “employees”. According to the statutes , employees "who do not profess Catholic truth and who nonetheless support Opus Dei through their own work or donations" are to be "gently but effectively led to a Christian spirit" by the "believers of the prelature" of the statutes of "Opus Dei eV ", which was founded by the management of the German Opus Dei, the employees make an "annual" monetary contribution to support the corporate works "of Opus Dei. The deceased can also be accepted as employees if" in Her name is given an alms for the purposes of the prelature. "Numerous employees of Opus Dei are united in one organization. In 2005 the number of employees worldwide was 164,000.

Known members

management

At the head is the prelate of Opus Dei . According to the Opus Dei statutes , he is elected for life by the General Congress of the Men's Department, which is convened as an electoral congress , and appointed by the Pope . At the time of his election he must be a numerary priest of at least 40 years of age and have a doctorate in Catholic theology . Members of the Congress who have been appointed for life cannot be younger than 32 years. The eight numeraries of the “ Central Advisory Board for the Female Department ”, which has been labeled the “Central Assessorate ” of Opus Dei by the German-language Opus Dei for some time , forward nominations to the congress.

The General Council has been set up to support the prelate (Latin "ad Praelatum adiuvandum") in running Opus Dei. Its male celibate members are dispatched from Opus Dei regions around the world. Five members must be present for his decisions, which he can make for the entire organization. The “ Permanent Commission of the General Council ”, which is based in the central Roman seat and is always ready for action , which consists of five priests, can call in a celibate layman from the male General Council for decisions that are not directly related to matters of the priesthood . The eight-member Central Advisory Board and three priests head the women's department. Your general congress can only negotiate women's affairs, but not, like the general congress of men, hold elections for leading positions in the organization as a whole.

The central Roman leadership of the personal prelature establishes regions , each comprising one country or several countries. First, the consent of a diocesan bishop is required for the area of ​​his diocese . As a rule, other dioceses are added. A “ regional vicar” - a numerary priest who is called by the prelate - becomes head of the region .

Fernando Ocáriz Braña, prelate of Opus Dei since 2017

Previous leaders of Opus Dei or prelates of the Personal Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei:

Pope John Paul II appointed the Prelates del Portillo (1990) and Echevarría (1994) titular Bishops of the Roman Catholic Church.

Centers

On every continent there are educational and social organizations that are shaped by the spirituality of Opus Dei: schools, vocational training centers, universities, aid organizations, hospitals. In some of them, priests of Opus Dei were given pastoral care. The spiritual training in the centers is the responsibility of Opus Dei. There are also retreats and retreats here.

At the instigation of Opus Dei, individual or several members jointly set up their own training centers, e.g. for agriculture, schools, student dormitories, business schools (for example the IESE Business School in Barcelona), cultural centers and from donations or what the numerarians earn for the community two universities in Pamplona and Piura .

Discipline and "life plan"

All members adhere to a so-called “life plan”, which is usually referred to by the term “norms”. These are specific prayers and spiritual exercises that are intended to structure everyday life and enable the laity to sanctify daily life and work. All members are called to strive for holiness , also and especially in the inconspicuous things of everyday life .

Norms

The monthly retreat and the annual retreat are also part of the requirements.

In addition to the norms, there are certain daily or weekly habits, e.g. B .:

Numerarians also practice ascetic exercises , such as wearing a penitential belt ( silicon ) for two hours a day and weekly mortification in the sense of self-flagellation.

Members receive a comprehensive theological education, which is taught partly individually and partly in small groups. There are weekly group meetings (“circle”) for spiritual education and regular discussions with the spiritual guide (usually a numerarian for men or a numerarian for women). The members also take part annually in an educational event lasting several days or several weeks (the one-week "convivence" for supernumerarians and the two or three-week "annual course" for numerarians and associates). This combines theological and spiritual training with community life and leisure activities.

Finances

Opus Dei's net worth was estimated in a 2005 article by Irish independent at around $ 2.8 billion.

distribution

The focus of Opus Dei is in Spain as well as in the Spanish-speaking area of ​​Latin America and Italy.

Most of the members live and work in their self-chosen circumstances and professions . On the part of the prelature, the members who are allowed to marry are not given any instructions as to which profession should be practiced. In contrast, there are requirements for unmarried numerarists - similar to religious orders with vows of obedience, where superiors can influence the type of professional exercise. For internal considerations, numerarians are asked to give up a job in order to devote themselves entirely to the educational or management work of Opus Dei, or because the job takes too much time to be able to participate in the spiritual life of the other numerarians.

The Opus Dei in Spain

Since the end of the Spanish Civil War , Opus Dei has been trying to recruit young intellectuals , initially mainly at the universities of Madrid and Barcelona . There, students from the Catalan bourgeoisie who had been repulsed by the nationalist Falange were popular. In 1952 it founded its own university in Pamplona / Iruña ( Navarra ), whose focus was on global subjects such as medicine and law, and in Barcelona it set up a management school based on the Harvard Business School . The graduates of the business school got through the National Industry Institute , a state holding company that held stakes in many companies, in management positions in the economy. In 1956 Laureano López Rodó became head of the newly created "Technical General Secretariat in the Office of the Head of Government". In this office he set economic commissions and planning bodies, which he consistently filled with members and sympathizers of Opus Dei. In 1957, Franco reshuffled the government, replacing 12 of 18 ministers. Mariano Navarro Rubio and Alberto Ullastres, members of Opus Dei, became ministers for trade and finance; Luis Carrero Blanco , his most important sponsor, rose to the position of State Secretary in the office of Prime Minister. Since 1962, the entire banking system has been under the control of the Bank of Spain , headed by Mariano Navarro Rubio. It became a domain of Opus Dei, personal loans to its members and companies became the norm. This enabled him to take over publishing houses, newspapers, printers, advertising agencies, radio stations, insurance, finance and investment companies, a film company, private schools and student dormitories. Opus Dei became "the most influential collaborationist movement within the church"

Opus Dei played a key role in the 1959 economic structure law, known as the "Stabilization Plan", aimed at a controlled economic opening of Spain while maintaining the Francoist dictatorship, and cleverly presented itself as the author of the law.

  • According to the constitutions of Opus Dei, which were in effect from 1950 to 1982, members are required to strive for leading positions as part of an elite: “Public offices are special means of the apostolate of the institution, especially those that require leadership. In order to achieve this, it is necessary for our people to stand out as authorities in their professions and to work tirelessly to acquire a scientific education. "
  • One of the 999 sayings from El Camino (English: “ The way ”), the programmatic essay Escrivá de Balaguer, reads: “You - become a dozen person? Belong to the big bunch? You were born to be a leader! "

The aim of Opus Dei was a “conservative modernization” of Spain: necessary reforms should be limited to the economic sector in order to be able to maintain the political conditions of Franquism. Critics called it a "holy mafia" because of its influence and discretion. After 1965, Opus Dei increased its grip on the universities, where the unrest increased. There was now pressure for a ban on the CCOO union , which came in 1967. In 1969, several members were involved in a financial scandal involving MATESA , a textile machine factory in Pamplona / Iruña, and Opus Dei member Juan Vilá Reyes was arrested. In the following government reshuffle, however, its influence increased further; because eleven out of 18 ministers were members or sympathizers of Opus Dei, one spoke of a "monochromatic government". In December 1973, Carrero Blanco, who had since been appointed head of government and successor by Franco, was murdered in an ETA assassination attempt . The subsequent dismissal of Opus Dei representative López Rodó from the cabinet was seen as an admission that the policy of the Opus Dei ministers to replace political democratization with economic reforms had failed, and as a good omen for political easing because that In the last Franco years, Opus Dei intensified the repression against workers, students and regional opposition, but this ran counter to its original goals: the repression led to more politicization.

In the post-Franco era, members of Opus Dei were active in leading positions in Spanish politics. The Environment Minister of the Partido Popular government elected in 1996 , Isabel Tocino, and its Defense Minister Federico Trillo, but also a member of the Basque regional party Eusko Alkartasuna in the Basque Parliament, are members of Opus Dei. In the cabinet of José Maria Aznar from 2000 and partly still in the cabinet of Mariano Rajoy , the ministers Juan José Lucas (at times also President of the Senate), Cristóbal Montoro , José-Maria de Michavila, Margarita Mariscal de Gante and Romay Beccaría were or are considered opus -Dei members. There is also a close personal connection with the third largest Spanish bank, Banco Popular Español (BPE).

The Opus Dei in Germany

In Germany, Opus Dei is known as Opus Dei e. V. registered in Cologne. Opus Dei has around 600 members in Germany.

Opus Dei found intercession in the Archdiocese of Cologne, among others . The parish of St. Pantaleon in Cologne was given to Opus Dei in 1987 by the then Archbishop of Cologne , Cardinal Joseph Höffner . His successor, Cardinal Joachim Meisner , declared in 2002: “[…] our cathedral is almost an Escrivá memorial. And I am deeply grateful to my predecessors, Cardinal Joseph Frings and Cardinal Joseph Höffner, for bringing the seeds that were then sown here to our Archdiocese of Cologne, as Opus Dei, the work of Escrivá, was able to gain a foothold here. His companions have become an indispensable part of the life and work of our archdiocese and our fatherland. ”An Opus Dei member, Stephan Georg Schmidt (1962–2013), was appointed press spokesman for Cardinal Meisner and his vicar general Dominik Schwaderlapp in 2006 Appointed Archdiocese of Cologne . The diocesan priests of the priestly society, whose superior general (lat: Praeses Generalis) is the Roman prelate of Opus Dei, are organized in circles and assigned to specific centers. The most prominent German cleric, who earned his doctorate at the Opus Dei University in Rome, is Meisner's successor, the current Archbishop of Cologne , Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki . In 2018 he appointed Markus Hofmann , a member of the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross of Opus Dei, as Vicar General of the Archdiocese and thus his personal deputy.

Opus Dei operates facilities for young people, students, trainees and adult education institutions at various locations in Germany.

The Opus Dei in Austria

The work of Opus Dei in Austria began in Vienna in 1957. Centers of the plant followed in Graz (1968), Salzburg (1983), a conference center in Markt Piesting (1984), as well as Innsbruck (1987), Dornbirn and Linz (1999). The apostolic work in Hungary (Budapest since 1992) and in Romania (Bucharest since 2009) is also supervised by the regional management for Austria. The prelature in Austria had around 400 members in 2018. The regional management is based in Vienna.

The Opus Dei in Switzerland

The work of Opus Dei in Switzerland began in 1956 in Zurich. Further centers were then established in Freiburg i. Ue. (1966), Geneva (1975), Lausanne (1991) and Lugano (1997). The “Tschudiwiese” conference center in Flumserberg Tannenheim is available to her for educational work. The prelature had around 300 members in 2018. The regional management is based in Zurich.

Associated organizations and institutions (selection)

According to the company, the following are closely connected with Opus Dei:

criticism

Critics accuse God's work of a strong, very conservative political orientation, as well as secrecy, opaque financial behavior and extreme practices of self-mortification. Opus Dei can be described as a secret organization after a ruling by the Swiss Federal Court . Michael Schmidt-Salomon sees a “potential threat to democracy”. In the inner-Catholic criticism in the 1960s, the Swiss theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar called Opus Dei the “strongest integralist concentration of power” that exists in the Catholic Church today. Therefore in 1986 the German Opus Dei accused him of "an irrevocable, apparently persistent error". For the former Regensburg Catholic dogmatics professor Wolfgang Beinert , a long-time companion of Joseph Ratzinger, who later became Pope Benedict XVI. , the personal prelature Opus Dei embodies "in a very pure form the type of [Catholic] 'rational' fundamentalism ".

Self-flagellation and other penance exercises

This article or the following section is not adequately provided with supporting documents ( e.g. individual evidence ). Information without sufficient evidence could be removed soon. Please help Wikipedia by researching the information and including good evidence.
Cilicon - penance belt

Numeraries and associates contribute - according to a statement in the internal magazine "De spiritu et de piis servandis consuetudinibus" (no. 125) - except on Sundays and public holidays two hours a painful day cilice ( Cilicium ) and perform weekly mortification with a 5- tailed hand scourge made of knotted ropes. So they should "chastise and discipline the body". Some opponents also use theological arguments to dispute that the “glorification of pain” preached in Opus Dei is compatible with Christian ideas. It is pointed out that in his main work, The Way , the founder preaches that pain is holy and pain is noble.

The organization does not deny the existence of physical penance in the organization. In a mild form, she continues an asceticism that has been used by Paul, through countless saints like Thomas More or Dominic, to our time like Pope Paul VI. , Hans Urs von Balthasar , Oscar Romero , Pater Pio and Mother Teresa and is also known in the other religions. It is understood as participation in Jesus' work of redemption, as a means to be able to do good even when it is difficult, and as a way of sacrifice and mortification. As in the past and partly still today in religious orders, the penal methods mentioned only affect celibate people. For the non-celibate supernumerarians, self-conquest in small everyday things is decisive.

For political orientation

Antonio Fontán , Spanish journalist and member of Opus Dei, who fought for freedom of the press and democracy under Franco and was repeatedly persecuted by the regime. Fontán later became the first Senate President of Spain's Democracy.

Opus Dei is classified as very conservative and sometimes as politically right-wing . This assessment, which has been widespread since the late 1960s, is based on the fact that various members of Opus Dei worked in the Franco regime ( see section "Opus Dei in Spain") . In Peru, Opus Dei supported President Fujimori and the candidate of the conservative alliance Unidad Nacional , Lourdes Flores , in the 2006 presidential elections , and it was also represented in the leadership of the alliance. Opus Dei is also said to have been associated with the Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet , under whom it experienced a strong upswing. The organization is said to have had a major impact on the drafting of the Chilean constitution of 1980 . In 1984, Jürgen Roth and Berndt Ender , in their book Dunkelmänner der Macht, suspected Opus Dei's involvement in arms deals, the spread of anti-communist ideology and reactionary resistance against the Allende government . They received requests to cease and desist, in which Opus Dei prevailed in court as well as partially in a trial against a contribution by Roth about Opus Dei and the arms trade for the ARD television magazine "Monitor" (WDR).

Critics complain, Escrivá's book The Way directly criticize the ideas of the Enlightenment and preach blind obedience to superior leaders. The organization also maintains an unofficial version of the index of forbidden books , the abolition of which the relevant congregation officially approved in 1966, and even censors books. This contradicts the principles of modern western societies.

Influencing

According to the journalist Peter Hertel, Opus Dei grades the faithfulness of young leadership candidates within the Catholic Church (and even those of the Popes) in order to be able to exert a targeted influence in the church sector.

This view could be supported by the fact that, because of the secrecy that Opus Dei exerts vis-à-vis the public, little concrete information is known about the Opus and many questions remain unanswered. Escrivá's main work Der Weg devotes a whole chapter to the “ virtue of discretion ”, but with regard to interpersonal relationships.

Responses to the criticism

It is known that Escrivá, at the instigation of the Archbishop of Madrid, gave the Franco couple religious instruction in the early 1940s. Vázquez de Prada reports in his Escrivá biography (see bibliography) that he used this opportunity to speak clearly to Franco's conscience and to remind him of the divine judgment.

The criticism of Opus Dei was u. a. questioned by Jürgen Steinle . He states that the accusation that Opus Dei strives for power was first raised by the Falangist side. When Franco wanted to modernize the Spanish economy in the 1950s, he brought technocrats into his cabinet - including those who were members of Opus Dei - and sidelined the traditionalist Falange . Steinle quotes Walther L. Bernecker : “Wherever possible, they tried to maintain their positions and to push back the influence of Opus Dei. […] Opus Dei was occasionally accused of resemblance to Freemasonry , compared the work of God to a multi-armed, secretly operating octopus that spanned the whole of Spain. ”According to Steinle, this view, which was promoted by the opponents of the Francoist modernization policy, is still valid today .

conspiracy theories

Opus Dei is the subject of various, in some cases mutually exclusive, conspiracy theories that are mainly spread on the Internet . In it the organization assumes that it strives for dominion over the church or the whole world. Right-wing extremists rumored that it was in truth a Jewish organization (“Opus Judei”), that Escriva was of Jewish origin. On the contrary, left-wing critics assume that Opus Dei spreads anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial . The conspiracy theories surrounding Opus Dei are shaped by anti-large church attitudes and can also be found in contemporary literature. Scattered supporters of such theories want in Dan Brown's conspiracy thriller The Da Vinci Code ( The Da Vinci Code ) even see a factual report. In his book, a member of Opus Dei commits several murders to get secret information. In an interview with the daily newspaper Welt, the German Protestant theologian Matthias Klinghardt criticized the supporters of such conspiracy theories surrounding Opus Dei for being "half-educated among those who despised religion".

literature

Literature from the founder and members of Opus Dei

  • José Antonio Abad: The Priestly Society of the Holy Cross, Ed .: Information Office of the Prelature Opus Dei in Germany, Cologne 1996, ISBN 3-00-000761-X . José Antonio Abad is a priest of Opus Dei.
  • Peter Berglar : Opus Dei - life and work of the founder Josemaria Escriva. 4th edition, Adamas, Cologne 2005, ISBN 3-925746-67-6 . (1st edition: Otto Müller Verlag, Salzburg 1983, ISBN 3-7013-0652-4 ).
  • Salvador Bernal: Msgr. Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer. Records of the founder of Opus Dei. Adamas-Verlag, Cologne 1978. ISBN 3-920007-48-4 .
  • Josemaría Escrivá : The way . 12th edition, Adamas, Cologne 1982, ISBN 3-920007-67-0 .
  • Josemaría Escrivá: Conversations with Msgr. Escrivá de Balaguer , interview volume, 4th edition, Adamas, Cologne 1991, ISBN 3-925746-00-5 .
  • Josemaría Escrivá: Meeting Christ . 6th edition, Adamas, Cologne 2006, ISBN 3-925746-64-1 .
  • Josemaría Escrivá: Friends of God . 2nd edition, Adamas, Cologne 1980, ISBN 3-920007-56-5 .
  • Amadeo de Fuenmayor et al. a .: The prelature Opus Dei. On the legal history of a charism. Presentation, documents, statutes . Ludgerus Verlag, Essen 1994, ISBN 3-87497-198-8 . Amadeo de Fuenmayor is a priest of Opus Dei.
  • Beat L. Müller: The personal prelature Opus Dei at a glance. Ed .: Information office of the Opus Dei prelature in Switzerland. 5th, completely revised edition, Zurich 1998. ISBN 3-9520531-2-0 . Beat L. Müller is a priest and media officer for the Opus Dei Prelature in Switzerland.
  • Dominique Le Tourneau: The Opus Dei. Christiana-Verlag, Stein am Rhein 1988, ISBN 3-7171-0900-6 , Dominique Le Tourneau is a priest of Opus Dei.
  • César Ortiz (ed.): Josemaria Escriva - Profile of a founder figure. Adamas, Cologne 2002, ISBN 3-925746-89-7 . (Contributions include: the Cardinals Degenhardt , Koch , Meisner and Scheffczyk as well as the Bishops Braun , Küng and Lettmann .) César Ortiz-Echagüe Rubio is a priest of Opus Dei.
  • Martin Rhonheimer: Transformation of the world. On the topicality of Opus Dei. Adamas Verlag, Cologne 2006, ISBN 3-937626-04-2 . Martin Rhonheimer is a priest of Opus Dei.
  • Pedro Rodriguez, Fernando Ocariz , Jose Luis Illanes: The Opus Dei in the Church. Ecclesiological Introduction to the Life and Apostolate of Opus Dei. Bonifatius-Verlag, Paderborn 1997, ISBN 3-87088-998-5 . The authors are priests of Opus Dei.
  • Andrés Vázquez de Prada: The founder of Opus Dei. Volume 1: The Early Years ; Volume 2: The Middle Years ; Volume 3: The Roman Years . Adamas, Cologne 2001 and 2004, ISBN 3-925746-90-0 .

Opus Dei Critical Literature

  • Corrado Augias : The Secrets of the Vatican , chap. XVI Das Werk Gottes, Verlag CH Beck Munich 2011, ISBN 978-3-406-61363-0 .
  • Wolfgang Beinert (Ed.): "Catholic" Fundamentalism: Heretical Groups in the Church ?. With contributions by Ludwig Bertsch SJ, Peter Hertel , Heinrich von Soden-Fraunhofen and with a text by Hans Urs von Balthasar . Pustet, Regensburg 1991. ISBN 3-7917-1286-1 . (Pages 148-163: Opus Dei.)
  • Véronique Duborgel: In the Hell of Opus Dei - translated from French by Dietmar Scharmitzer and Sonja Papp. 144 pages, format 12 × 19.5 cm paperback ISBN 978-3-85167-234-3 .
  • Discepoli di Verita (Ed.): "You killed". The power struggle of the lodges in the Vatican. Structure , Berlin 2004, ISBN 3-7466-8122-7 .
  • Joseph JM Garvey, Willibald Feinig: Parents guide through the Opus Dei . In: Javier Ropero: Under the spell of Opus Dei - families in the ordeal . Pages 265 to 344. Benziger, Düsseldorf 1995, ISBN 3-545-21100-2 .
  • Paulus Academy (Hrsg.): Opus Dei: Stosstrupp of God or “Holy Mafia”? Power and influence of Opus Dei in Switzerland and elsewhere. 2nd edition, NZN-Buchverlag, Zurich 1992, ISBN 3-85827-091-1 . With contributions by Peter Hertel, among others .
  • Peter Hertel : "I promise you heaven." Spiritual claim, social goals and ecclesiastical significance of Opus Dei . Patmos Verlag, Düsseldorf 1985. ISBN 3-491-77632-5 . (Revised and expanded new edition, 4th edition 1991, ISBN 3-491-77804-2 ).
  • Peter Hertel: Secrets of Opus Dei, classified information-backgrounds-strategies, 3rd edition, spectrum volume 4386, Herder, Freiburg im Breisgau 1996, ISBN 3-451-04386-6 .
  • Peter Hertel: Creeping takeover. Josemaría Escrivá, his Opus Dei and the power in the Vatican, Publik-Forum Verlagsgesellschaft, Oberursel 2002. ISBN 3-88095-119-5 . ( Creeping takeover, Das Opus Dei under Pope Benedict XVI, revised and supplemented 4th edition 2009, ISBN 978-3-88095-161-7 .)
  • Peter Hertel: Benedict's raiding party. Opus Dei and the German Pope. Audiobook CD. Hoerscheiben, Karlsruhe 2005.
  • Robert Hutchison: The Pope's Holy Mafia. The growing influence of Opus Dei. Droemer Knaur, Munich 1996, ISBN 3-426-26738-1 .
  • Alfred Kirchmayr, Dietmar Scharmitzer: Opus Dei - God's madhouse? 2nd edition Edition Va bene, Klosterneuburg / Vienna 2008, ISBN 978-3-85167-215-2 .
  • Matthias Mettner: The Catholic Mafia: Church secret societies reach for power , Hoffmann and Campe, Hamburg 1993, ISBN 3-455-08524-5 . (2nd edition, Knaur, Munich 1995.)
  • Alberto Moncada : Historia Oral del Opus Dei. Plaza & Janes Editores. SA ,, Primera edición: Octubre, 1987 Barcelona, ISBN 84-01-33337-7 .
  • Maria del Carmen Tapia: Behind the Threshold - A Life in Opus Dei . A shocking report from one woman. Benziger, Zurich 1993, ISBN 3-545-21069-3 . (Goldmann, Munich. ISBN 3-442-12657-6 .) Cf. Manfred Müller: Blessed is the torture priest. In: Der Spiegel. May 1, 1993. On Escrivá's role in the interrogation of Maria del Carmen Tapia.
  • Klaus Steigleder: The Opus Dei, an interior view . Zurich 1983, Munich 1996, ISBN 3-545-21040-5 , The Opus Dei, an interior view . In: Der Spiegel . No. 37 , 1983 ( online - excerpt).
  • Michael Walsh: The Secret World of Opus Dei. Power and influence of an organization in the shadow of the church, Wilhelm Heyne Verlag, Munich 1992, ISBN 3-453-05227-7 .

Literature recommended by Opus Dei

Web links

Commons : Opus Dei  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Self-portraits

Critical representations

Response to criticism

Remarks

  1. ↑ a b c d e John Paul II, Pope: Constitutio Apostolica Sanctae Crucis et Operis Dei - Ut sit (Apostolic Constitution Ut sit of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei), AAS 75 1983-I (Official Journal of the Vatican), Città del Vaticano 1983, pp. 423-425.
  2. ↑ In terms of canon law, Opus Dei has been a personal prelature since 1982 (cf. Codex Iuris Canonici (Roman Catholic Canon Law), CIC 294–297), the only organization of this kind to date. Catholic personal prelatures are “clerical special-purpose associations ” consisting of “ clerics ” ; “Lay people can also belong to them” (see Heribert Schmitz: Die Personalprälaturen, in: Handbuch des Catholic Kirchenrechts . Ed .: Joseph Listl, Hubert Müller, Heribert Schmitz. Friedrich Pustet, Regensburg 1983, ISBN 3-7917-0860-0 , p . 526 f . ) You are in 1966 with the Motu proprio Ecclesiae sanctae of Pope Paul VI. and are intended to enable special pastoral works for certain groups or regions (see Apostolic Constitution Ut sit . Opus Dei Switzerland, March 5, 2006).
  3. ^ A b Salvador Bernal: Msgr. Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer. Records of the founder of Opus Dei . Adamas-Verlag, Cologne 1978, ISBN 3-920007-48-4 , p. 103 and 151-155 .
  4. ^ Salvador Bernal: Msgr. Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer. Records of the founder of Opus Dei . Adamas, Cologne 1978, ISBN 3-920007-48-4 , p. 110 .
  5. ^ Salvador Bernal: Msgr. Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer. Records of the founder of Opus Dei . Adamas, Cologne 1978, ISBN 3-920007-48-4 , p. 135 f .
  6. ^ Salvador Bernal: Msgr. Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer. Records of the founder of Opus Dei. Adamas-Verlag, Cologne 1978, ISBN 3-920007-48-4 , p. 145-150 .
  7. ^ Salvador Bernal: Msgr. Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer. Records of the founder of Opus Dei . Adamas, Cologne 1978, ISBN 3-920007-48-4 , p. 149 .
  8. ^ Peter Hertel: Creeping takeover. The Opus Dei under Pope Benedict XVI. revised and supplemented 4th edition. Publik-Forum, Oberursel 2009, ISBN 978-3-88095-161-7 , p. 9 .
  9. ^ Salvador Bernal: Msgr. Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer. Records of the founder of Opus Dei . Adamas-Verlag, Cologne 1978, ISBN 3-920007-48-4 , p. 243 .
  10. ^ Salvador Bernal: Msgr. Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer. Records of the founder of Opus Dei . Adamas-Verlag, Cologne 1978, ISBN 3-920007-48-4 , p. 248 .
  11. ^ Peter Hünermann, Bernd Jochen Hilberath: Herder's Theological Commentary on the 2nd Vatican Council . Volume 4. Verlag Herder, 2016, ISBN 3-451-28562-2 : Apostolicam actuositatem; Dignitatis humanae; Ad gentes; Presbyterorum ordinis; Gaudium et spes
  12. ^ Joseph Listl, Dietrich Pirson: Handbook of the State Church Law of the Federal Republic of Germany. Volume 1. 2., completely revised edition. Publishing house Duncker & Humblot, Berlin 1994, p. 294 ff.
  13. ↑ Handbook of Catholic Church Law. 3. Edition. Verlag Pustet, 2015, ISBN 978-3-7917-2723-3 , § 61, p. 901 ff.
  14. ↑ Apostolic See (Ed.): Codex Iuris Particularis Operis Dei (Codex of the Special Law of Opus Dei), Title 1, Chapters 1, 2 § 2 . Città del Vaticano November 28, 1982.
  15. ↑ a b c Apostolic See (Ed.): Annuario Pontificio per l'Anno 2019 (Papal Yearbook 2019) . Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Città del Vaticano 2019, ISBN 978-88-266-0263-9 .
  16. ↑ Michael Walsh: The secret world of Opus Dei. Power and influence of an organization in the shadow of the church, Wilhelm Heyne Verlag, Munich 1992, ISBN 3-453-05227-7 , pp. 29-53 ("The origins").
  17. ↑ José M. Escrivá: The way . 2nd Edition. Adamas-Verlag, Cologne 1962.
  18. ^ Peter Berglar: Opus Dei - the life and work of the founder Josemaría Escrivá, Otto Müller Verlag, Salzburg 1983, ISBN 3-7013-0652-4 , pp. 156-172.
  19. ↑ a b Vladimir Felzmann: Necessary clarifications, in: Ritter against Rot und Teufel (transcript of the WDR), WDR 3 (radio), November 3, 1984, editor: Leo Waltermann.
  20. ↑ Vladimir Felzmann, quoted in: Peter Hertel : International Christian Democracy (Opus Dei), in: Gregory Baum and John Coleman (Eds.), Concilium - Religion in the Eighties, Volume 1987, Concilium 193 Special Column, T. & T, Clark Ltd., Edinburgh October 1987, ISBN 0-567-30073-X , ISSN 0010-5236, p. 100 f.
  21. ↑ John L. Allen , Jr.: Opus Dei: Myth and Reality - A Look Behind the Scenes. Gütersloher Verlagshaus, Gütersloh 2006, ISBN 3-579-06936-5 , p. 92.
  22. ^ Peter Berglar: Opus Dei - life and work of the founder Josemaria Escriva, Otto Müller Verlag, Salzburg 1983, ISBN 3-7013-0652-4 , p. 296.
  23. ↑ a b John L. Allen, Jr. : Opus Dei: Myth and Reality - A look behind the scenes. Gütersloher Verlagshaus, Gütersloh 2006, ISBN 3-579-06936-5 , p. 81.
  24. ^ Peter Berglar: Opus Dei - life and work of the founder Josemaria Escriva, Otto Müller Verlag, Salzburg 1983, ISBN 3-7013-0652-4 , p. 208.
  25. ↑ John L. Allen Jr.: Opus Dei: Myth and Reality - A Look Behind the Scenes. Gütersloher Verlagshaus, Gütersloh 2006, ISBN 3-579-06936-5 , p. 81.f.
  26. ↑ Klaus von Beyme : From fascism to development dictatorship: power elite and opposition in Spain, Munich 1971, p. 128 f., Names five ministers from Opus Dei for 1969.
  27. ↑ Corrado Augias: The Secrets of the Vatican , chap. XVI The Work of God Opus Dei, p. 416f, ISBN 978-3-406-61363-0
  28. ^ A b c Salvador Bernal: Msgr. Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer. Records of the founder of Opus Dei . Adamas, Kön 1978, ISBN 3-920007-48-4 , pp. 298 .
  29. ^ Salvador Bernal: Msgr. Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer. Records of the founder of Opus Dei . Adamas, Cologne 1978, ISBN 3-920007-48-4 , p. 299 .
  30. ↑ a b c Ediciones Tiempo SA (ed.): Constitutiones Societatis Sacderdotalis Sanctae Crucis et Operis Dei - Los Estatutos Secretos del Opus Dei (I) . Madrid 1986.
  31. ↑ German Bishops' Conference (ed.): Codex Iuris Canonici - Codex des Canonischen Recht, CIC 294-297 . Butzon & Bercker, Kevelaer 2017.
  32. ↑ a b c Ediciones Tiempo SA (Ed.): Codex Particularis Operis Dei - Los Secretos Estatutos del Opus Dei (II) [Statutes in the original Latin text and in Spanish translation] . Madrid 1986.
  33. ↑ Peter Hertel: Secrets of Opus Dei.Verschlußsachen-Background-strategies . 3. Edition. Spectrum band 4386 . Herder, Freiburg i. Br. 1996, ISBN 3-451-04386-6 , pp. 19-22 .
  34. ↑ German: About the Spirit [nos. 1-70] and pious habits [nos. 71-125], Rome April 9, 1990
  35. ↑ German: Internal rules for the women's department, Rome 1985
  36. ↑ Paulus Academy (ed.): Opus Dei: Stosstrupp Gottes or "Holy Mafia"? Power and influence of Opus Dei in Switzerland and elsewhere . 1st edition. NZN-Verlag, Zurich 1992, ISBN 3-85827-091-1 .
  37. ↑ Peter Hertel: Secrets of Opus Dei, classified information background strategies . 3. Edition. Spectrum band 4386 . Herder, Freiburg i.Br. 1996, ISBN 3-451-04386-6 .
  38. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Statutes, No. 6-15
  39. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Statutes, No. 8 §2
  40. ↑ Regulae internae pro Administrationibus No. 8-27 and 52.1-55, German translation in: Peter Hertel: Secrets of Opus Dei, classified information background strategies . 3. Edition. Spectrum band 4386 . Herder, Freiburg i.Br. 1996, ISBN 3-451-04386-6 , pp. 101-106 .
  41. ↑ a b José Antonio Abad: The Priestly Society of the Holy Cross . Ed .: Information office of the Opus Dei prelature in Germany. Adamas-Verlag, Cologne 1996, ISBN 3-00-000761-X .
  42. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Articles of Association, No. 57-78
  43. ↑ Stephan Haering, Wilhelm Rees, Heribert Schmitz (ed.): Handbook of Catholic Church Law . Verlag Friedrich Pustet, 2015. ISBN 978-3-7917-2723-3
  44. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Statutes, nos. 17-27.
  45. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Statutes, No. 20 §1.
  46. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Statutes, No. 19.
  47. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Articles of Association, No. 25.
  48. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Articles of Association, No. 23.
  49. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Articles of Association, No. 27.
  50. ^ Peter Hertel: Secrets of Opus Dei, classified information-background-strategies, 3rd edition, spectrum volume 4386, Herder, Freiburg im Breisgau 1996, ISBN 3-451-04386-6 , p. 111 f.
  51. ↑ Werner Deetz / Ingrid Budde: Verfremdetes Fernsehen. The obstruction of public information through the straining of personal rights: The ARD broadcast of 4.5.1984 about the youth work of Opus Dei. Second, editorially revised edition, Wissenschaftsverlag Volker Spiess, Berlin 1986, ISBN 3-89166-043-X , pp. 45–61.
  52. ↑ Michael Walsh: The secret world of Opus Dei. Power and influence of an organization in the shadow of the church, Wilhelm Heyne Verlag, Munich 1992, ISBN 3-453-05227-7 , pp. 190 f.
  53. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Statutes, No. 8 §2
  54. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Statutes, No. 9
  55. ↑ Peter Hertel: Obey intelligently, but blindly, in: Opus Dei: Stosstrupp Gottes oder "Heilige Mafia"? Power and influence of Opus Dei in Switzerland and elsewhere . Ed .: Paulus Academy. 1st edition. NZN-Verlag, Zurich 1992, ISBN 3-85827-091-1 , p. 59 .
  56. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Articles of Association, No. 16
  57. ^ Klaus Steigleder: The Opus Dei: an interior view . 4th edition. Benziger, Zurich 1991, ISBN 3-545-21040-5 , p. 17 .
  58. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Statutes, No. 9
  59. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Statutes, No. 12
  60. ↑ a b s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Articles of Association, No. 50
  61. ↑ Hesse, Alexander .: Secret societies Freemasons and Illuminati, Opus Dei and Black Hand . 1st edition Rowohlt E-Book, Reinbek 2013, ISBN 978-3-644-03461-7 , p. 61 (871637538 [accessed June 17, 2019]).
  62. ↑ 90 years of Opus Dei - sect or big family? October 2, 2018, accessed June 17, 2019 .
  63. ↑ Unknown: CATECHISM OF THE PRELATURE OF THE HOLY CROSS AND OPUS DEI. Retrieved June 17, 2019 .
  64. ↑ FOCUS Online: prayers in the lower basement. Retrieved June 17, 2019 .
  65. ↑ Peter Hertel: Obey intelligently, but blindly, in: Opus Dei: Stosstrupp Gottes oder "Heilige Mafia"? Power and influence of Opus Dei in Switzerland and elsewhere . Ed .: Paulus Academy. 1st edition. NZN-Verlag, Zurich 1992, ISBN 3-85827-091-1 , p. 139-144 .
  66. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Articles of Association, No. 44
  67. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Statutes (nos. 36–56 rules for numerary priests, nos. 57–78 rules for diocesan clergy).
  68. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Statutes, No. 36, §3.
  69. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Articles of Association, No. 63
  70. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Statutes, No. 76
  71. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Statutes, No. 9
  72. ↑ Thomas M. Hofer: God's right church: Catholic fundamentalists on the advance . Ueberreuter, Vienna 1998, ISBN 3-8000-3675-4 , p. 84 .
  73. ↑ a b Ralph Rotte: The foreign and security policy of the Holy See . 1st edition. Vs Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, Wiesbaden 2007, p. 116 .
  74. ↑ a b c Peter Hertel: Secrets of Opus Dei, classified information, background strategies. In: spectrum . 3. Edition. tape 4386 . Herder, Freiburg i.Br. 1996, ISBN 3-451-04386-6 , pp. 106 .
  75. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Statutes, No. 10
  76. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) Statutes, 10 §2
  77. ↑ a b s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Articles of Association, number 11
  78. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Statutes, No 11 §2
  79. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Statutes, No 14
  80. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Statutes, No. 29.
  81. ^ Klaus Steigleder: The Opus Dei, an interior view . Zurich 1983, Munich 1996, ISBN 3-545-21040-5 , p. 246.
  82. ↑ Widmar Puhl: The Two Faces of Opus Dei Theory and Reality of a Catholic Institution, in: Deutschlandfunk, June 27, 1983.
  83. ^ Maria del Carmen Tapia: Behind the Threshold - A Life in Opus Dei . A shocking report from one woman. Benziger, Zurich 1993, ISBN 3-545-21069-3 , pp. 315-367.
  84. ↑ Robert Hutchison: The Pope's Holy Mafia. The growing influence of Opus Dei. Droemer Knaur, Munich 1996, ISBN 3-426-26738-1 , pp. 220-223.
  85. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Articles of Association, number 31.
  86. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Articles of Association, number 34.
  87. ↑ Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Statutes, No. 16 §1
  88. ↑ Werner Billing, Michael Sauer: Opus Dei and Scientology: the state and socio-political ideas . Leske + Budrich, Opladen 2000, p. 23 .
  89. ↑ Thomas M. Hofer: God's right church: Catholic fundamentalists on the advance . Ueberreuter, Vienna 1998, ISBN 3-8000-3675-4 , p. 85 .
  90. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo - Statutes, No. 16 §2
  91. ^ Statutes of Opus Dei eV, Cologne 1984, No. 4b
  92. ↑ Statutes of Opus Dei eV, Cologne 1984, Nr.4c
  93. ↑ John L. Allen, Jr. : Opus Dei: Myth and Reality - A look behind the scenes. Gütersloher Verlagshaus, Gütersloh 2006, ISBN 3-579-06936-5 , p. 42.
  94. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Statutes, No. 130 §1
  95. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Statutes, No 131
  96. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Statutes, No. 130 §2
  97. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Statutes, No. 146 §2
  98. ^ Salvador Bernal: Msgr. Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer. Records of the founder of Opus Dei. Adamas-Verlag, Cologne 1978. ISBN 3-920007-48-4 , p. 298.
  99. ↑ John L. Allen, Jr. : Opus Dei: Myth and Reality - A look behind the scenes. Gütersloher Verlagshaus, Gütersloh 2006, ISBN 3-579-06936-5 , p. 156.
  100. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Statutes, No. 130 §3
  101. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Statutes, No. 138 §1
  102. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Statutes, No 142
  103. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Statutes, No. 139 §1
  104. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Statutes, No. 138 §2
  105. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Statutes, No. 146, §1 + 2
  106. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Statutes, No. 133 §3
  107. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Statutes, No. 177 §1
  108. ↑ s. Ediciones Tiempo (II) - Articles of Association, number 150
  109. ↑ Clemens Karpf, Brigitte Sindelar: Thoughts on the leading fiction of self-injurious behavior in religion, society and psychopathology . In: Journal for Free Psychoanalytical Research and Individual Psychology , 2 (2), 2015, pp. 54–69. (Document p. 59). doi: 10.15136 / 2015.2.2.54-69
  110. ^ Opus Dei sitting on fortune - Independent.ie . In: Independent.ie . ( independent.ie [accessed March 28, 2018]).
  111. ↑ Corrado Augias: The Secrets of the Vatican: Another History of the Papal City . 1st, new edition. Beck, CH, Munich 2012, ISBN 978-3-406-63092-7 , p. 423 .
  112. ↑ Klaus von Beyme: From fascism to development dictatorship - power elite and opposition in Spain . Munich 1971
  113. ↑ Klaus von Beyme : From fascism to development dictatorship - power elite and opposition in Spain . Munich 1971, cit. b. Walther L. Bernecker , Spain's history since the civil war . Munich 1997, ISBN 3-406-42684-0 , p. 117.
  114. ↑ Bernecker 1997, pp. 119–121
  115. ↑ Jesús Ynfante: La prodigiosa aventura del Opus Dei. Génesis y desarrollo de la Santa Mafia . Paris 1970, p. 423, cit. in: Bernecker 1997, p. 116
  116. ↑ The Way, cit. in: Bernecker 1997, p. 116
  117. ↑ cf. Bernecker 1997, p. 122
  118. ↑ Ynfante 1970; cit. in Bernecker 1997, p. 115 f.
  119. ↑ Bernecker 1997, pp. 155, 166
  120. ↑ Bernecker 1997, p. 197
  121. ↑ Bernecker 1997, p. 201
  122. ↑ Bernecker 1997, p. 301. Fernando Pastor: Opus Dei SA. The claves of the finances . In: elEconomista.es, May 17, 2006
  123. ↑ Interview with Alberto Moncada in Soy Ateo
  124. ↑ La voz de Barcelona, ​​January 5, 2012
  125. ↑ José Casas: Las Redes del Opus . In: AUSBANC , September 2002, losgenoveses.net accessed on May 27, 2013
  126. ↑ iniciativadebate.wordpress.com
  127. ↑ Karin Finkenzeller: The best for God . In: Die Welt , October 23, 2005
  128. ^ Vera Castelló: El Opus se queda sin banco . In: El Siglo de Europa , No. 660, September 5, 2005, elsiglodeuropa.es
  129. ↑ Opus Dei e. V. Accessed April 13, 2018 .
  130. ^ Anna Papathanasiou: Opus Dei: Franzi is called . In: The time . No. 29 , 2016 ( zeit.de [accessed April 13, 2018]).
  131. ↑ Scourges for God . In: Süddeutsche Zeitung , February 12, 2007
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  142. ↑ kath.ch
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  144. ↑ Scientology and Opus Dei: a comparison , on schmidt-salomon.de
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  146. ↑ Hans Thomas: Pluralism and hierarchical church , ed .: Information office of Opus Dei in Germany, Cologne, October 1986, p. 40
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  148. ↑ Essentially quoted verbatim from: Philipp Charwath: Kirchengeschichte. A reader. 2nd Edition. Publishing group Holtzbrinck epubli GmbH, Berlin 2011, p. 845.
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  152. ↑ Jürgen Roth / Berndt Ender: Dark Men of Power - Political Secret Circles and Organized Crime , Lamuv Verlag, 1984, p. 139.
  153. ↑ How the Catholic Order Opus Dei silenced its critics , on ibka.org (from: MIZ 1/86).
  154. ^ Opus Dei won trials , in: Frankfurter Rundschau, No. 295, Frankfurt, December 20, 1985, p. 4.
  155. ↑ Prayer must be followed by action, the wording of the WDR interview with an alleged Opus Dei member and arms dealer, in: Frankfurter Rundschau, No. 267, December 14, 1984, p. 4.
  156. ↑ Regional Court Munich I, judgment of August 31, 1988.
  157. ↑ Peter Hertel: Opus Dei wants to determine the next Pope . ( Memento from May 19, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) In: imprimatur , 02/2001, March, 2001
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  159. ↑ Spain's history since the civil war . Munich 1984, p. 190.
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  161. ↑ WORLD: Dan Brown's "Da Vinci Code": "Jesus was of course a man" . May 14, 2006 ( welt.de [accessed January 17, 2020]).